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Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens, 
Together  with  Biographies  of  all  the 

iOYeniors  of  the  Itate,  and  of  the  Iresideiits 

OF=    THE     UNITED     STKTES. 


CHICAGO: 

31..a.k:e  ciT""5r  i^xjBLismosrG  go. 

1892. 


pi\Ep/^?E. 


^>£^  h^;h- >«5*f-. 

[IE  greatest  of  English  historians,  Macaulay,  and  one  of  the  most  brilliant  -writers  of 
the  present  ceutur>-,  has  said:  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  in  a  record  of  the 
lives  of  its  pec^jle."   In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  Poutkait  and  BiooR.u'incAL 
Record  of  tj^ig  county  has  been  prepared.     Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and 
taking  therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appreciated  by  but  few,  our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their 
enterprise  ai|  d  industry,  brought  the  county  to  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  their  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.     No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.     In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of   coming  generations.     It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by 
industry   and   economy   have   accumulated  wealth.     It  tells  how  others,  with  limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
iuduence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.     It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have 
become  famous.     It  tells  of  those  in  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
&  records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.     It  tells  also  of  many,  very 

man3-,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pursued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content 
to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "they  have  done  what 
they  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strenr''!  of  j'oung  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawj-er's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  countrj^'s 
J  call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace 
once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  puljlic  records,  and  which  would  otherwise  be 
inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity  possible 
given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  the  biograph- 
ical sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.  For  this  the 
publishers  are  not  to  blame.  Not  having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 
information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.  Occasionally  some  member  of 
tlie  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  mjidc 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

.July,   18'J2.  Lakk  Crrv  rii-.LisiiiNG  Co. 


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9 


FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


: .'  I  '^^£S^i^(^(^f^i^iii,f,iSi>if^i^i^<^^'mi'^i^mi':iii>'m,'mif^^fim:*m\^m>'^*^ 


(BE  01?©] 


'•■gJa'^'SSi'^'g  i'  ,-  ||  ;  i'  ;.  i'  ;  l^;  i'?.^'SJ^'i^'gi'^XiJg^ti^t:^,Hi^'i'^U;^'igi(^(giJt%)t^';^^ 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
m)  born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
*-'  Feb.  22,  1732.  His  parents 
were  Augustine  and  Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and  became  a  pros[)erous 
planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
Lawrence  and  John.  The 
former  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  three  children,  John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  afforded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
scliool,  ivlien  he  received  private  instruction  in 
mathematics.       His     spelling   v/as    rather    defective. 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  physica 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  14  years  oldhe  had  a  desire  to  go  to 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  liim, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  1751,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  fot 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Uixin  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  was 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  in  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  I)e  traversed 
was  Ijetween  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     The 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


irip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
were  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  levelino  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  militarj-  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  tlie  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  took  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Parliament  had  closed  the  port 
^f  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia.Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
[;eaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  10,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  memberof  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  10  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  ever)-  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  17S3,  Washington,  in 
a  patting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  lesigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  10 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  lite. 

In  February,  1 7  89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  his  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  riew 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  diflerent  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
beginnings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judg.nent  could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nominaiion.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  years  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France- 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintei.ded  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preiiarations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  h's  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  wi'h  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad-« 
miration.  The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  be-^n  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
be  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tali,  erect 
and  well    proportioned.      His  muscular    strength  was 
great.      His  features  were   of  a  beautiful  symmetry 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  a]. pea  ranee  qt 
haughtiness,  and  ever  seiipus  withouf  l-^ine;  dull. 


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SECOND  PSESIDENT. 


|l   OHN    ADAMS,     the     second 
■\  President  and  the    first    Vice- 
'  President  of  the  United  States, 
was   born    \\\  Braintree    ( now 
Quincy),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles   from    Boston,    Oct.    ig, 
1735.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,   emigrated   from    England 
about  1640,  with  a  family  of   eight 
''\   sons,  and  settled  at  Braiatree.  The 
parents    of   John    were    John    and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.     His 
father    was    a    farmer    of    limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.      He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion   at    Harvard    College.      John 
graduated  in  1755,  and   at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in   Worcester,  Mass.      This   lie   found   but    a 
'school    of  afflic-tion,"  from  which  hi  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in   addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.     For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.    He 
had   thought    seriously   of    the    clerical    profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  liy  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
jils,  of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature," 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been   a  witness  in 
his  native  town.      He  was   well   fitted  for  the    legal 
jiTofession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being 
ready  and  fluenc  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive powers.     He  gradually  gained   practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.     Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (i7f'5),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
'ion  turi'i'-jd  him  from  law  to  politics.      He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holdin^  i  town  meeting,  and  the   resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  populai 
throughout  the  Province,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos 
ton  in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himsell 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  tb^ 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  mcved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  .ive 
appointed  June  11,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  tha 
glow  of  excited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissendng  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  Tlie  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
God,     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  v.'ith   pomp,   shows. 


24 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  Vou  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  I  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  hght  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  end  is 
Wurlh  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
ho[ie  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
ddegate  to  France  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  qnd  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
comiielled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  greatperilof  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  Ije  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  pvoposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
H  lUand,  where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bith.  ^Vhile  in  England,  still  drooping  anddespond- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot, he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785^  Congress  appointed  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  permission  to  return  to 
nis  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
Adams,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President.  .Again 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President,though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

While   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Euroije, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  atissujwuh 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortune  to  witness  the  comjilete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  l)een  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  their 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  In- 
dependence FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all.'' 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spirit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  personal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests,was  intellectual  ard  expres 
sive,  but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  h''- 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  unrourteous 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nri 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson. 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


27 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 
liorn  April  2,   1743,   at  Shad- 
l^well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were    Peter  and 
Jane  (  Randolph)    Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in   Lon- 
don.    To  them  were  born  six 
daughters    and    two    sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When    14   years    of   age     his 
father   died.     He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,    hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  of 
age.     In  1760  he  entered  William 
end  Mary  College.     Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  the  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obodeof  fashion 
a.id   splendor.      Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then   17 
years  old,  lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by  gay  society,    yet    lie 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.     It   is   strange,   however,    under 
such  influences, that  he  was  not  ruined.     In  the   sec- 
ond year  of   his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
explained inward  impulse,  he  discarded    his    horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.     He  often  devoted  fifteen 
hours  a  day  to  hard    study,  allowing  himself  for  e.x- 
ercise  only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  the  city  and  back  again.     He  thus  attained  very 
higli  intellectual  culture,  alike  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  languages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility.     A  more  finished 
scholar  has  seldom  gone  fortli  from  college  halls;  anvi 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  tlie  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  choser. 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses,  In 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  beauti- 
ful, wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  there 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  ye^ 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Colonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilities  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  upon  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  28,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  It  by  Congress,  and  it  was  jxissed  and  signed  July 
4,  1776.     What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  that 


28 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  the  preparatioii  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  -.vas  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  would  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

Ill  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  as  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Taileton,  sent.a  secret  expedition  to 
Moniicelio,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  ye  us  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tentiary to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
m  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  r,  1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Glinton,  Vice  President. 

The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
■  tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  uni^rincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  intc  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
>oathwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  lorming there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  f:ir  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
:3rty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
■ic,  and  all  tliattime  had  l)een  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  recjuired,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  i8og,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  girls,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July   1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 

great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of  the 
Union  lor  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
ot  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer. 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  lestivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  nc 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  ne.x* 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  tha; 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life!  To  die  on  that  day, — the  birthday  of  a  nation,- - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God.  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom  ;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  lalwred  together  for  tne  good  of 
the  country;  and  row  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  orit;inally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  cou]^»^enance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
Avell  as  personal  courage ;  and  :.':s  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings  is 
discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed  his  style 
upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


-J 


y^g-^-t-'Lt,     .c-C^  A<.x^-^r  <r's. 


FOURTH  FRfSIDENT. 


31 


;3jiir|EsnpDisoii. 


(711 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 
%)  of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  Marcli  16,  1757,  and 
died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 
^  June  28,  1836.     The  name  of 
James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  most  of  the  important 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great   repubUc  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of  the   Constitution   of  tlie    United 
States  to   be   called    to    his    eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  upon  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  upon  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
Blue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  existed  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  wasconducteil 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  At  the  age  of 
18  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  1771,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  his  subsf ' 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  which  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  hiin  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  o! 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
be  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(1777),  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  the  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the    Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
Governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison  remained 
member  of  the  Council ;    and  their  appreciation  of  his 


32 


JAMES  MADISON. 


mtellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  u;et  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madi^en  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
■In  tlie  year  17S4,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia   Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  power  to  form  treaties 
wliich  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assembly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
tliis  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
ihe  time  appointed.  F.very  State  but  Rhode  Island 
was  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  l)e  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  litile  power  at  home  and  little  lespect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  tne  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  Wliile  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  power  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  person  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Mndison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring 
in  his  disi)osition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crcw  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  18 12,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  iVIr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1813,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  enieied  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infan. 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling v.'iih  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
1813,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
ditator.  America  accepted;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patu.xet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  inarched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensljurg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  ]X)pulaticn  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  doer  to 
await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Ca[)itol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


'  yC^' 


7    /^  -^^-  / 1  ^>  ^-^ 


FIFTH  PRESIDENi: 


35 


_j^j,^kiLtdjQ^^  ha^^i^ 


pi]QESn]OI|ROE.u-, .;<■»*»■- 


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WM 


^^PPXCW^^^"^ 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
I'residentof  The  United  States, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  His  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the   patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect  of  con- 
tending with  an  enemy  whom  they  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  tlie  United  States  owe  their 
political  emancipation.  Tiie  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a  firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  he  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  for  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  pro- 
moted a  captain  of  infantry ;  and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-camp;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  the  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  enemy,  served  as  a  volun 
teer,  during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits.  ■ 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  the  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  tlie  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  tlie  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  having 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  wliich  were  afterwards 
employed  with  unremittii^g  energy  for  the  public  good, 


36 


JAMES  MONROE. 


lie  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen    a  member  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

Deeplyas  Mr.  Moinoeft;h  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
Confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
Thinking,  with  many  others  of  *:he  Republican  party, 
that  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  aiid  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  ado[)tion.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Republican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  the  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  power  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
bination of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Bourbons  against  the  princi- 
ples of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  w^s  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escaping  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  [jrudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
of  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Convention 
in  France  witn  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstr/^tions. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  countrv,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  tu 
co-operate  with  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfcr  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  our 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  but  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  coidd  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  undc" 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  ot  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Departnien 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  ol 
peace  he  resigned  the  Dei)artment  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
])iration  of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opiX)sition,  and 
upon  March  4,  rSiy,  was  inaugurated.  Four  year? 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidencv 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  LTnited  States;  the 
Missouri  Comiiromise,  and  the    "  Monroe  doctrine.' 

This  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "  Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  tha^ 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  independ- 
ence of  tlie  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub 
due  portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows:  "That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  no' 
view  any  interposition  for  the  ])urpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  Europe.ni- 
powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  Unircr 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  f  econd  term  Mr  Monroe   retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  unii!    1S30 
when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live  with    his  son-in 
law.     In  that  city  he  died, on  the  4th  of  July,  1831 


^ 


J  ■       «,^  ,     c/it  i  Ctyyy^ 


SIXTH  PRESIDRNT. 


39 


A;Mrj/^^  7^ 


'«»^;;.*#wLs^$;:S^-s-s#$;k^«s;s>^i::s-»&i;i^*i;:;$«&$;;s**Aicti. 


lOm  QniI]6Y  ^D^^EQS. 


'l'^:&»J^:S--«^iS- 


ss-*s:s->s^is^s^is*^;gHpg!g.^^tg,». 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
^States,  was  born  in  the  rural 
home  of  his    honored   father, 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass., 
on  the  I  ith  cf  July,  1767.   His 
mother,   a   woman   of  exaUed 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the   almost    constant    ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When   but 
eight  years  of  age,  he  stood  with 
"'    his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunker's  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames   billow- 
ing up  from    the   conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  iiis  falner  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  ot  liostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
animated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
liis  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  m;irks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
cou/.try,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
(ol-.n  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  -.nidy;  then  accompained  his  fatlier  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  .\msterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  t78i,  when  the  manly  1  oy  was  but  fourteen 
yea—,  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  private  secretar)'. 

Tn  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
!o  Holland  thiough  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
Bremen.  This  l(>ng  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
winter,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Aijain  he  resumed 
nis  studies,  under  a  pn-'^te  tutor,  at  Hague.   Thence, 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  ts 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintance 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent- 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  ol 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  thcloftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Afte" 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  ana 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  To  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
CLunstances,  must  have  been  extremely  attractive 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  tv/enty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reachea 
London  in  October,  where  he  was  immediately  admit- 
ted^ to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  wit): 
Great  Brilian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  i. 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  London,  he  met  with  despatches, 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Beiiin,  but  requesting! 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  should  receive  his 
instructions.  While  wr.iting  he  was  married  to  ar. 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged, — Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  daughte' 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  consul  in  I  ondon 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom- 
plishment which  eminently  fitted  her  to  move  in  X.\a 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  w»s  <^.«s''ioed. 


*o 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  purposes  of  his  mission,  he  sohcited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1S02,  he  was  chosen  to 
Ihe  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
ability  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

Wiiile  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accouiplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  importart 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1S17,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  appointed  Mr. 
.'Vdams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  i8ig,  for  the  United  States.  On  the 
1 8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  yearsof  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  '.he  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  lie  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  l.)rought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety  nine;  John  Quincy  .\dams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty-one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  House  of  Re[)resentatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
he  was  elected. 

The  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
:ombined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upon 
Mr.  Adams.  Tliere  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
•V»e  nast  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  'i'here  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams;  and  never, per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  ui  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  VMien  at  his  homein 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1820,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew- 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assume 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quiiicy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  witii  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  re|)resentative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  [leers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brouglit  forward  and  escape  his  scru'lin)-.  'I  he 
battle  wliich  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sul)lime 
in  Its  moral  dating  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury 
with  expulsion  from  tlic  Houfe,  with  assassination 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  liy  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  l)eforc 
he  slept,  the  prajer  which  his  mother  taught  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2 1  St  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  llie  lloor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  flie 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  by  ]iar;ily 
sis,  and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  liiin. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  convened  to 
the  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earth  .-"then  after  a  moment's 
pause  he  add'.'d,  ''\T  am  eonteiif"  These  were  the 
last    words  of    the    grand    "  Old    Man     Eloquent." 


SEVENTH  FRESIl^ENT. 


43 


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NDREW  JACKSON,  the 
seventh  Presider.t  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in 
Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  C, 
March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
after  his  father's  death.  His 
parents  were  poor  einigrants 
from  Ireland,  and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.  His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,  made-  visible,  which  was  at- 
tractive. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
lySr,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

-The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
Dlow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon  the 
head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successfi'-l  'i>    >i".itainin5   their  exchange, 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illnjss. 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  s;oon 
loft  him  e.itirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,  s  i:h  as 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  ge:ieral  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitcr  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  ol 
whicli  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedioas  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson  never  knew  fear, 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
witn  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard    at    his    profes 
sion,  and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on   hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he    killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  tliousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  eleven 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delega'es. 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  meml  cr  iv 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jade- 
son  was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philedelphia,  where  Congress   then    held  its 


44 


ANDREW  JACKSON. 


sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight   hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic  party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  been 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  jjosition  he  held  for  si.\  years. 

When  the  war  of  18 12  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred uix)n  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  afteradelay of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomi)llshing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opiniotrs;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  ditel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  extenrtinate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bendsof  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men.  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.     The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  o." 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indrans  had  constructed  a  formidable  brea^jl- 
work  of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suply  of  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swani.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  niire  hundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
[jower  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  itsterriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
thari  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediately  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march.  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola, landed 
a  force  ujxm  the  beach,  arrchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  conmienccd  a  furious 
assault  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  w  hich  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men, 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  Briiish  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thineen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six  hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1S28,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  n^cmcrabie 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applaude''  oy  one  party, 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bitter 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  Tune  8,  1845.  The  last  vears  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's  life   were   that   of  a   devoted  Christian    man. 


/  7  ^ZJ^/  ^c^jU^c.^^^ 


EIGHTH  FRESIDENT. 


')«s^^\2)(£)-/®>S^<®V^^€3i^^ 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
Lice,  July    24,    1862.       His 
jody   rests  in    the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite    shaft  fifteen   feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  hall  way  up   on    one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,   unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  is  but  little  in  the  life  of  Martin  Van  Buren 
of  romantic  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  liis  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  liis  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  tiie  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  in  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

.le  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  had  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
«)efore  he  could  be  ad.iiitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
A  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued liis  studies  with  indefatig.ible  industry.  After 
spending  six  ye.ir-;  in  an  office  in  His    native  village, 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  ol 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listenipiig  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral ijarty  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  tht 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  tht 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mi. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  the  grave,  the  victim  of  consump- 
tion, leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  over 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  181 2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous  support  to 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  All.)any,  the.  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  acknovVledged  as  one  of  the  most 
liiominent  leaders  of  the   Democratic   party,   he   had 


48 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  true  democracy  did 
not  require  that '' universal  suffrage"  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  182  I  he  was  elected  ;.  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in  the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
.lative  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  the 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  community.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  position  as  an  active  and  usefullegislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
.tie  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
lermined  opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
'Stare  Rights"  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
deemed  the  Federal  proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governor  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded througiiout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
jnost  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supix)sed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
to  touch  the  secret  spiings  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
;he  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
pter-'thily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  tliat  he  outv.'itted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

\^\\i:\  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  i83t,  and  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  Senate,  however,  when  it  met, 
.'■etu:>ed    to    ratifv   the   nomination,    and   he   returned 


home,  apparently  imtroubled;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  pLace  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  lackson ;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
fiowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  lud  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  mure  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Esecu 
tive.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  sa_  i  Mr.  Parton,  'the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events- 
'i"he  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in- 
volve this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  1848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietVy  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but  4 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Lind^nwald. 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  of 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoyirg  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


I 

I 


Zt/.  /5f /V/iS-'^.^-^TA.^ 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


5« 


wtjs8si4®  aiiif  a4Rass®s 


i 


^    ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
■f.^  SON,  the  ninth   President  of 
|S    tlie   United  States,  was  born 
In     at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
Q      His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
ulent circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  ^\as  early  elected 
a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and  was    conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
ISritish  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and    John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice   re-elected.       His   son, 
i  William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 

in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
chen  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
lObert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Jpon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
v/ithstandlng  the  'emonslrances  of  his  friends,  he 
aDando'-'ed  liis  medical  studies  and  entered  tlie  army, 
.laving  obtained  a  commission  of  Ensign   from   Presi- 


dent Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old. 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  aj)- 
pointed  Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  '"  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wib 
liam  Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap 
ixjinted  by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  n&w 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  appointed  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlements  in  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  Oneof  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrisoi» 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  Aboi" 


IIBRARY 

0NIVERSITY  OP  lll.lNniS 


52 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  "The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might 
engage.  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
an  orator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator:  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations Selecting  a  favorable  six)t  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side,and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  j'lst  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
httle  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of   bullets. 

The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
ous yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubtii-.g  a 
speedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore   them,    and    completely    routing    th^    foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  Iruni  theCan- 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidal)ie  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  I'roni  the 
forest,  searching  out  every  remote  farm-house,  Imrn- 
ing,  plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  wliich  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
Tiie  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances.  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  bul 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re- 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  while 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  -saddle  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  battle. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  witliout  bread  or  salt. 

In  1816,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  jjresidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  Tlie 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re -nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  forthe  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  wliich  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects.  Gen. .  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisv-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


Tyn 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


S5 


-ife  Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child   of  af- 
fluence and  high   social    po- 
sition.    At  the   early  age   of 
twelve,  John  entered  William 
and   Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted   him- 
self with    great   assiduity  to   the 
study    of    law,    partly    with     his 
father    and    partly  with    Edmund 
!  g  fi     Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  that  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
I  et  of  the  court  in  which   he  was 

1. 3t  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  ejected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Demo- 
cr;itic  party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
lefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
\vi;s  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  niemiier  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  ihe  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  inu-nal  improvements  by  the  General  'Govern- 


ment, a  protective  tariff,  and  advocatmg  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  VVith  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes,  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.     His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  k  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  op|X)nenf, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

In  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff";  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  be 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.     There  was  a  rplii  in  the    Democratic 


JOHN  TYLER. 


J  arty.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
ieisonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  and  it  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children ;  and  he  again 
look  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
7839.  The  maioritv  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  Noith:  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time,  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus -:und  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
une.xpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
A;"ril  v/as  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  tc  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, honL:t  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own.'  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
nr.ony  with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Hanrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccomm-nded  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incor[X)ration  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.       He   suaeested,   however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  ",vas  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterl)-.  All  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  e.xcepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  proclaiming  tliat  all  political  alliance 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabinet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Tyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  iVo  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife. 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  (lardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For- 
est, Charles-city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  information  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State- 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Ca\- 
houn  had  inaugurated,  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  b" 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,   he   was  taken   sick  and  soon   died. 


^.s^ 


ELEVENTH  PRESIDENT. 


59 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
|LPresident  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Mecklenburg  Co., 
N.  C.,Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 
ents were   Samuel   and    Jane 
(Knox)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  )'ear  i3o6,  with  his  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  famly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Duck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huts, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  the 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childhood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit cf  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
liim  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  him  with  lofty 
principles  of  morality.  His  health  was  frail  ;  and  his 
£ather,  fearing  that  he  migiit  not  be  able  to  endure  a 


sedentary  life,  got  a   situation   for   him   behind   the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  hiwi,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  1815,  entered  the  sophomore 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel' 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  be- 
ing  deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
had  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adliered  to  the  same  politi- 
cal faith.  He  was  a  popular  public  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  upon  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  speaker  was  such  that 
he  was  popularly  called  the  Napoleon  of  the  stump. 
He  was  a  man  of  unblemished    morals,    genial    and 


6o 


/AMES  K.  POLK. 


courterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
nature  in  the  jo)  s  and  gnefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  intluence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackso:i,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United   States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  The  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinuec  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  that  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  po[)ular  speaker.  He  was 
alwoys  in  his  seat,  always  courteous;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  Ini84i, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexalionof  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message.  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
other  States.  In  the  meantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  wis  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  .nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  wai 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "observation,"  then  of  "occupation,' 
thenof"  invasion,  "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  this  war  caused. 
It  v/as  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."  Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.  This 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.  There  were 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right:  there  were 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twentv  thousand  lives  and 
more  than  a  hundred  million  of  dollars.  Of  this 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  tlie 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge — was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fiftv-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


'7.ci.c>/i^:^c.-:>^/[^^^^ , 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


63 


i-1C^V.V.j? 


l^'■^•^^ 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
President  of  the  United  States, 
-^<*\vas  born  on  the  24lh  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
2io  father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
S^J^tJ-S'W^Jy'^  a  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
tinguished patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
ier home,  away  from  civilization  and 
all  its  refinements,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bbintness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  feailess  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  tlie  army  to  fight 
the  Lidians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  There 
is  little  to  l)e  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  o;i  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army  ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  i8i2,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison, on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
led  by  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  inf;xntry  numbering   fifty  men,    many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  uixin  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whooi)  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  Tiie  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block -houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  point, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  MajorTaylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


04 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black-Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in 
;the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  m 
'employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance. 
In  the  year  1836,  he  was  seat  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
iiac'  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
he.c  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
tc  .he  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
after,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
mand of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  svich  wearisome  employment 
riHiidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula.  Gen.  'Faylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
r.nd  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
west. This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississijipi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Here  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
imixjsed  ujxin  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
.by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  on,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
Mexicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  name 
Was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
the  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Buena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
forces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
■simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
\\\^  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

Tiie  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
.-pread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
name  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
Whig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
ful popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished,  un- 

■  "•■ed,  honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
I'residency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nouncement, and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
claring that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
offtce.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
for  forty  years,  he  had  not  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
without  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
who  had  lieen  long  years  m  the  ])ublic  service  found 
'\.z\x  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose   name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Thougli  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  position, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles.  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  of 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people ;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable, 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out* 
side  pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offi.'nder  to  be  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  Inshor* 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfortarAe.  '-'>^'^t. 
saving  contempt   for  learning  of  every  kind.' 


J^ 


i/s     ^ f^^^-t^^-T^xru) 


thirteejsTth  president. 


67 


'Hi 


■MILLflRn  FILLMnHE. 


-e-^ 


4^ 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
^  teentli  President  of  the  United 
States,    was  born   at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,    N.  Y  .,   on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.  His 
'^'^    father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  haml)le  cir- 
cumstances.    Of  his  mother,   the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,   it    has   been 
said  tliat  she  [xjssessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners   and    ex- 
quisite sensibilities.       She    died    in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
'         young  man   of  distinguished    prom- 
ise, though  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
raeans  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  liut  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  which  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  institutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
and  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
Livingston  County,  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  clothier. 
Neav  the  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  Tliis  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory ,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  happened  tha'. 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
Wood, — who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  an- 
pearance  of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own, 
r.o  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  about 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  supposed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. But  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  hal'  ■ 
ind  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no   means   as 


06 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1S23,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  v/as 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  foitune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ;  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Piuffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he'had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature  ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
that  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degn  e  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  hmi  sttength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  w\x>n  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he   was   elected  Comptroller  of    the   State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  tiumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  tliese  considerations,  tlie 
namesof  Zachary  Taylor  ar.d  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  tjie  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  fur 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  tlie  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  lour  mcnths  after  his  inauguia 
tion,  was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 

Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opiwsition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  tocontiliate 
the  South;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  sliould 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr,  Fill- 
more, liaving  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  iha* 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  instUutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ri])e 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,    1874. 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


71 


(is\    ''-■*\  \  ?',:!*- -iiOT  „„.  ».  ,    TI TT  Tr  mr  TT' T    Tmr       Tt  ■w-wt -rx -w-i -*-t         u  ._  ..„-'?':  (■^i  ' 


^i- FRANKLIN  FIEHEE. 


3<: 


g^'^^'^y''y'--^-"-"t^-^^^ 


SI 


=S.p??C«'»*^' 


S5«—      '"^irtrti 


:p^( 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,    the 
m  ibiirteenth    President  of  the 
Jr  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,   who, 
with   his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a    home   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though    uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The    mother   of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate,  Cliristian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixtli  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar ;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me  He  was 
one  of  the  most  popular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  cf  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied:  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  ill  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en- 
tering, all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  esiioused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834.  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied,    Of  the 


72 


FRANKLIN  FIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  born  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  part  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  political  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval ;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked  the  religious 
sensibilities  of  llie  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "  Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  I  2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
=nd  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
the  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  Pieice 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  of  the  United 
States   on    the  4th  of  March,    1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  ije 
tween  slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point  Ii  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict"  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four-years'  term 
of  office.  The  North  had  become  thoroughly  edien- 
ated  from  him.  The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had  been  rapidly  increasing;  ;ill 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  repreliension  of  his  ad- 
ministrative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  Soutli,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  whicli  he  had  advo- 
cated those  measures  of  Government  winch  they  ap- 
proved, and  perhaps,  '  also,  feeling  that  he  had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer  to  be 
able  accejJtably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  drop[)ed 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  liim. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ,  and  b.is 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  ajid  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Reljellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voite 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Oclol  er, 
1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  ol 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  tlie  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen 
erous  to  a  fault,  he  conttibuted  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  lowrs 
people  were  often  gladened  by  his   material   bounty. 


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I<IFTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


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AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
jteenth  President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
.^^  eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  in  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,on 
the  23d  of  April,  179:.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
lather  st'  od  was  called  Stony 
«  Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic spot  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plun:ied  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  iVIercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickmson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped reniarkalMe  talent,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  fir>it  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
'to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native  powers    en- 


abled him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  wi  '- 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  of  his  clas:..  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  immediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1812,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisjjuted  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  the  State  Senate  ore  of  the 
judges  of  the  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  of 
impeachment.  At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar;  and 
there  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  a 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  foi 
ten  years  he  remained  a  member  of  the  Lower  House. 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  imix)rtant  case.  In  1S31,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  with  ability,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in 
r 833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster. 
Clay,  \Vright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  tl-ie  meas- 
ures proposed  by  President  Jackson,  of  ra  itiiig  repn- 


76 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country ;  and  defended  the  course 
of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and  wholesale 
removal  from  office  of  those  who  were  not  the  sup- 
porters of  his  administration.  Upon  this  question  he 
Was  brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  expunging 
from  tire  journal  of  the  Senate  the  vote  of  censure 
against  Gen.  Jackson  for  removing  the  deposits. 
Earnestly  he  opposed  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the 
circulation  of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  advo- 
cated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received;  and 
that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Congress  had 
no  power  to  legislate  upon  the  subject.  "  Congress," 
said  he,  "  might  as  well  undertake  to  interfere  with 
slavery  under  a  foreign  government  as  in  any  of  the 
States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct  of 
the  Mexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  crossing 
the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the  disputed 
territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross 
the  Rio  Crande  into  that  territory  was  a  declaration 
of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read  with  pleasure  the 
account  of  the  course  our  Government  pursued  in  that 
movement 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  pi'rpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of  1050, 
which  included  the  fugitive-slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce, 
upon  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  tlie  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency.  The 
political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe  in  which 
our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the  friends  of 
slavery  were  on  one  side ;  all  the  advocates  of  its  re- 
striction and  final  abolition,  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery,  re- 
•eived  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan  received 
174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular  vote  stood 
t, 340, 618,  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for  Buchanan.  On 
March   4th,    1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four 
vears  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  threescore  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom  he  had  been 
allied  in  political  principles  and  action  for  years,  were 
seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Government,  that  they 
might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a 
nation  whose  corner-stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hopelessly  be- 
wildered     He  could  not,  with  his  long-avowed  prin- 


ciples, consistently  oppose  the  State-rights  party  in 
their  assumptions.  As  President  of  the  United  States, 
bound  by  his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws 
he  could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  repub- 
lic.    He  therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominalcd  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard  bearer 
in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro-slavery 
party  declared,  that  if  he  were  elected,  and  ihe  con- 
trol of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from  their 
hands,  they  would  secede  from  the  Union,  taking 
with  them,  as  they  retired,  the  National  Capitol  at 
Washington,  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

Mr.  Buchanan's  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to  ofTerthem 
far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to  claim.  All  the 
South  had  professed  to  ask  of  the  North  was  non- 
intervention upon  the  subject  of  slavery.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan had  been  ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  Government  to  defend  and  extend 
the  institution. 

As  the  storm  increased  in  violence,  the  slaveholders 
claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Buchanan  avow- 
ing that  Congress  had  no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of 
the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of  governmental  im- 
becility was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  Congress  had  no  power  to  enforce  its 
laws  in  any  .State  which  had  withdrawn,  or  which 
was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the  Union.  This 
was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew  Jackson,  when,  with 
his  hand  upon  his  sword  hilt,  he  exclaimed,  "  The 
Union  must  and  shall  be  preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860;  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  despair. 
The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston  :  Fort  Sumpter 
was  besieged ;  our  forts,  navy-yards  and  arsenals 
were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stoies  were  plun- 
dered ;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post-offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our 
Executive,  were  alike  marvelous.  The  Nation  looked 
on  in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide  away, 
and  close  the  administration,  so  terrilile  in  its  weak- 
ness At  length  the  long-looked-for  hour  of  deliver- 
ance came,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  to  receive  the 
scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
perienced. His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
])leasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his  fame, 
that  in  that  dreadful  conflict  which  rolled  its  billows 
of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our  country's 
banner  should  trium|ih  over  the  flag  of  the  rebellion 
He  died  at  his   Wheatland    retreat,    June    i,    1868. 


I    r 


<?-t 


(z^^y^^^^^m^ 


SIXTEENTH  PRES/DEIVT. 


79 


HRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the 
sixteenth  President  of  the 
IJI^Uiuted  States,  w.is  horn  in 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb.  12, 
iSog.  About  the  year  1 7  So,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincohi  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  then 
wildsof  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  appro.xhed  by 
an  Indian  andshot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
tittle  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
boys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  foi-ever  be  enrolled 
with  tlie  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin ;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
less, wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
?iborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  buill  a  log- 
cabin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  child  was  Abraham  Lincoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  doomed  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"All  'hat  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "  I  owe  to  my  angel-mother. 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana    Whei- 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few  ;  but  these  he  ead 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committf  ^  tc 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  familj 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  anii 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sistt  i 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mai 
ried  when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his  squatter's  claim  in  1830 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  thei' 
sm.all  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  oi 
education  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  be<  ame 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  And  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  vain;"  and  a  profane  expression  he 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborei 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  .Siiringfield, 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  dowi, 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin- 
coln undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  give 
great  satisfaction  to  his  employers.      In  this  adven 


8o 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so  well  pleased,  lliat  upon 
his  return  they  placed  a  store  and  Uiill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak,  of  the  lilack  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  Salem, 
His  only  post-office  was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  tlie  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  th.e  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1858  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
ilavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
.he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated' in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher   prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  1 6th  ot  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
orominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him : 
and  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fi.x  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
cnly,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  upon  this    good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  thi.-> 
high  position.  In  February,  186  i,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  m  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was  froughl 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  A  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to"  get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  ta 
take  him  from  Harrisburg,  through  Baltimore,  at  an 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  ai.y  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  hac 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
although  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people 
In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr.  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  been  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowirg  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  bo'h  personal  and  national  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
tooneofthem.  Ai^ril  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, witn  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  tlie  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  w-:!! 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  ils  father;  his  c^v-ntry- 
men  being  unable   to   decide    whii  K   is    tl>e    greater. 


\ 


>r^!>(_/2^?l-L^- 


'y^^^^-:i-oi^f^ 


SEVENTEENTH  PRESIDENT 


8j} 


:S,U  O  K  Sif  W  I 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
was  born  December  29,  180S, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  the 
"poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  c';nf:r  ^.-er.  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  upon 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  his  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning,  ^^nvil  ten  years  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  abour  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  states- 
men. Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
in  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
jearned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  si>eeches.      The  owner. 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  book, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  oi- 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  houi-s 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreatior  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  z.t 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  with 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs  ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1840  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thoSv 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successive 
elections,  held  that  important  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  resixjnsible  ]X)si- 
tions,  he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  abi'. 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1S45,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
50ns  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
(ind  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com- 
promise measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
were,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
be  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  *'ree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
3ouLh  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  pride  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  i8bo,  ne 
was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
"Presidency.  In  1S61,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
irn  Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.    In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April   15, 

1865,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
they  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  rvinished ;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  beat  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  *  The  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  inconsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opposition  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech 
In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char 
acterized  Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the  trial  began  March  23. 
It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotent!--, 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  5th  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasionally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  Geenville,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect. 


i 


>^^ 


-^xi 


EIGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


«7 


LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
■United  States,  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
_^^:j  5  Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 
-:'W  home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
iolid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated,  about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  past  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
of  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
ne  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
a  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one 
side  of  the  anin^-il,  ran  the   gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


®)®®V3Xs)^^ 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protecrion  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  life,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, 111.  This  was  in  the  year  i860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army:  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  feel  that 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  to  discharge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  eword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  impressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.      On  the   15  th  of 


83 


UL  YSSES  S.  GRA  NT. 


June,  1 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducah,  near  the  moutli 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
iistrict  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
Dushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 
Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
of  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  infighting  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  upon  '.hp  duties  of  his  new  ofl^ce 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
•  the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  National 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  sal- 
vation. The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidential  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  popular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being   cast    for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term.  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  worid, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  ofiicial,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  wenf  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


S: 


^^-^ 


O' 


V 


Uf 


NINETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


91 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteentli  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  far  back  as  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
'  and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
tane  ovtrtaking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
land in  i6iSo,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  wai,  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turer of  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  aud  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  t756.  He  was  a  fanner, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keepyer.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  BraMleboro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford Hayes    the  father   of  President  Hayes,  was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  18 13,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  stock- 
ing, or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  181 2,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  not  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter 
mined  to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


92 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HA  YES. 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
last  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alludnig  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
him,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right!  Stick  to 
him.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  r.eed  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "  You 
ivait  and  see.  You  cau't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  w<;nt  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
.'ister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doubt,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  bit  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
VVesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in   1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thouias  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduatmg  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

\n  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  u|)on  his  subse- 
quent'ife.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicothe;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
members  such  men  as'^hief  Justice  Salmon  P.  Chase, 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  toreflect  honor  upon  American  woman 
hood.  The  Literary  Cluu  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulne.s  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judgj  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac. 
cept  the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  ol 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Council 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  at 
the  zenith  of  his  professional  lif ,.  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  -in 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  186 1,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  he 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  liattle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  and  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevetted 
Major-General,  "forgallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times 

In  1S64,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army  ;  but  he  finally  declared,  "  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  Pie  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Oliio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  populai  Democrat. 
In  r869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in   1875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard  beaierof  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  was  in 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  hcwever,  with  satisfaction  to  his  party, 
but  his  administration  was  an  average  or\? 


TWENTIETH  PRESIDENT. 


95 


%'         'III/' 


AMES  A.  GARi'IELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    ig, 
1 83 1,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His   par- 
ents were  Abram  and    EUza 
(Ballon)    Garfield,   both   of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from   fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was  not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.  It 
,  tic  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be- 
.\/2en  the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His  father  was  a 
aard  working  farmer,  and  he  soon  had  his  fields 
cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built, 
f  he  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
/.heir  four  children — Mehetabel,  'I'iiomas,  Mary  and 
Tames.  In  May,  i823j  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
.racted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest  fire,  died.  At 
diis  time  James  was  about  eighteen  montlis  old,  and 
Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  No  one,  perhaps,  can 
fell  how  much  James  was  indebted  to  his  biother's 
toil  and  self  sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years  suc- 
ceeding his  father's  death,  but  undoubtedly  very 
much.  He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
ters live  in  .Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
them.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  did  anything  that 
would  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  he'  struggles  to  keep  the  little   family  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  they 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor, 
the  humblest  f)iend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  poorest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  plain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  hi 
was  about  si.xteen  years  old  was  to  be  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  sliould  try  to  obtain 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city 
After  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  went 
iiome,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  schoolin 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  help  pay  his  way 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  liighest  hc*,,- 
ors  of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  slated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  its  pulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Yale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  religion : 


9« 


JAMES  A.   GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  communions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
t,arian  charity  for  all  'who  love  our  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  witli  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  ii,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
jn  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut.-Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  inaction, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
'Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  ro,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  the  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Baell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  member  of  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  tJstory  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  woe 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Ge?  Garfield  wa» 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  si.xty  year* 
mainly  by  two  men — Elisha  Whittlesey  and  JoshuK 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  whicii 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  & 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  whicL 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  mstruction,  the  argu- 
ment on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Uix>n  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  dejxjt,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Blaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  in.licting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Narion  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  people 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  power  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
rg,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  previous.  The 
worid  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


TWENTY-FIRST  PRESIDENT. 


99 


I 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

twenty-first    Presi'^.^ni   of  the 

United   States,    was    born    in 

Franklin  Cour  ty,  Vermont,  on 

thefifthofOc'ober,  1830,  and  is 

the  oldest   of  a   family ,  of  two 

sons  and    five   daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  aBaptisld'-fgyman,who 

emigrated  to  tb'.s  country  from 

the  county  Antnm,   Ireland,   in 

'M     his  1 8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  '" 

Newtonville,   neai    Albany,   after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S(  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  ewtered  the  office  of  ex- Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success^ 
ful  career  almost  from  the  start.  General  Arthur 
soon  afterward  raaxped  the  daughter  of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nommation  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon- 
athan Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal, 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  esjxjused  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  Genera! 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  York,  was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lawyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  apix)inted  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  -1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1 87  8,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  -Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  the  continent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  'sading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
.vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
March  4,  1881,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
k  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering, — those  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  wher  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na- 


tions were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re 
covery  of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  ]X)sition  in  the  world  tvas  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  never 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  other 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  of 
the  Vice  President  to  assume  the  responsibilitiis  of 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  \'ork. 
Sept.  20,  1881.  The  position  was  an  embarr.issing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him ;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
became  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  on 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  Presidept 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  }-is  i'\. 
hands;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  ■■^' 
affairs,  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  so 
wisely  that  but  few  criticised  liis  administration. 
He  served  the  nation  well  and  faithfully,  until  tlie 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory 
to  them  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


y^i^rL^y;^^^ 


OyLyxJ'Ji 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


103 


mir/>s.^m^ 


!«s;s-'«'i;:;j'i^;;;^"-»;\:>'^-^:;T'i'^;;:5-A$;;g<^;;S-#-S;C$**;:S^^ 


'vTv-  •£*  ^A^ 


000 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, the  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con- 
trast with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
larger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way,"  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  academy.  To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.  Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become  self-supporting  by  the  quickest  possible 
means,  and  this  at  'that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  he  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.  Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.  Otherwise  he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of  genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.  He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette~ 
ville,  he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high  school.  Here  he  industriously  pursued  his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as  the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.  This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 
this  capacity,  he  concluded  that  teaching  was  not  his 


S.   GROVE R  CLEVELAND. 


calling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditional  order, 

he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  soing 

to  a  city.     He  lirst  mougnc  ot  Cleveland,  Uhio,  as 

there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 

before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 

jisk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 

stock- breeder  of  that   place.     The   latter  did    not 

speak  enthusiastically.     "  What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 

my  boy.''"  he  asked.     "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 

lav,"  was  the  reply,     "Good  gracious!"  remarked 

ih«  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed .''  What  ever  put 

that  into  your  head?    How  much  money  have  you 

got?"    "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  truth,  I  haven't  got 

» 
any. 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  Ihem  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and 
he  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
Have  the  use  of  the  law  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  tliis  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
uncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
none — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
but  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities.  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
eiected  was  tliat  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  pi'-'.ishment  upon  two 
cainiinals.  Li  r88i  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffilo.  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
cit"  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
periormance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniqui^ 
tous  street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  foi 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  peopls  and  to  wors3 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  tliere- 
upon  recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made^  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
It,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.:  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  ihe  United  States,  in  which 
capacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1885.  For  his  Cabinet  officers  he  selected 
the  following  gentlemen:  For  Secretary  of  State, 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware ;  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Daniel  Manning,  of  New  York  ;  Secretary 
of  War,  William  C.  Endicott,  of  Massachusetts ; 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  WiUiam  C.  Whitney,  of  New 
York;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  of 
Mississippi ;  Postmaster-General,  William  F.  Vilas, 
of  Wisconsin ;  Attorney-General,  A.  H.  Garland,  of 
Arkansas. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy  be- 
tween those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of 
silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed,  Mr. 
Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before  his 
inauguration. 


I 


'idjz^c 


TWENTY-THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


107 


»o»o..@JXl®"<>*«" 


I 


'ENJAMIN  HARRISON,  the 

twenty-third  President,  is 
the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  trusted  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  zenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  in  the  trial  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  tc  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quently paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
hung  Oct.  13,  1660.  His  descendants 
came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 
rzin  Harrison,  of  Virginia, great-grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
waa  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  1 774-5-6,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  He 
wa^  three  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia. 
Qen    William  Henry  Harrison,  the  son  of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suc- 
cessful career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with -a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territory,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  caroer  was  cut  short 
by  death  within  one  month  after  jis  innuguration. 
President  Harrison  was  born  at  North  Bend, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  20, 1883.  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University, 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try lad  of  a  family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  ths 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  school 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en- 
ter  upon  the  study  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
cinnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  received  th'. 
only  inheritance  of  his  life ;  his  aunt  dying  left  him 
a  lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy  as  a 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  »aks 
this  money  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  an '.  be- 
gin the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
the  money  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  wita  his 
young  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  in  the  world.     Me 


108 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON. 


decided  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
Ihat  time  a  town  of  promise.  He  met  with  sliglit 
encouragement  at  first,  making  scarcely  an^'thing 
the  first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applj"ing  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession,    lie  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  1860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  the 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  then  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speake;  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughly,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  1862  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  the  rawest  of  material, 
out  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
with  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Cl'eek  he  was  made  a  Brig.adier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
complimentary  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 
he  Supreme  Court  declared  the  office  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
ing Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fiill  ot  1864 
be  had  taken  no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  ot  the  State,  and  was  elected 
for  another  term.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
fever,  and  after  a  most  trying  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  time  to  participate  in  the  closing 
'xcidents  of  the  war 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  re-election  as 
;eporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law  In  1876 
fle  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  Although  de- 
eated,  the  brilliant  campaign  hb  made  won  ior  him 
a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  much  sought,  es- 
pecial.y  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1880, 
as  usual,  he  took  an  active  part;  in  the  campaign, 
snd  wi^-:  elected  to  the  Vnited  States  Senate.  Here 
uc  sei-ved  six  years,  and  vas  known  as  one  oi  the 
ftblest  men,  best  lawyer'  ^nd  stronges*'  debaters  in 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Scnaioiia) 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  country.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  June  and 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  ever}'  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  .account,  and  the  attitude  it  as- 
sumed upon  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popul.ar,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journeyed 
thither  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  dail}-  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmen. 

On  account  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  hir 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
commonly early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
tlie  country.  He  was  an  uncompromising  anti 
slavery  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  tLe 
most  eminent  Democratic  speakers  of  his  State. 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  der'red  to 
be  pitted  with  him  again.  With  all  his  eloq^'ence 
as  an  orator  ho  never  spoke  for  oratorical  etfect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
He  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  is  a  splec 
did  type  of  the  American  statesman.  Gifted  witli 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he  is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.  Many  of  these  speeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.  Many  of  his  terse 
statements  have  alreadr  become  aphorisms.  Origl- 
nal  in  thought  precise  in  logic,  terse  In  statement, 
yet  withal  faultless  in  elo'yience,  he  is  recognized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  brilUan:  or.ator  c    ta^  day 


-^^i  ■%  ^, 


l^il. 


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I 


'^^^^-(^Crt^^^cyA^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


E^KS^-K!®'^®'^ 


jlP^HADRACH  BOND,  the  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  as  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  bom  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  r773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  liis  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
1812,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  (814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  1812  is  also  noted  in  the  history  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.       In    company    wiih   John   G.    Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jones, 
Warren  Brown.  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  which  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  the  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  i8r8  Mr.  Bond  was  elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  before  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  i8i8,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fixing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros 
ecuting  attorneys,  county  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  be  appointed 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comprised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was    honored  by    the    naming   of  a 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor,  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
tiie  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  Siate,  even 
Defore  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
■clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called. 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "  Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Ke  It  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  the  faraius  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36°  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  1,824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  181 8  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  first  Auditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  that  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  tiie  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and   de 


Glared  that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  '"  officers  of  the  State' 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  The  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Lidiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi- 
gation of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
10  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
until  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole.  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P. 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  bect-jwment  of  his 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg- 
islature, with  Wm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershoni 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  to  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap- 
preciation of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complexion  dark,  h.iir  jet  and 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  wiili  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  II,  1S30,  in  peace  and  -ontentment 


id^^r-UA^  Co<U2<^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


"5 


DWARD  COLES,  second 
Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
,  6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
"  Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  removed  to  William  and 
gCT)  OJlf^S'  Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
^SyP'/tw  This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1807,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classmates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wm.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  froni  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college.  Bishop  Madison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,  Tazewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  founa  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  numljer  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  questio'i  of  slavery.     He    read    every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  liim  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  part 
of  the  non-slaveholding  portion  of  the  Union  he  woulc 
prefer  to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the   Emperor   (Alex- 


ii6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  the  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  i)arts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

\\\  the  spring  of  1819,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
iinention  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  ihem  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  tliey  were  descending  the  Ohio 
R'ver.  He  lashed  all  the  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  desciibed  in  his  own  language  : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  rr.e  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breathless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  expression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  bathed 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  tiie  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  appointed  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  EdwardsviLe, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  ques  ion  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
iiuiting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
I'hillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
Browne  and  Gen.  James  B.  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
i'.ia.  The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
s'lcceeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropiiate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  witli  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  whi';h  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  lime  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "shiveree"  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  politicians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people. 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  revealed 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  .tian- 
ner.  It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  baseof  tlie  mountain,  were  too  nearto  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  i  hem. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bisliop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestrv , 
who  cami  to  this  country  with  Wm.    Penn  in    1682. 

After  tlie  expiration  of  his  term  of  service.  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  "as  fon<l 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  tlie  fir->t  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  I'hiladel- 
phia,  where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
\V'oodland,  near  that  city. 


'  O  cP-C/u^iSi^-^ 


GO  VEUNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


119 


I  ill  a 


ISM 


••<-i<#<->^-^>-j- 


I 


INIAN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
Ironi  1827  to  1S30,  was  a  soa 
of   Benjamin    Edwards,   and 
"as     born    in     Montgomery 
-^/o  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
1775.     His  domestic  train- 
^'       ing  was  well  fitted  to  give 
lis    mind    strength,  firmness  and 
oi.orable    iirinciples,    and  a  good 
foundation  was  laid  fertile  elevated 
character   to   which    he  afterwards 
attained.     His    parents    were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
piinciples.     His  education  in  eaily 
youth  was   in   company    with    and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wni. 
Wirt,  whom  his  father  patronized 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.      An     intimacy    was     thus 
forin.-d  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.     He 
was  further  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.     He  next  cimmenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before    completing  his  course  lie  moved   to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm   for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.     Here  he  fell   in  the   company  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
spendthrift.     He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
•J-ounty  before  he  was   21   years  of  age,  and  was  re- 
jected by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
fjllowing  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  this  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  offices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age!  Li  addition,  in 
1802,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1806  he  was  a  candidate  Tor  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  1809,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  appointment  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developinginto considerable  proportions 
in  Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administration  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  appoint  all  the  officers,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the  people  of  each  county,  by  an  informal 


NINIAN  ED  WARDS. 


vole,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  tSio  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re -settled  for  many  je^rs 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1812,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
seriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  1821,  but  was 
persuaded  by  liis  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
continue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
President  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
Wm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  and  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
order  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
disgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
ihe  Stale  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
/his  commcnwealtli,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
actor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
for  his  parfy  in  1824. 

In  1826  7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soue  depredations  in  the  northern  part  of  the 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  land? 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  putting  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  havj 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantilebusiness,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  liis  office,  he  nearly  always  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  was  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  him 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  wiiom,  especially,  is  well' 
known  to  the  people  of  the  "  Prairie  State,"  namely, 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  c< 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  180910  1818;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  from  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  his 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  cholera.  Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  honor. 


^/ ^^^^0^/0-1.-^/-^^?^^ 


GO  VERAORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


I2J 


4^5^C3»^eV@)@@V(2)6'€^f(2) 


'((^HN  REYNOLDS, Governor  1831- 
Iff^s^  4,  \v;is  boil"!  in  Montgomery Coun- 
ig:  ty,  Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  father,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
liis  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
wliich  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  tliis 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
hjs  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
oosed  to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  i8oo  tlie  fimily  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  III.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
Hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
liquors.     In  1807  the  family  made  another  removal, 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
tlie  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  20th  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeing 
that  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend  college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  carpet,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himseir 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exhibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  disciphne.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  181 2  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which  he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  his 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  all  others  for  social   intercourse. 


12/1 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  i8i  2, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  inthe  French  village  of 
(3ahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
iudicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
,if  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
'he  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1S30,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  e.xciteraent.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  recc  mmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  the  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  vi'itli  the  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
term. 

South  Carolina  nullification  coming  up  at  this  time, 
t  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
and  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
•  834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  coiisidering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
^e  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
days  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  viva  voce,  each  member  in  his  ])lace 
naming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
created  considerable  heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex  Governor  was  scarcely 
Absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  year^, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "My  Own  Times"  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  economy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lidy  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Hiving  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  ex-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accordingly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Buren  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu 
larly  for  the  purixsse  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.  This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  i860,  aged 
and  infirm,  he  attended  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C  ,  as  an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern  Delegates  than  any  other  member.  He 
supported  Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.  After 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the  Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the  support  of  Douglas.  Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
secession,  and  about  the  first  of  March,  i86r,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal 
at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  plirases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides  many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He 
died  in  Belleville,  in  May,  1865,  just  after  the  close 
of  the  war. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'27 


LLIAM  LEE  I).  EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
^^«s  to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  bad 
a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined  sentiment.  In  1830  John  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and  Zadok  Casey  Lieutenant  Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.  Reynolds.  The  first  we 
^Ph/  see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
forms us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 
Mor.eys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
this  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  his  liands 
v.'ere  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
W-aW  i^resent  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
-ubbed,by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
dollar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketcli  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
ne  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
when  I  "ras  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  and  his  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Rock  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  or.  a  tour  of 
reconnoisance,  and  witii  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  the  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
lubordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
Rock  River  in  searcii  of  the  enemy.  On  the  19th  of 
uly,   early  in  the    morning,   five   baggage    wagons. 


cainp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  migli'- 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  the  worst  thickets;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  t!',e  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  acting  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skin-,  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  'he 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  dior- 
oughly  drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  he  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  tow.ird  the  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
his  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  the  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  wliich  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  the  red  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  the  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  in- 


T28 


WILLIAM  L.  D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  -.n  another  direction. 

In  the  above  affair  Maj.  Ewmg  is  often  referred  to 
as  a  "General,"  which  title  he  had  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Senate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
the  August  election  of  1834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  the 
time  at  which  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  tlie  law.  His  predecessor,  Chailes  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  the  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Wash- 
ington in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing,  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  only  a  period  of 
15  days,  namely,  from  the  3d  to  the  17th  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  On  the  17th  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor;  and 
on  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
was  sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  gentleman  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  Illinois,  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
the  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  af  erwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
Supreme  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes.  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped ;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie  ;  but  on 
the  1 2th  E.ving  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
accordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewin^; 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  term  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  1842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Audit-^r  on  the  ticket  with  Gov,  Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  builJ, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  o' 
originality.    He  died  March  25,  1846. 


£ 


Jc^s'^/^^  ^ 


GO  VEKNOKS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


!-!I 


'i'^'isi££M^^<i,^.,^9-^^$M^^--&^ -—':'■■  ^[-_f&^^^ 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1834-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  liimself  "  iih  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
\S,  or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
he  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-Geneial  of  the  ISIilitia, 
a  position  which  his  military  fame 
had  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  Slate  Senator  from 
.  Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  forCongress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
\s  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  Stale.  He  was 
an  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  adniiraiion  of  the  glory  of 
his  militaiy  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
liut  he  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeches,  though  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
full  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  State,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
his  health.  The  most  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
Duncan,  under  the  circumstances,  was  that  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  williout  defeating  Mr 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,321  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoldering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated, 
Aside  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  perional  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Co  igress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
.\ugust,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  the  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  Slate,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
lime.  Of  course  the  Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


'32 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
i\zA  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
ogainst  the  course  of  tiie  President.  The  measures 
'.e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
Mainly  to  banks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal improvement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
'upted  the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
and  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
Jiese  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually charged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  one  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public ; 
but  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  of  the  same  plow 
handle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
•or  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  e-xcitement  the  Legislature 
"provided  for"  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Quincy  via  Springfield  to  the  Wabash, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
.ributed  to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve 
ments  were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  expenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
placed  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  which  was  not 
more  inan  half  enough!  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 
was  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,    even   counting  all  the   possible   benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
in  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of  Elijah  P.  Love- 
ipy  in  the  fall  of  1837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
term  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "Abolitionist," 
editing  the  Observer  at  that  place,  and  the  pro- 
slavery  slums  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob, 


and  after  destroying  successiveJy  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  the 
brave  reformer! 

About  this  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  1112 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adan: 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi 
date  for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  di^^d 
before  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  liis 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  enjoyed,  and  the 
want  o.'  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
ihiit  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
judgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  right.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  tlie  admira 
tion  of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
both  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  the  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  which  the  accompanying  w.i.i 
made,  represents  liim  as  having  a  swarthy  complcj:- 
ion,  high  cheek  bones,  broad  forehead,  piercing  blail: 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  College  ai 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1S44,  a  devotcil 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  leaving  a  wifi.- 
but  no  children.  Two  children,  born  to  theui,  iiad 
died  in  infancy. 


^^J^^rYct^ti^^^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'35 


■A-y 


^^MHOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
"""  '  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  a  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
18,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opportunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
lace,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
jiid  'tnent  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
10  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  18  r  2  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  1814  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
scari,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
rt»'ton,in  tliat  county,  and  in  1825  made  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  Sheriff  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
lackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
(xjinted  by  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Pul>lic  Mon-'vs,  and   to   fulfill   the  office 


more  conveniently  lie  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 

While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  iin[)rovemeiit 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  witli  all  its 
ex|)ensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  liardest 
times  "  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  ciierished  tiie 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  with  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  State 
policy.  But  the  grand  schenif;  had  not  yet  lost  it-f 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  e.xperience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  question  of  arresting 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
campaign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg 
islatuie  were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
G)nvention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Gov-'rnor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brotherof  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  while  Car!:;- 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  tunc 
that  the  two  main  political  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembar'assed  Ijy  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573 ;  Ander- 
son, 30,335;  Edwards,  29,629;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

Ui)on  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan)  in    his  mes- 


•36 


THOMAS  CARLIN. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Cn'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
X.  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  who  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
.hrough  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lins  preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  ivarranio  case  brought  up 
before  it  by  Jchn  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereuwn  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!" 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scales,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  "  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  net  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that   they  should   have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  darinj»  to 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  th^ 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  tha  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  his  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  1849 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  the 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


I 


o. 


■'^A-t^I'V-^A^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


139 


N?>*</ .it: -  -  • ^ . — — •  .  ...  __  ■■— ",■  ■_.._.. -?"., 


jl^'^'S'^' 


-f3 


J i_ 


Ju._A. 


£>- 


>gHOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1804,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi  bluffs.     Here   young   Ford    received   his  first   1 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Hum[)hrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endowments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education; 
but  George  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  jMobably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  opportunities, 
received  a  better  education,  though  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Co)k,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  Illinois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  obtained  a  grant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named.     Through  the  advice  of 


140 


THOMAS  FORD. 


this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forq;ier,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  aUernated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
irig  school  for  support. 

In  1829  Gov.  Edwards  app;jinled  him  Pro-iecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appointed  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  oice  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re -organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
ne  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  ou  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  lield  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
jan  principle, — Mever  to  a-.k  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cau  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  Dower  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
■'ound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
,)ractice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
he  arts  of  demagogues  as  w;:ll  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  10  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
Keeper,  and  was  wai;ed  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
r.ight  by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "  combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
fiardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
r.dn".inistration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "and 
.he  Me.xican  War. 

In  the  first  of  tnese  the  Governor  proved  himself 
'a  be  eir;inently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  rui'ious  effects  of 
•.ne   r.otocious  "internal  improvement"   schemes   of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  tc; 
show  by  w-iy  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  te 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growing  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter-Day  Saints "  becam?  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  incre.tsed  their  num- 
bers throughout  thecount-y,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
their  leader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  i)een  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  no  i-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "  between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  particijiating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  sjjring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  su;ce5Sor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 

Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operptions 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  litile  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  III., 
Nov.  2,  i8i;o. 


I 


i 


— -^^^-^^=^^^^M^^^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


143 


S-t  '-...^'-if- 


I       Augustus  a  French. 


{^ 


i:^ 


iUGUSTUS  C.    FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
1846   to   1852,  was  born  in 
the   town  of  Hill,  in    the 
State  of   New  Hampshire, 
Aug.  2,  1808.     He  was  a 
descendant    in    the   fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
French,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  1687  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  young  French  lost  his 
father,   but  continued   to   receive   in- 
struction   from    an     exemplary     and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  19  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.     He  discharged   his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.     His  education  in  early  life  was 
such  mainly  as  a  common  school   afforded.     For  a 
brief  period    he    attended    Dartmouth   College,   but 
from   pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.     He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in   1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.     The   following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.     Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public   life 
by   representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.     A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident  when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scates. 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  the  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Wm.  McMurlry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Whigs,  who  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilcox,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  exposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election;  but  in  the  meantime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  the  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received  5,152   vots>s 


144 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  terra  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  incumbenl  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  i,36t  for 
James  I..  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war,  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Feb.  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  permission  of  Congress,  declared  tiiat 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  lime,  the  distribution  of  Government 
!and  warrants  among  the  Mexican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of  good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  the  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $100,000  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  wells  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  \\\ 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1839,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  the 
population  851,470. 


In  1S49  the  Legisiivture  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  185 1.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  pasied 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  urgecj 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1S50  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  thera  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  185  r  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  autliorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not  space  further  to  particularize 
concerning  legislation.  Gov.  French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  complexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1865,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St. 
Clair  Co.,  Til. 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


147 


l0el  %.  plsi'ttes0tt 


!.<)EL    A.    MATTESON,    Governor 

^Mgst  1853-6,  was  born  Aug.  8,  1808, 
1^1  in  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
before.  His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon Enghsh  education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel  first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small  tradesman  in  Prescott, 
Canada,  before  he  was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited  the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  liis  father  had 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  South,  worked  tliere 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  siorm  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  the  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  father's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried. In  1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed, 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  Au 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.  At 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  his  place,  and  only 
■  hree  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.  He 
opened  a  large  farm.     His  fatuily    was  boarded   12 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 

sleeping,  daring  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge  prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1 836  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  hirn  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
by  a  bungling  apiiortionment,  jC.  m  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district, 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


[48 


JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  im[X)rtant  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
loan  of  $[,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross, of  Fulton  ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  Dexter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  powerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  As  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
rirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  parfy  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  vi'hat 
was  temporarily  called  the  "Anti-Nebraska"  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
braska or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "  Anti-Nebraska  " 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  fewballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  the  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $137,818,07910  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  fronr  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3.000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrio,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  jirincipal  and  a.ll 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He   died  in    the   winter  of  1872--3,  at  Chicago. 


'..^j^^i^^u^^e. 


GO  VERJ^ORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


151 


^^e^ 


1-5— # a<3!$-<ffl>>^®-t> 


[LLIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
p  A]5ril  25,  181 1,  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
honest,  God-fearing  people, 
who  reared  their  children  under  the  daily 
example  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
society.  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambitiori,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  choice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
anew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, discovered  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  local   notoriety.     It  soon  came  lo  be  under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
humor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

In  stature  he  was  somewliat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
pleasant  and  manner  winning.  Hi*  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  the  first  time  to  Miss  James, 


'52 


WILLIAM  H.  BISSELL. 


of  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  hi.oi  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limitad 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  the  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  tlie 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  jjolitician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Republican 
party. 

During  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  for  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  u)) 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  Cook 
County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.     The  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  in 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light 
''mplicating  ex-Gov,  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.     (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned.  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  e.xposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  wiiile  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco- 
motion e.xcept  by  the  aid  of  crutches.  While  he  was 
generally  hopeful  of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its 
stealthy  hold,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  March  18, 
i860,  over  nine  months  before  the  expiration  of  his 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.  He 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  o< 
which  he  har»  been  a  member  since  1854. 


Go  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


•55 


#^<^ 


>;(  )HN  WOOD,  Governof  1860-1,  and 
ft^  the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
nius  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
nee  Catherine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
physician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  lai  guages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
hiin  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
deatli,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  1818,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shavvneetown, 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  i82r  he  visited  "the  Bluffs"  (as  the 
present  siie  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  its  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  quarter-section  of  land  near  by,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing fall  (1822)  erected  near  the  river  a  small  cabin, 


18  X  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

Aiiout  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  wliom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  3  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  points  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  ofifthe  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  yet 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!  " 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  3 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  newspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
County.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seat,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containing  but  four  adult  male   residents  and   half 


150 


JOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Since  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majority. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  18,  i860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  i860,  resulting  in  tlie  election  of  the  honest 
lUinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  tne  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nacion  from  destruction. 

In  1861  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  April  of  the  sanr.e  year,  on  the 
breaking  om  of  the    Rebellion,   he   was   appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  137th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  acdvely  identi- 
fied with  tlie  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise ;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughterof  Joshua  Streeter, 
formeriy  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
June,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
'Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


'59 


T^^i 


gi^y^  .A'^v-V  .^pV:c^f-.VT.-^>?V:yiS2a; 


UCHARD  YATES,  the    "War 
Governor,"  1861-4,  was  born 
Jan.  18,  18 18,  on  the  banks  of 
the   Ohio   River,   at   Warsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.     His  lather 
'^  moved  in  1831  to  Illinois,  and^ 
after   stopping   for   a   time  in 
Springfield,   settled  at   Island 
Grove,    Sangamon   County.      Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
tlie  family.    Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois     College     at      Jacksonville, 
where,  in    1837,  he  graduated  with 
first  honors.     He  cho-,e  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din being  his  instructor.     After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he   soon  rose  to  distinction  as   an 

advocate. 

Gifted  with   a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared   in    the   political   hustings,   and,   being   a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West.  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
.he  party  of  his  idol.     In  1 840  he  engaged  with  great 
=Tdor  in   the  exciting  "  hard  cider  "   campaign  for 
riarrison.     Two  years  later  he   was  elected  to  the 
Legislature    from    Morgan    County,    a   Democratic 
stronghold.     He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
Tory  that  by    1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
extending   from    Morgan    and    Sangamon    Counties 
.  OTth  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
tne  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.     His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
ular man  who  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in   the  Mexican  War,  and   who   had 
acaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position. 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  wa? 
elected.  Two  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  t86o  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  offi.:e  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.   Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the   State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.     Francis  A. 
Hoffman,   of   DuPage   County,   was    nominated  foi 
Lieutenant  Governor.     This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for   President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by   the  great  whidpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated   J.  C.   Allen  of 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ross, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.     The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.     After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the   election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr    Allen  159,253.     Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  State  during  the 


l6o 


RICHARD    YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
from  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  by  his  excel- 
lency ;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battleof 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  his  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  political  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  the  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  position  that 
he  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
:,ad  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
assemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  to 
effect  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "happiness., 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Con^jtitution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions ;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  «■«,?  die,  the  Governor,  having 
the  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
excitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  in 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
which  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  A  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  at  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  pardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment  Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which  office  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  27th  of  November  following. 


GGVhRA'ORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


163 


Michard  J.  Ogleshy 


-^3- 


%^rCHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 
ernor 1865-8,  and  re-elected 
in  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
Ky., — the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eight  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  liis  ap- 
prenticeship as  a  mechanic,  working  six  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

The  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Cru2.  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  liis  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
on  the  breaking  out  of  the  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
1849,  lie  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new  Eldorado,  driving  a  six-mule  team,  with  a  com- 


^ 


pany  of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  on  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  lu  1856  he  visited  Europe, 
.\jia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  fir.n  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  noininee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  i860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in. 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  WIS  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  April  he  was  promoted  Brigadier  Gen> 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
place,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


164 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  this 
day.  On  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gdlantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  froii  the  effects  of  liis 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
tlie  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  returned  home. 

The  Republican,  or  Uiion,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,  May  25,  when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon, and  John  M.  Palmer,  of  .Macoupin.  Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.  On  the  Democratic  State  ticket  were 
James  C.  Robinson,  of  Clark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.  The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  the  Legislature  and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  ]ij;ne  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  six 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the  election  of  ex-Gov.  Yates  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  13th 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.  This  session  also  signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  1819.  Also,  la.vs  re- 
quiring tlie  registration  of  voters,  and  establisiiing  a 
State  Board  of  Equalization,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature. But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,  granted  in  1859  for  25  years,  and  now 
sought  to  be  extended  99  years.  As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt  to  check  their  headlong  career.  At  this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless  we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867  was  still  more  productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.  Many  omnibus  bills  were 
prcpcsed,  and  seme  passed.  The  contests  over  the 
iC-cation  of  the    Industrial  College,  the  dipital,  the 


Southern    Penitentiary,   and    the  canal   enlargement 
and    Illinois   River   improvement,   dominated  every 
thing  else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  i( 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  the 
United_  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Gustavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
3S'334  to  56,i74,^the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  Ijy  their  having  an  old-time  Wliig  and 
Abolitionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1879, -having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1884  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  join; 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  eacl: 
party  to  clieckmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  tiiedium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  a|)pear- 
ance  is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  wcL 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Arlent  in  feeling  and  si rongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicani.;n-. 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  hisjovia. 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures. 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  utmost;  with  frequent  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  al)undant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  emphacis, 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure 


A-^^-'^^oc^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


1U7 


O-v- 


J  o  HN  M.  Pa  l  mer 


r^'^'§§l'^'^^:;-■^^l^.;:l^V'l^i^|^^;'l^?a'■gl>:^';:'l  '.^i'..'!  •.-'.•..'.•..'■;.  '■'•.'tgg't^-^i^t^t^ta;;' 


':'^:OHN  Mc  AUl.EY  PALMER,  Gov- 
ernor 1869-72,  was  born  on 
Engle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky  , 
Sept.  13,  1817.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  18 12,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  ciiildhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
eaily  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  P.ilmer's 
Kiother  broke  up  the  family.  About  tliis  tmie  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elilui,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
18  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

Dunng    lire   summer  of    1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A,  Douglas,  then   making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
l)olitical  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  la.v,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
li;iville,  making  liis  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (I'he  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  con- 
siderable orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  Ir 
t847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con 
vention,  where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  ht. 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slavery 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op- 
position to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  party 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  thi 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.     A    few    weeks    afterward 


i68 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


however,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  Congressional  Convention  which  noini- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
unqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
ne  put  in  nomination  for  the  United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  him  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
3859,  but  was  defeated.  In  i860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
fle  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
J4th  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  command  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamanga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  i4lh 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  those  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor ;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
oersistenily  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuir.j; 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
points,  which  were  mare  in  keeping  with  the  Dema- 
cratic  sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  f  jr 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultim.itely  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  r'.ilror.d  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  187 1,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament.  He 
has  a  largo  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  social 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  his 
iiabits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  manners 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  principle* 
of  statesmanship. 


^r^r^tn^Ji^^  if  A£^ly^O^J-<4./6^ 


Gc'  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


171 


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mw 


OHN  LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE,  Governor  187 3-6,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
^-r'^^  idge.  His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Bcveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
1  from  Scotland  just  before  the 
\|  Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
^  Washington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
younpest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  tlie  first  one  of  the  num- 
liL-r  died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
fi  sl-born,  whose  "  native  land  "  w.;s 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  ar.d 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  8o  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate  Church,"   a   seceding    Presbyterian    body    of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rig  d 
was  the  training  of  young  Beveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  19th 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  upon  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fill  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Granville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  several 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  njt  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  jiacked  his  trunk  and  with  only 
^40   in  money   started    South    to  seek    liis  fortune 


172 


JOHN  L.  BE  VE RIDGE. 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he   thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

in  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  litde  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
^aw,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  then  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1861,  his  law  partner.  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
HI.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  II,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1 863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  17th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.  In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  [870,  he  practiced 
law  and  closed  up  the  unfinished  business  of  his 
office.  He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 187 1,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,  Jan.  21,  1873.  Thus,  inside  of  a  few 
weeks,  he  was  Congressman  at  large.  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.  The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "  Haines'  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever- 
idge &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  7 1  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block), 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1881,  he  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer-  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


I 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


175 


Shelby  M,  €vllom. 


HELBY  M.  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 1877-83,15  tlie  sixth  child 
of  the'  late  Richard  N.  CuUom, 
and  was  born  Nov.  22,  1829,  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  lUinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  faiiily  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  paity  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
the  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  boiled  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
car>ital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.    He  died  about 

'«73- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 

to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school   as   he  had 

•DDortunity  during    tiie    winter.     Within    this    time, 

*v;ever,  he   spent   several  months  teaching-  ^rhool. 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  ox  team  for  tlie  Lcij^hbors  With  the  money  o!)- 
tained  by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County: 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopelesj  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  lie  heard  Hon.  E.  B  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  concluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  health 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  Peoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
weat  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  .\nti-Nebraska  ticket.  ^ 

In  1856  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
lies. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  tlie  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.    Practicir^ 


176 


SHE  LB  Y  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  iS6o,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  iS6i,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  the 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  parly 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  the 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.     He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  enteted  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  qs  the  Republican  candidate  lor 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  JohnT.  Stuart,  who  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4,103  !  In  i868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  which  caused  more  consternation  among 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
Dlaced    in    nomination    Lewis    Steward,    a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consecjuence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1 87  3  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new- 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  time  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  forthe  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  tmie  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
Greenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  1S81.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lo  n  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lieutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
States  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  18S9. 

As  a  practitioner  oflaw  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  al  Spring- 
fit:ld ;  and  he  has  also  b^en  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
ii:,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
t\io  daughters;  and  the  second  tipie  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
isl  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


i 
L 

i 

I 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79 


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^«s-^^^ 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
j..,  TON,  Governor  188^-5,  was 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
Vf^^  miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
of  Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMotris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  in  that  commonwealth;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  tather  sold  out 
his  Utile  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township,  Marshall  Co.,  111.,  being 
21  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  payii.g  for  the  land  and 
jiakii.g  a  conifortaM*'  home.     John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evmced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  what  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  •  Much  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts ;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "buckled  to"  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  e.xcitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  i860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  this  Wide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military  company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  the  war,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  1863-4  'le 
attended  an  academy  at   Henry,   Marshall  County 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  141st  III. 
Vol  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  loo-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 

The  following  winter,  1864-5,  ^''-  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  h'^ 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  time  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Bloomington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  business  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
u:il)roken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  E.xecutive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rowell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  187 1,  Mr.  Hamilton  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  V/illiams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  Wni.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  the  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  part ''  on  the  stump  " 
in  tlie  campaign,  for  the  success  of  iiis  party,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  during  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  the  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  .At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  agains*  c; 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peri- 
tentiary,  which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President //■(? /t'wz. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  '*^abash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorship. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Cullom 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrassments  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
Counties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-licensj 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 

1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  w.is  John 
A.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  .Arthur;  but 
Ire  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Ja.;.  30, 

1885,  when  the  great  favorite  "  Dick  "  Oglesby  was 
inaugurated. 


I 


^**v 


1 


( 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


183 


'^USEPII  WILSON  FIFER.  This 
V|:  distinguished  gentleman  was 
|,;^^|»«  elected  Governor  of  Illinois 
"^f:)'®jjP% 'ill"  November  6,  1888.  He  was 
p(>liularly  known  during  the 
campaign  as  "Private  Joe."  He 
had  served  with  great  devotion 
to  his  country  during  the  Re- 
bellion, in  the  Thirty-third 
Illinois  Infantry.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  was  born  in  1840. 
His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Daniels)  Fifer,  were  American 
born,  though  of  German  de- 
scent. His  father  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  an  old 
Henry  Clay  Whig  in  polities.  John  and  Mary 
Fifer  had  nine  children,  o/ whom  Joseph  was  the 
sixth,  and  naturally,  with  so  large  a  family,  it  was 
all  the  father  could  do  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
door,  to  say  nothing  of  giving  his  children  any- 
thing like  good  educational  advantages. 

Joseph  attended  sciiool  for  a  while  in  Yirgina, 
but  it  was  not  a  good  school,  and  when  his  fatlier 
removed  to  the  West,  in  18.57,  Joseph  had  not  ad- 
vanced much  further  than  the  "First  Reader." 
Oursuliject  was  sixteen  then  and  suffered  a  great 
misfortune  in  the  loss  of   his  mother.     After  the 


death  of  Mrs.  Fifer,  which  occurred  in  Missouri, 
the  family  returned  to  Virgina,  but  remained  only 
a  short  time,  as  during  the  same  year  Mr.  Fifer 
came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  McLean  County 
and  started  a  brickyard.  Here  Joseph  and  his 
brothers  were  jiut  to  work.  The  elder  Mr.  Fifer  soon 
bought  a  farm  near  Bloomington  and  began  life 
as  an  agriculturist.  Here  Joe  worked  and  attended 
the  neighbciring  school.  lie  alternated  farm-work, 
and  brick-Jaying,  going  to  the  district  school  for 
the  succeeding  few  years.  It  was  all  work  and  no 
play  for  Joe,  yet  it  by  no  means  made  a  dull  boy 
of  him.  All  the  time  he  was  thinking  of  the  great 
world  outside,  of  which  he  had  caught  a  glimpse 
when  coming  from  Virginia,  yet  he  did  not  know 
just  how  he  was  going  to  get  out  into  it.  He 
could  not  feel  that  the  woods  around  the  new  farm 
and  the  log  cabin,  in  which  the  family  lived,  were 
to  hold  him. 

Theopportunit}' to  get  out  into  tlie  world  was 
soon  offered  to  jouug  Joe.  He  traveled  a  dozen 
miles  barefoot,  in  company  with  his  brother  George, 
and  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Tliirty-lhird  Illinois 
Infantry,  he  being  then  twenty  years  old.  In  a 
few  daj's,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Butler, 
and  then  over  into  Missouri,  and  saw  some  vigor- 
ous service  there.  After  a  second  time  helping  to 
chase  Price  out  of  Missouri,  the  Thirty-third   Regi- 


184 


JOSEPH  W.  FIFER. 


ment  went  down  to  Milliken  's  Bend,  and  for  several 
weeks  "Private  Joe"  worked  on  Grant's  famous 
ditch.  Tlie  regiment  then  joined  the  forces  oper- 
ating against  Port  Gibson  and  Vicksburg.  Joe 
was  on  guard  dutj'  in  the  front  ditches  when  the 
flag  of  surrender  was  run  up  on  the  4th  of  July, 
and  stuck  tlie  bayonet  of  his  gun  into  the  embank- 
ment and  went  into  the  city  with  the  vanguard  of 
Union  soldiers. 

The  next  day,  July  5,  the  Thirty-third  joined 
the  force  after  Johnston,  who  had  been  threatening 
Grant's  rear;  and  finally  an  assault  was  made  on  him 
at  Jackson,  Miss.  In  this  charge  ''Private  Joe"  fell, 
terribly  wounded.  He  was  loading  his  gun,  when 
a  minie-ball  struck  him  and  passed  entirely 
through  his  body.  He  was  regarded  as  mortally 
wounded.  His  brother,  George,  who  had  been 
made  a  Lieutenant,  proved  to  be  the  means  of  sav- 
ing his  life.  The  Surgeon  told  him  that  unless  he 
had  ice  his  brother  could  not  live.  It  was  flf  t^^  miles 
to  the  nearest  point  where  ice  could  be  obtained, 
and  the  roads  were  rough.  A  comrade,  a  McLean 
County  man,  who  had  been  wounded,  offei-ed  to 
make  the  trip.  An  ambulance  was  secured  and 
the  brother  soldier  started  on  the  journey.  He  re- 
turned with  the  ice,  but  the  trip,  owing  to  the 
roughness  of  the  road,  was  very  hard  on  him.  Af- 
ter a  few  montlis'  careful  nursing,  Mr.  Fifer  was  able 
to  come  home.  The  Thirty-third  came  home  on  a 
furlough,  and  when  the  b03'S  were  ready  to  return 
to  the  tented  field,  young  Fifer  was  ready  to  go 
with  them,  for  he  was  determined  to  finish  his 
term  of  three  years.  He  was  mustered  out  in  Oct- 
ober, 1864,  having  been  in  the  service  three  years 
and  two  months. 

"Private  Joe"  came  out  of  the  army  a  tall,  tan- 
ned, and  awkward  young  man  of  twenty-four. 
About  all  he  possessed  was  ambition  to  be  some- 
body-— and  pluck.  Though  at  an  age  when  most 
men  liave  finished  their  college  course,  the  young 
soldier  saw  that  if  he  was  to  be  anybody  he  must 
have  an  education.  Yet  he  had  no  means  to  ena- 
ble him  to  enter  school  as  most  young  men  do. 
He  was  determined  to  have  an  education,  however, 
and  that  to  him  meant  success.  For  the  following 
four  years  he  struggled   with   his  books.     He   en- 


tered Wesleyan  University  January  1,  1865.  He 
was  not  a  brilliant  student,  being  neither  at  the 
head  nor  at  the  foot  of  his  class.  He  was  in  great 
earnest,  however,  studied  hard  and  came  forth  with 
a  well-stored  and  disciplined  mind. 

Immediately  after  being  graduated,  he  entered 
an  office  at  Bloomington  as  a  law  student.  He 
had  previously  read  law  a  little,  and  as  he  continued 
to  work  hard,  with  the  spur  of  poverty  and  prompt- 
ings of  ambition  ever  with  him,  he  was  ready  to 
hang  out  his  professional  shingle  in  1869.  Being 
trustworthy,  he  soon  gathered  about  him  some  in- 
fluential friends.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Corpora- 
tion Counsel  of  Bloomington.  In  1872  he  was 
elected  State's  Attorney  of  McLean  County.  This 
office  he  held  eight  years,  when  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  State  Senate.  He  served  for  four  years.  His 
ability  to  perform  abundance  of  hard  work  made 
him  a  most  valued  member  of  the  Legislature. 

Mr.  Fifer  was  married  in  1870  to  Gertie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  J.  Lewis,  of  Bloomington.  Mr.  Fifer 
is  six  feet  in  height  and  is  spare,  weighing  only  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  He  has  a  swarthy  com- 
plexion, keen  black  eyes,  quick  movement,  and  pos- 
sesses a  frank  and  sympathetic  nature,  and  natur- 
lly  m.akes  friends  wherever  he  goes.  During  the 
late  gubernatorial  campaign  his  visits  throughout 
the  State  proved  a  great  power  in  his  behalf.  His 
faculty  of  winning  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  personal  contact 
is  a  source  of  great  popularity,  especially  during  a 
political  battle.  As  a  speaker  he  is  fluent,  his  lan- 
guage is  good,  voice  clear  and  agreeal)le,  and  man- 
ner forcible.  His  manifest  earnestness  in  what  he 
says, as  well  as  his  tact  as  a  pulilic  speaker,  and  his 
eloquent  and  forceful  language,  make  him  a  most 
valuable  campaign  orator  and  a  powerful  pleader 
at  the  bar.  At  the  Republican  State  Convention, 
held  in  May,  1888,  Mr.  Fifer  was  chosen  as  its 
candidate  for  Governor.  He  proved  a  popular 
nominee,  and  the  name  of  "Private  Joe"  became 
familiar  to  eveiyone  throughout  the  State.  He 
waged  a  vigorous  campaign,  was  elected  by  a  good 
majority,  and  in  due  time  assumed  the  duties  of 
the  Chief  Jlxecutive  of  Illinois. 


FORD  COUNTY, 

Illinois. 


©£ 


• —  -<a) 


=-^4- 


Ml 


4-3r- 


^m  iNTRODUQTORY.»» 


^^^•^I^-^x^ 


5HE  time  has  arrived  when  it 
becomes  the  duty  of  the 
people  of  this  county  to  per- 
petuate the  names  of  their 
pioneers,  to  furnish  a  record 
of  their  early  settlement, 
and  relate  the  story  of  their 
progress.  The  civilization  of  our 
the  enlightenment  of  the  age 
and  the  duty  that  men  of  the  pres- 
ent time  owe  to  their  ancestors,  to 
themselves  and  to  their  posterity, 
demand  that  a  record  of  their  lives 
and  deeds  should  be  made.  In  bio- 
graphical history  is  found  a  power 
to  instruct  man  by  precedent,  to 
enliven  the  mental  faculties,  and 
to  waft  down  the  river  of  time  a 
safe  vessel  in  which  the  names  and  actions  of  the 
people  who  contributed  to  raise  this  country  from  its 
primitive  state  may  be  preserved.  Surely  and  rapidly 
the  great  and  aged  men,  who  in  their  prime  entered 
the  wilderness  and  claimed  the  virgin  soil  as  their 
heritage,  are  passing  to  their  graves.  The  number  re- 
maining who  can  relate  the  incidents  of  the  first  days 
of  settlement  is  becoming  small  indeed,  so  that  an 
actual  necessity  exists  for  the  collection  and  preser- 
vation of  events  without  delay,  before  all  the  early 
settlers  are  cut  down  by  the  scythe  of  Time. 

To  be  forgotten  has  been  the  great  dread  of  mankind 
from  remotest  ages.  All  will  be  forgotten  soon  enough, 
in  spite  of  their  best  works  and  the  most  earnest 
efforts  of  their  friends  to  perserve  the  memory  of 
their  lives.  The  means  employed  to  prevent  oblivion 
and  to  perpetuate  their  memory  has  been  in  propor- 
tion to  the  amount  of  intelligence  they  possessed. 
Th-;  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  deeds  of  their  great  rulers.**  The  exhu- 
mations made  by  the  archeologists  of  Egypt  from 
buried  Memphis  indicate  a  desire  of  those  people 


to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  achievements 
The  erection  of  the  great  obelisks  were  for  the  same 
purpose.  Coming  down  to  a  later  period,  we  find  tiit 
Greeks  and  Romans  erecting  mausoleums  and  monu- 
ments, and  carving  out  statues  to  chronicle  their 
great  achievements  and  carry  them  down  the  ages. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  Mound-builders,  in  piling 
up  their  great  mounds  of  earth,  had  but  this  idea — • 
to  leave  something  to  show  that  they  had  lived.  All 
these  works,  though  many  of  them  costly  in  the  ex- 
treme, give  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  lives  and  charac- 
ters of  those  whose  memory  they  were  intended  to 
perpetuate,  and  scarcely  anything  of  the  masses  of 
the  people  that  then  lived.  The  great  pyramids  and 
some  of  the  obelisks  remain  objects  only  of  curiosity; 
the  mausoleums,  monuments  and  statues  are  crum- 
bling into  dust. 

It  was  left  to  modern  ages  to  establish  an  intelli- 
gent, undecaying,  immutable  method  of  perpetuating 
a  full  history — immutable  in  that  it  is  almost  un- 
limited in  extent  and  perpetual  in  its  action ;  and 
this  is  through  the  art  of  printing. 

To  the  present  generation,  however,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  introduction  of  the  admirable  system 
of  local  biography.  By  this  system  every  man,  thougl 
he  has  not  achieved  what  the  world  calls  greatness, 
has  the  means  to  perpetuate  his  life,  his  history, 
through  the  coming  ages. 

The  scythe  of  Time  cuts  down  all ;  nothing  of  the 
physical  man  is  left.  The  monument  which  his  chil- 
dren or  friends  may  erect  to  his  memory  in  the  ceme- 
tery will  crumble  into  dust  and  pass  away;  but  his 
life,  his  achievements,  the  work  he  has  accomplished, 
which  otherwise  would  be  forgotten,  is  perpetuated 
by  a  record  of  this  kind. 

To  preserve  the  lineaments  of  our  companions  we 
engrave  their  portraits,  for  the  same  reason  we  col- 
lect the  attainable  facts  of  their  history.  Nor  do  we 
think  it  necessary,  as  we  speak  only  truth  of  them,  to 
wait  until  they  are  dead,  or  until  those  who  know 
them  are  gone:  to  do  this  we  are  ashamed  only  to 
publish  to  the  world  the  history  of  those  whose  live? 
are  unworthy  of  public  record. 


■^ 


[ 


~^~^^^ 


ILLIAM  H.  PELLS,  who  was  so  well 
known  to  the  early  settlers  of  this  comnui- 
nity  for  his  enterprise,  integrity  and  ster- 
ling wortli,  may  well  be  called  not  only  one  of  the 
fathers  of  Paxton,  but  also  of  Ford  County,  lie 
was  a  native  of  PougUkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  born  June 
12,  1813.  His  educational  advantages  were  lim- 
ited to  a  few  years'  attendance  at  the  schools  of 
his  native  city,  but  by  reading,  and  contact  with 
the  Inisiness  world,  he  became  a  well-informed 
man  and  a  shrewd  financier.  When  onl\'  thirteen 
j-ears  of  age,  he  was  compelled  by  force  of  circum- 
stances to  begin  the  struggle  for  food,  clothing  and 
shelter  on  his  own  account.  His  father,  who  was 
financially  well-to-do,  by  endorsing  for  others  be- 
came involved  in  financial  ruin. 

The  indei)endenee  and  self-reliance  of  young 
William  asserted  themselves  in  a  marked  degree. 
Going  to  New  York  City,  he  spent  six  months 
driving  a  milk  wagon,  after  which  he  secured  a 
position  as  clerk  in  a  grocery-store,  continuing 
until  1830.  That  year  witnessed  his  emigration 
to  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  where  he  arrived  penniless. 
Though  not  an  experienced  woodsman,  lie  replen- 
ished his  exchequer  by  chopping  wood  and  clear- 
ing land.  Though  a  mere  boy,  he  was  possessed  of 
indomitable  energy,  and  if  he  could  not  get  em- 
plo3^mcnt  to  wliieh  he  was  accustomed,  he  accus- 
tomed himself   to  such  employment   as  he   could 


got.  The  .same  business  he  followed  at  Ridgeway. 
There  on  the  lOtli  of  November,  1831,  he  entered 
the  store  of  H.  Francis  as  clerk.  His  carefully  hus- 
banded earnings  were  judiciously  invested  in  good 
lands  in  that  vicinity,  which  were  then  quite 
cheap,  and  thus  was  laid  a  safe  foundation  for 
financial  growth.  Domestic  by  nature,  Mr.  Pells 
early  in  life  sought  to  surround  himself  with  the 
hallowed  influences  of  wife  and  home.  The  ladj' 
of  his  choice  was  Miss  Maria  B.  Whitaker,  a  native 
of  Norfolk,  England,  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
1836. 

After  clerking  ten  3'ears,  Mr.  Pells  became  a  full 
partner  in  the  store  with  his  employer,  and  in 
1846  became  sole  proprietor,  continuing  until 
1851  with  marked  success.  Admitting  his  brother 
to  partnersiiip,  the  business  was  carried  on  by  the 
two  until  1856,  when  Mr.  PelLs  disposed  of  his  en- 
tire interest.  The  same  .year,  he  purchased  from 
the  Medina  &  Alab.ama  Plank  Road  Company  that 
part  of  the  road  extending  from  Medina  to  Ridge- 
way. In  the  hands  of  the  company,  it  had  been  a 
losing  investment,  but  Mr.  Pells  with  characteris- 
tic thoroughness  made  it  one  of  the  best  roads  in 
the  State,  paying  a  liberal  yearly  dividend  on  the 
large  amount  of  money  expended  in  its  construc- 
tion. He  continued  to  operate  the  road  until  the 
charter  expired  in  1881. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Pells   came  to   what   is   now  Ford 


192 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


County,  111.,  though  then  it  was  a  part  of  Ver- 
milion County.  He,  R.  R.  Murdoek  and  Lcander 
Britt  purchased  the  site  and  laid  out  Prospect 
Citj-,  as  Paxton  was  then  called.  With  commend- 
al)le  pride,  he  watched  the  growth  of  the  infant 
town,  and  to  the  last  heartily  assisted  in  ever^-- 
thmg  that  would  advance  its  growth.  In  1850, 
he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  organization  of 
Ford  County,  and  in  making  Paxton  the  seat  of 
justice.  Schools,  churches  and  charities  of  all  kinds 
found  in  him  a  liberal  supporter.  Every  interest 
promising  to  l)e  beneficial  to  the  town  or  county, 
claimed  his  attention.  He  was  one  of  the  i)ro- 
moters  and  organizers  of  the  Lafnyette,  Blooming- 
ton  &  Mississippi  Railroad  Company,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  its  "\^ice-president.  But  for  his  earn- 
est efforts  and  those  of  a  few  others  along  the  line 
of  the  road,  it  proliably  never  would  have  lieen 
built.  It  has  since  become  a  part  of  tlie  Lake  Erie 
ife  Western  system. 

In  1876,  he  visited  Petoskey,  Mich.,  and,  being 
favorably  im|)ressed  with  the  climate  and  soil,  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  containing  twelve 
thousand  acres  in  Emmet  County,  which  was  then 
almost  an  unbroken  forest,  inhabited  bj'  one 
hundred  whites  and  eleven  hundred  Indians. 
In  1882,  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad 
ran  through  Mv.  Pells"  tract  of  land,  near  the 
center  of  wiiieh  sprang  up  a  flourishing  town, 
named  I)}'  the  railroad  company  in  honor  of  him, 
Pellston. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Pells  was  an  old-line 
Democrat,  and,  though  not  an  aspirant  tor  iilaces 
of  jniblic  trust,  he  held  a  number  of  ollicial  posi- 
tions.    In  religious  belief,  he  was  a    Universalist. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pells  had  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren, though  only  two  are  now  living:  Hannah 
W.,  wife  of  Col.  Charles  Bogardus,  of  Paxton;  and 
Edgar  Z.,  who  makes  his  home  with  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Bogardus,  at  Paxton,  111. 

After  a  brief  married  life  of  only  nine  years,  Mr. 
Pells  was  deprived,  by  death,  of  his  companion. 
Notwithstanding  he  survived  her  over  forty  years, 
she  was  his  only  wedded  companion.  On  the  2Gth 
of  June,  1880,  Mr.  Pells  joined  his  wife  and  child 
in  the  spirit  world,  while  his  body  was  laid  to  rest 
beside  that  of  his   wife    at  Kidgewaj',  N.  Y.     He 


1) 


■was  a  man  possessed  of  such  traits  of  character  as 
are  worthy  to  be  imitated,  and  should  never  be 
forgotten;  shrewd  and  far-sighted  in  business  af- 
fairs, scrupulously  honest,  free-hearted,  charitable, 
loving  everybody  with  a  royal  good-will. 


'•    '    ^i 


mmm 


OHN  J.  WALDSCHMIDT,  one  of  the  hon- 
ored early  settlers  of  Ford  County,  now 
resides  on  section  20,  Rogers  Township, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming.  He 
was  born  in  Germany,  April  19,  182G,  and  is  a  son 
of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Colb)  Waldschmidt, 
both  of  whom  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the  P'ather- 
land.  Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  Ger- 
man_y,  where  he  attended  the  jiuhlic  schools  for 
eight  years.  He  then  worked  in  a  copper  mine 
for  a  time,  after  which  he  emigrated  to  the  New 
World  in  1850.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  a  sail- 
ing-vessel from  Antwerp  and  after  a  voyage  of 
twenty-eight  daj'S  landed  in  New  York  in  June. 
He  then  went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  spent  the 
first  summer  working  on  a  railroad.  During  the 
three  succeeding  years  of  his  life  he  was  employed 
in  a  brickyard  in  New  York,  and  in  1854,  he  emi- 
grated Westward.  He  first  located  on  the  Fox 
River  in  Kendall  County,  111.,  and  was  employed 
in  a  stone  quarry  for  several  3'ears.  He  then  became 
a  partner  in  a  firm  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick,  near  Bristol,  for  two  years.  On  the  expi- 
ration of  that  period,  he  returned  to  the  stone 
quarry,  where  he  again  worked  four  years,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Dwight  for  three 
years.  This  was  his  first  experience  as  an  agricul- 
turist. 

In  1864,  Mr.  AValdschmidtcame  to  Ford  Country, 
and  first  purchased  eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie 
land,  constituting  a  i)art  of  his  present  fine  farm. 
He  broke  it,  fenced  it  and  transformed  the  wild 
tract  into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  He  now  owns 
and  operates  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  upon 
which  may  be  found  good  buildings,  and  all  the 
improvements  and  .accessories  of  a  model  farm. 

Mr.  Waldschmidt  was  married  in  Ottawa,  La 
Salle  County,  111.,  in  1856,  to  Miss  Caroline  Decker, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


193 


a  native  of  Germany,  and  a  claughter  of  Jacob 
Deuker,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  La  Salle  County. 
Unto  them  have  been  born  ten  children:  J^liza,  wife 
of  John  Kerstine,  a  resident  of  AVright  County, 
Iowa;  William,  who  is  married  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Cedar  County,  Neb.;  Matilda  at  home;  Car- 
oline, wife  of  Joseph  Reising,  who  lives  in  Bloom- 
ington,Ill.;  Minnie, wife  of  Clio  Sniitii,a  resident  of 
Michigan;  Fred,  who  aids  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm;  Louisa  at  home;  Eninia.who  is  attend- 
ing Normal  School  in  Blooiningtou  ;  Anna  at  home; 
and  John,  who  is  yei  in  school. 

Mr.  AValdschmidt  cast  Ids  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Abraliam  Lincoln  and  has  supported  each  Presi- 
dentinl  nominee  of  the  Republican  party  since  that 
time.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
his  party  but  has  never  been  oflice-seeker.  His 
residence  in  Ford  County  covers  a  period  of  twen- 
ty-eight years,  .and  throughout  the  community  he 
is  regarded  as  a  highly  esteemed  citizen.  His 
emigration  to  America  lie  need  never  regret,  for 
here  he  has  met  with  prosperity,  has  secured  a  good 
home  and  met  with  many  pleasant  friends. 


bHE  MEL^'IN  SCHOOLS.  This  pretty  little 
town,  located  on  the  Illinois  Central  Kail- 
road,  in  Peach  Orchard  Township,  is  noted 
'for  its  churches  and  its  public  schools.  The  pub- 
lic schools  are  justly  the  pride  of  every  citizen  of 
Melvin.     Their  history  is  as  follows: 

The  first  election  for  district  1,  township  24. 
range  8,  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Charles  Phil- 
lips, April  18,  1870.  At  that  early  date  in  the 
history  of  the  primitive  school,  there  were  onl}' 
five  votes  cast  in  the  district.  August  Bucholz, 
Charles  Phillips  and  William  Lackey  were  elected 
as  the  first  Board  of  Directors.  In  the  fall  of  1870, 
a  small  schoolhouse  was  built  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  2,  and  in  April,  1871,  the  first 
term  of  school  began,  with  Miss  Hettie  E.  Mathis 
as  teacher,  and  the  enrollment  was  six  males  and 
eight  females. 

Miss  Clara  B.  Huston  was  the  next  teacher,  be- 
ginning in  April,  1872.  She  taught  a  term  of  three 


months,  followed  by  W.  H.  Thompson  as  teacher 
for  the  fall  and  winter  terms.  Fannie  J.  Robbins 
taught  the  spring  term  of  1873,  and  W.  H.  Thomp- 
son the  winter  term.  Mr.  Thompson  was  followed 
by  David  Bookwalter,  who  wielded  the  ferrule  dur- 
ing the  spring  term  of  1874.  He  was  followed  by 
Miss  Emma  L.  Hinchman  for  the  fall  and  winter 
terms. 

In  the  spring  of  1875,  at  a  special  election,  it 
was  voted  to  purchase  a  new  site  in  the  village  of 
Melvin  and  also  to  erect  a  new  schoolhouse.  The 
new  building  was  completed  and  Miss  Clara  B. 
Huston  taught  the  first  term  in  the  new  school- 
house.  She  was  followed  by  S.  S.  Max,  who  was 
the  teacher  for  two  consecutive  years,  followed  by 
his  wife  for  a  term  of  two  months.  Then  came 
Koscie  Clinebell  for  three  years.  He  was  a  very 
successful  teacher  and  raised  the  standard  of  the 
school  to  the  front  ranks  of  the  village  schools  of 
the  county  of  Ford.  James  Karr  followed  Mr. 
Clinebell  for  one  year,  beginning  September  1, 
1881.  Frank  McMurray  was  the  next  teacher  for 
one  year.  It  was  then  found  that  it  was  necessary 
to  have  more  room  and  more  teachers,  consequently 
a  new  building,  •SOx.'jO  feet  and  two  stories  high, 
was  built  adjoining  the  old  schoolhouse. 

Guyn  Foreman  was  employed  as  principal  and 
Miss  Mattie  Haight  as  primary  teacher,  beginning 
in  September,  1883,  and  they  have  continued  in 
the  same  positions  year  after  year  until  the  present 
time.  In  1887,  it  became  necessary  to  have  another 
teacher,  and  IMiss  Ida  Haight  was  emplo3ed  as  in- 
termediate teacher,  remaining  two  years.  She  was 
followed  by  Miss  Mary  Heath,  one  year.  Since  the 
schools  increased  so  in  numbers,  it  was  apparent 
to  the  Board  that  the  services  of  another  teacher 
were  necessary,  and  Miss  Delia  Hunt  w.as  employed 
as  intermediate  teacher  and  Miss  Sidney  B.  Fristoe 
as  second  primary  teacher,  both  remaining  until 
the  present  time. 

The  corps  of  teachers  is  as  follows:  Principal, 
Guyn  Foreman;  intermediate,  Miss  Delia  Hunt; 
second  primary.  Miss  Sidney  F'ristoe;  primary,  Mrs. 
Mattie  (Haight)  Foreman.  Present  enrollment,  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one:  males,  seventy-four;  fe- 
males, eighty-seven. 

The  first  Board  of  Directors  was  followed  by  the 


194 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


election  of  Lot  Rohb  in  1872,  James  D.  Carroll  in 
1873,  T.  D.  Tliompson  in  1874,  Enocli  S.  Hunt  in 
1875,  August  Bucliolz  in  1876,  F.  M.  Steepleton  in 
1877, T.  D.  Tliompson  in  1877,  D.J.  Freese  in  1878 
(to  fill  vacancy  b}^  the  removal  of  F.  M.  Steepleton), 
C.  W.  Freelove,  1879,  T.  D.  Thompson  in  1880, 
D.J.  Freese,  1881,  J.  D.  Kilgore  in  1882,  T.  D. 
Thom)ison  in  1883,  T.  B.  Fletcher  in  1884,  L.  S. 
Heath  in  1885  (to  fill  vacancy  caused  b.y  the  re- 
moval of  T.  B.  Fletcher).  Dr.  E.  B.  Perry  in  1885, 
T.  D.  Thompson  in  1886,  L.  S.  Heath  in  1887, 
George  T.Arends  in  1890,  E.  B.  Perry  in  1891,  and 
T.  D.  Thompson  in  1892. 

It  will  l>e  noticed  to  the  credit  of  T.  D.  Thomp- 
son and  the  good  judgment  of  the  citizens  of  Mel- 
vin,  that  j\Ir.  Thompson  has  been  continually  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  since  1H74,  a 
term  of  eighteen  3-ears  of  directorshi]i  in  the 
schools. 

The  schools  afford  the  very  best  of  practical  edu- 
cation, and  tiie  pupils,  when  they  have  finished 
under  Mr.  Foreman,  can  readily  pass  the  teacliers' 
examination  for  a  certificate,  as  well  .as  being  fitted 
to  enter  well  in  schools  of  higher  instruction. 


4^ 


=4^ 


W A.  CRANIJ.VLL,  a  well-known    farmer  of 

JT)!)  Pella  Township,  residing  on  section  9, 
i^^  was  born  in  Cook  County,  111.,  in  184  9, 
i^0)  and  is  a  son  of  Herman  Crandall,  who 
was  born  in  Vermont,  September  5,  1812,  and  in 
1824  removed  to  Franklin  Count\-,  N.  Y.  AV^hen 
a  young  man,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  made  a 
claim  in  Cook  County.  He  married  Lydia  Bush- 
nell,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  a 
niimber  of  years.  The  land  which  he  purchased 
at  $1.25  per  acre  he  sold  at  ¥80  per  acre.  He  was 
a  prominent  citizen  of  the  community  and  a  suc- 
cessful f.armer.  In  politics,  he  was  first  a  Whig 
and  afterwards  a  Republican.  His  death  occurred 
in  Ford  County,  ]\Iarch  12,  1890.  His  wife  is 
still  living  and  makes  her  home  in  California. 
Further  mention  is  made  of  these  worthy  people 
in  the  sketch  of  C.  C.  Crandall  on  another  page  of 
this  work.     Their   family    nnmliered    eleven  chil- 


dren: Abigail,  who  is  now  in  California;  Ruey, 
who  is  living  in  Danville,  111.;  Mary,  a  resident 
of  Nebraska;  Martha,  who  is  living  in  Cook 
County;  C.  C,  who  served  in  the  Thirty-ninth 
Illinois  Infantry-  during  the  late  war  and  is  now 
a  resident  of  Pella  Township;  Imogene,  a  resident 
of  Blue  Island,  Cook  County;  H.  A.,  of  this 
sketch;  George,  who  is  living  in  "Will  County; 
Eva,  who  makes  her  home  in  Wisconsin;  Alfred, 
of  Nebraska;  and  Benjamin,  in   Ford  Count}',  III. 

We  now  take  >ip  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  remaining  upon  the 
home  farm  until  twentj'  years  of  age.  The  edu- 
cational advantages  which  he  received  were  those 
afforded  b^-  the  common  schools.  In  1869,  he 
came  to  Fcjrd  County  and  purchased  the  land  on 
which  he  now  resides.  He  afterward  returned  to 
Cook  County,  where  he  spent  the  years  of  1874 
and  1875,  but  since  that  time  has  made  his  home 
continuously  in  Pella  Township,  where  he  owns 
two  hundred  and  forty-one  acres  of  valuable  land, 
which  he  improved  from  the  raw  prairie.  It  is 
well  equipped  with  good  buildings  and  all  the 
accessories  of  a  model  farm,  and  the  well-tilled 
fields  j-ield  to  him  a  good  income. 

In  the  autumn  of  1870,  Mr.  Crandall  was  joined 
in  wedlock  with  jNIary  Riche,  who  was  born  in 
Cook  County,  her  father  being  one  of  the  earl}' 
settlers  of  that  region  and  a  contractor  on  the 
Wabash  Canal.  They  have  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren: Aliigail,  who  was  born  in  Cook  County,  in 
1875;  William,  in  1883;  and  Mary,  in  1885.  The 
family  is  well  known  throughout  the  community 
and  the  members  of  the  Crandall  household  rank 
high  ill  the  social  circles  in  which  they  move. 

iNIr.  Crand.all  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity of  Piper  Cit}-,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  Iteen  a  member 
of  the  Drainage  Commission  and  has  taken  .an 
active  ])art  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  and 
upbuilding  of  town  and  county.  For  nine  yeare 
he  has  served  as  Township  and  Drainage  Com- 
missioner, a  fact  which  indicates  his  faithfulness 
and  fidelity  to  duty.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Aliraham  Lincoln  and  has  since  been  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican   party  .and  has   often 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


195 


sciverl  as  a  dclcirate  to  its  conventions.  Mr. 
Cranrlall  lias  a  wide  acqu.aintance  throiigliout  tlie 
comnuinity,  and  for  his  sterling  worth  and  integ- 
rity is  held  in  hi"h  regard. 


-=^m>-M-<^ 


H  ENRY  SPELLMEYER,  who  is  engaged  in 
V  general  farming  on  section  13,  Peach  Orcli- 
ard  Townsiiip,  was  born  about  fifteen  miles 
from  AVinden,  Westphalia,  Germany,  on 
the  1st  of  .Januaiy,  1840.  His  parents,  Godfrey 
and  Caroline  Spellnieyer,  are  represented  on  another 
page  of  this  work  in  connection  with  Charles  Spell- 
nieyer. They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  fifth. 

In  t-ilting  up  the  personal  history  of  Henry 
Spcllmeyer,  we  present  to  our  readers  tlie  life  rec- 
ord of  one  of  the  well-known  citizens  of  Ford 
County.  He  received  no  special  advantages  in  his 
youth.  His  education  was  .acquired  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  he  was  reared  to  manhood  upon 
his  father's  farm.  His  home  continued  to  be  in 
Prussia  until  ISr^S,  when  he  came  to  America, 
crossing  the  Atlantic  in  a  sailing-vessel,  which 
reached  harbor  after  forty-two  days  spent  upon 
the  ocean.  Our  subject  did  not  tarry  long  in  the 
East,  but  came  at  once  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Put- 
nam county,  where  lie  began  work  upon  a  farm  by 
the  month,  and  w.as  thus  employed  for  about  five 
.years.  On  the  26th  of  March,  18G7,  lie  was  united 
in  marri.age  with  Miss  Louise  Kteinmann,  who  was 
born  in  l.S.'^T.  within  two  miles  of  her  huslmnd's 
native  pl.ace.  The  same  year  of  his  marriage,  he 
came  to  Ford  County  and  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  on  section  1.'5,  Poach  Orchard  Township. 
To  this  he  has  since  added  a  tract  of  four  luindred 
and  eighty  acres,  making  in  all  an  aggregate  of 
five  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spell meyer  has  been 
blessed  with  a  family  of  six  children:  Caroline 
died  in  her  sixth  year;  Henry,  who  aids  his  father 
in  the  oper.ation  of  the  home  farm;  Mary,  wife  of 
Gust.  Seabert,  a  resident  farmer  of  Wall  Township; 
Charles,  Jlinnie,  and  Lena,  all  of  whom  arc  still 
with    their    parents.     The    family    has   a  pleasant 


liome  upon  the  farm  before  mentioned,  and  in 
social  circles  parents  and  children  rank  high.  The 
father  operates  the  home  farm  in  connection  with 
his  sons,  and  has  one  of  the  valual:>le  pl.aces  in  the 
community,  its  neat  appearance  indicating  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  tlie  owner,  while  its  many 
improvements  attest  the  fact  that  he  is  a  practical 
and  progressive  agriculturist,  thoroughly  conver- 
sant with  his  business  in  all  its  details.  He  is  fair 
and  honest  in  all  his  dealings,  and  thereby  has  won 
the  confidence  and  regard  of  those  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact. 

Mr.  Spellnieyer  exercises  his  right  of  fr.anchise 
in  support  of  the  Republican  party,  whose  princi- 
ples he  has  advocated  since  he  became  a  voter. 
He  Iws  never  sought  public  office  but  h.as  served  as 
Road  Commissioner.  Himself  and  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  among 
the  worthy  citizens  of  the  community  who  have 
aided  in  the  upbuilding  and  developement  of  the 
count}-^,  he  is  numbered. 


eAPT.  FRANK  O.  WALRICH,  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Walrich  A  Parsons,  general 
merchants  of  Piper  City,  was  born  in  the 
Province  of  Hanover,  Germany,  Deceml)er  21, 
1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Otto  R.  Walrich,  a  farmer  by 
occupation,  who  served  in  the  army  of  tlie  Fatlici- 
land  for  three  j'ears  and  married  Margaret  Hemp- 
ken,  who  was  liorn  and  reared  in  the  .same  locality 
as  her  husband.  AVith  their  five  children,  they 
sailed  to  America  In  April,  1857,  and  after  nine 
weeks  and  two  d.ays  spent  upon  the  bosom  of  the 
Atliintic,  landed  in  New  Orleans,  whence  they  went 
up  the  river  to  Alton,  III.  In  the  spring  of  18,'')8. 
they  settled  on  a  farm  near  Washburn,  Woodford 
County,  111.,  and  in  18.5'.>  came  to  a  farm  near 
Chatsworth,  which  is  still  in  possession  of  the  fam- 
ily. The  father  died  upon  that  farm  and  the  mo- 
ther there  still  makes  her  home.  In  politics,  he 
wiis  a  Republican  and  himself  and  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  C'liurch.  Their  family  num- 
bered twelve  children,  one  of    whom    died    in    in- 


196 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


fancy.  The  Captain  is  the  eldest;  Fredericka  is 
tlie  wife  of  .John  McKinncy,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Iliden, 
of  Peoria,  died  in  1874;  Tiionias  resides  in  Piper 
City;  Christina  is  the  wife  of  G.  W.  Madden,  a 
ijrain  dealer  and  .lustice  of  the  Peace  of  Charlotte, 
Livingston  County;  Magoie,  wife  of  .Tames  Kief, 
of  Piper  City;  Hannah  .1.,  widow  of  .Tesse  I).  Par- 
sons, is  tlie  (lartner  of  Ca[)t.  Walrieh;  Theresa,  wife 
of  F.  Beckniann,  of  Cliatswortli,  111.;  Cordelia,  wife 
of  M.  IMadden,  of  SiiUivant,  Livingston  County; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  IL  Flessner,  who  is  living  on  the 
old  home  farm;  and  Willie,  who  was  bitten  by  a 
rattlesnake  at  the  age  of  four  years  and  died  in 
1865. 

Our  subject  Iiegan  his  scliool  life  in  Germany, 
attended  for  three  montlis  at  Dorsey  Station, 
Madison  County,  III.,  and  in  tlie  winter  of  1861-62 
was  a  student  in  the  scliools  of  Avoca,  Livingston 
Count.y.  Tliis  completed  his  scliool  life,  for  on  the 
21st  of  February,  1862,  when  a  little  past  sixteen 
years  of  .age,  he  laid  aside  his  books  and  entered  his 
country's  service  as  a  member  of  Comp.any  B, 
Sixty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  which  w.as  organized 
at  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago.  He  went  on  duty  the 
first  night  after  his  arrival  in  camp,  guarding 
prisoners  captured  at  Ft.  Donelson.  In  May,  he 
was  sent  to  Martinsbuig,  Va.,  where  he  did  guard 
duty  until  tlie  1st  of  September.  The  first  engage- 
ments in  which  he  participated  were  skirmishes 
in  the  vicinity  of  Falling  Waters  and  Winchester, 
Va.;  these  were  followed  by  the  battle  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  where  he  was  captured  but  was  soon  after- 
ward paroUwl.  Tiie  succeeding  winter  was  spent 
mostly  at  Camp  Douglas,  Ciiicago,  and  in  the  spring 
his  regiment  was  transferred  to  Eastern  Kentucky, 
where  they  saw  much  hard  marching  and  service. 
In  the  fall,  the  troops  prepared  for  the  Knoxville 
campaign  and  the  Sixt3--riftli  Regiment  suffered 
much  during  the  siege  of  Knoxville.  Mr.  Walrieh 
re-enlisted,  March  30,  1864,  and  went  home  on  a 
veteran  furlough.  After  his  return,  he  took  part 
in  Sherman's  campaign,  and  at  the  battle  of  Resaca 
the  brigade  lost  live  hundred  men.  He  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Dallas  Woods,  Lost  Mountain,  Chat- 
tahoochee River,  Atlanta,  Rough  and  Ready  Sta- 
tion, and  Jonesboro;  he  then  transferred  to  Pulaski, 


Tenn.,  to  meet  Gen.  Hood.  He  was  .also  in  the  en- 
gagements at  Columbia,  Franklin  and  Naslu'ille, 
following  Gen.  Hood  on  his  retreat  as  far  .as  Clif- 
ton, Tenn.  Tiie  Sixty-fifth  w.as  .sent  by  transports 
to  Cincinnati,  thence  by  rail  to  Washington  and 
on  to  Annapolis,  where  the  brigade  assembled.  Em- 
barking on  transports,  they  proceeded,  by  w.ay  of 
Fortress  Monroe,  to  Ft.  Fisher,  experiencing  the 
usual  unpleasantness  of  a  sea  voy.age  around  Cape 
Hatteras.  Capt.  Walrieh  was  at  the  cai^ture  of  Ft. 
Anderson  and  subsequently  took  part  in  the  en- 
gagement at  Old  Town  Creek,  when  his  regiment 
.and  the  Tweltli  Kentucky  captured  a  liriijade,  in- 
cluding a  battery;  helped  capture  Wilmington  and 
took  part  in  the  sharp  engagement  at  Kinston, 
N.  C,  the  last  contlict  in  which  he  took  part.  Hav- 
ing marched  from  Goldsboro  to  Raleigli  .and  oji 
to  Greensboro,  where  Johnston's  army  surrendered, 
the  Fifty-sixth  assisted  in  caring  for  the  captured 
property.  Capt.  Walrieh  w.as  discharged  July  1.3, 
1865,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Camj) 
Douglas.  Returning  home,  he  resumed  farming- 
He  was  a  faitliful  soldier,  ever  found  at  the  post  of 
duty,  and  his  army  record  is  one  of  wliich  he  may 
well  be  proud. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1870,  Capt.  Walrieh  mar- 
ried Miss  Sebrina  C.  Hamlin,  daughter  of  Alonzo 
and  Esther  Hamlin,  who  came  from  Vermont  to 
Illinois.  With  his  wife,  he  came  to  Piper  City  and 
entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  McKinney,  a  lumber 
and  hardware  merchant,  with  whom  he  remained 
three  years,  when,  in  1873,  he  secured  a  positi(m 
with  Conrow  it  Co.,  the  successors  to  Montelius  <fe 
Son.  That  firm  sold  out  to  John  Clark,  but  our 
subject  retained  his  position  as  confidential  clerk 
until  May  2,  1880,  when  he  became  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Pulver,  AValrich  &  Co.  In  January, 
1883,  J.  D.  Parsons  bought  out  his  partner's  inter- 
est .and  continued  with  Mr.  Walrieh  \intil  his  death, 
April  11,  1884,  since  which  time  Mrs.  Parsons  has 
owned  the  interest  in  the  business. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walrieh  have  been  born  the 
following  children:  Lorenzo  0.,  vvlio  w.as  liorn  in 
Piper  City,  educated  in  the  pulilic  schools  and  at 
Onarga  Seminary,  is  now  book-keeper  for  his  f.a- 
ther;  I'rederick  Alansou  and  Margaretta  E.  arc  still 
at  home.     The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


197 


coiniiiunity,  holding  a  high  position  in  social  cir- 
cles. 

C'apt.  Walrich  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
U.  S.  Grant  in  1868,  and  has  since  been  a  supporter 
of  Republican  principles.  He  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Village  Board  of  Trustees,  was  also 
its  President,  and  from  1876  until  1885  was  a 
member  of  the  National  Guards,  serving  as  Lieu- 
tenant and  Captain  for  nearly  eight  j'ears.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society;  was  the  first 
Commander  of  tiie  Grand  Army  Post  of  Piper 
City,  serving  for  four  terms  in  that  olflee;  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  which  his 
family  also  I)elongs.  His  life  has  indeed  been  a 
successful  and  an  honorable  one.  He  possesses  ex- 
cellent business  ability  and  by  his  persistent  in- 
dustry, perseverance  and  good  management  has 
acquired  a  handsome  competence.  His  record  as  a 
soldier  and  citizen  is  as  worthy  of  commendation 
as  his  business  record.  He  is  a  pleasant,  genial 
gentleman  and  his  friends  throughout  the  com- 
munity arc  many. 


"^i 


-^4^ 


l=~ 


Vl 


J 


OHN  BROADBENT,  a  well-known  farmer 
of  Rogers  Township,  residing  on  section  32, 
is  of  Englisli  birth.  He  was  born  Novem- 
^_  ber  15,  1817,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  whose  parents,  Joseph  and  Ann 
(Siddol)  Broadbent,  were  both  natives  of  England. 
John  is  the  second  in  the  family;  Sarah,  the  eldest, 
is  now  deceased;  Daniel  is  living  in  England;  Rob- 
ert has  also  departed  this  life;  Sarah  Ann  is  the 
wife  of  John  Matthews,  a  resident  farmer  of  Ken- 
dall County,  111.;  William  is  a  farmer  residing  in 
Kendall  County;  and  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John 
Finley,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Kendall  County. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  very  limited  op- 
portunities in  his  youth,  and  is  a  self-educated 
and  self-made  man  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age  and  worked  in  the 
cotton  factories  of  his  native  land  until  he  came 
to  America.  Tlie  year  1848  witnessed  his  emigra- 
tion to  the  New  World.     The    voyage  consumed 


seven  weeks  .and  four  days  and  he  spent  his  thirty- 
first  birthday  on  the  water.  At  length,  he  landed 
safely  at  New  Orleans,  whence  he  went  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Ohio  Rivers  to  Cincinnati.  He  worked 
in  the  cotton  factories  of  that  city  until  June, 
1850,  and  then  came  to  Illinois. 

Mr.  Broadlient  was  married,  on  Christmas  Day, 
of  1839,  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Dawson,  daugliter  of 
John  and  Charity  Dawson.  They  became  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children  as  follow;:  Edward,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Esther,  wife  of  Robert  Hall;  Sarah,  wife 
of  Charles  Coop;  William;  Joseph,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; James,  also  deceased;  Robert;  and  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  August  Schultz. 

On  coining  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Broadbent  first  lo- 
cated in  Kendall  County,  residing  near  Lisbon. 
For  thirteen  months  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand, 
and  then  began  farming  for  himself  in  that  locality. 
He  continued  to  reside  in  Kendall  County  for 
eighteen  years,  coming  to  Ford  County  in  1868. 
Since  that  time  he  has  resided  upon  the  farm  which 
is  still  his  home.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  32,  and  has  developed  it 
into  a  rich  and  fertile  tract  which  yields  to  him  a 
good  iftcorae  in  return  for  his  care  and  cultiva- 
tion. He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens of  the  community  and  has  been  honored  with 
the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  for  twelve  years, 
a  fact  which  indicates  his  faithful  and  efficient 
performance  of  duty.  In  politics,  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  part}-.  His  property  rep- 
resents his  own  hard  labors  for  he  came  to  this 
country  empty-handed,  and  through  liis  industry 
.and  enterprise  h.as  acquired  all  he  now  possesses. 
For  his  success  in  life  he  certainl}-  deserves  much 
credit. 


~.5..5..5..{.i^^g 


(|  IVILLARD  E.  PROCTOR,  who  is  eng.aged 
\oJ/l  in  general  merch.andising,  in  connection 
^y^  with  his  brother  Frank,  in  the  village  of 
Proctor,  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Conn.,  on  the 
]3tli  of  October,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  C'apt.  Proc- 
tor, a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.     No  event  of  special    importance  occurred 


198 


I'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


during  bis  chilclliood.  He  acquired  a  good  busi- 
ness education  in  the  public  schools  and  remained 
with  his  parents  until  twenty-two  3'ears  of  age, 
when  he  left  home,  starting  out  in  life  for  himself. 
On  the  30th  of  November,  1876,  Mr.  Proctor 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Carrie  M.  Allen, 
who  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vt.,  .Tune  26,  1857,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Allen,  now  of  Rutland,  111. 
By  their  marriage  was  born  a  daughter,  Flora 
Mae.  Tiic  mother  departed  this  life  July  30, 
1890,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in  the  Gibson 
Cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  monument  marks  her 
last  resting  place.  The  Rev.  Robert  Stevens  con- 
ducted the  funeral  ceremonies.  In  speaking  of 
her  death,  the  Gibson  City  Enterprise  says:  "The 
deceased  lady  Lad  been  in  delicate  health  for  years, 
but  not  until  la  grippe  attacked  her  last  win- 
ter were  any  apprehensions  felt  for  her  life.  lUit 
since  then  she  gradually  declined  in  spite  of  the 
tender  care  of  loving  fiiends  and  the  best  medical 
aid  that  could  be  procured.  With  a  sublime  faith 
in  the  glorious  awakening,  and  as  gently- as  a  tired 
child,  she  sank  to  rest. 

'•We  thought  her  dying  when  she  slept, 
And  sleeping  when  she  <lied." 

"Mrs.  Proctor  came  to  this  State  when  quite 
small  and  about  twelve  years  ago  came  with  her 
husband  to  I'loctor.  Hers  was  one  of  those  joy- 
ous happy  natures  that  gladden  all  hearts  with 
which  they  come  in  contact.  She  had  a  fine  edu- 
cation and  tliis,  coupled  with  her  pure  character, 
bright  intellect  and  pleasant  manners,  made  her 
home  the  center  of  influences  that  tended  to  ele- 
vate the  community  in  which  she  lived.  The 
strong  hold  she  had  upon  the  affections  of  all  who 
knew  her  was  shown  by  the  way  the  old  and 
young  crowded  around  her  bier  to  take  a  last  look 
at  the  features  that  will  be  ever  engraved  upon 
their  hearts.  She  leaves  a  sorrowing  husband  and 
one  lovely  little  daughter  to  mourn  her  untimely 
death,  but  they  will  look  forward  with  joyous  an- 
ticipations to  that  meeting  beyond  the  gates  where 
sorrow  Cometh  not." 

For  three  years,  Mr.  Proctor  was  employed 
as  a  .salesman  in  a  general  store,  but  on  account  of 
failing  health  went   to   the    country  and  superin- 


tended the  operation  of  a  farm  for  five  years.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  began  buying  grain 
in  the  village  of  Proctor,  which  was  named  in  his 
honor,  and  has  now  successfully  carried  on  busi- 
ness in  that  line  for  several  years.  As  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Proctor  Bros.,  he  is  also  engaged  in 
general  merchandising.  They  carry  a  full  and 
complete  stock  of  goods  and  are  enjoying  a  large 
and  lucrative  patronage,  of  which  they  are  well 
deserving.  Our  subject  is  also  Postmaster  of  Proc- 
tor, having  filled  the  office  since  its  establishment. 
He  is  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising  young  busi- 
ness man  and  iiis  career  will  no  doubt  be  a  success- 
ful one. 


% 


\M  ESSE  PULASKI  MARSH,  deceased,  was  a 
native  of  Harrison  Couuty,  Ind.  He  was 
born  December  4,  1829,  and  died  January 
19,, 1891.  He  w.as  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits  but  in  after  years  engaged  in  running  a 
flat-boat  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  carry- 
ing merchandise  to  New  Orleans.  He  w.as  gener- 
ally successful  in  his  business  ventures.  He  pos- 
sessed a  liberal  education  and  was  known  as  a  gen- 
tleman of  integrity  and  honor.  He  was  the  fourth 
child  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and  six  daughters, 
whose  parents  were  William  and  Sarah  (Armstrong) 
Marsh.  All  the  children  are  yet  living  with  the 
exception  of  two. 

On  the  5th  of  Novemlier,  1851,  Mr.  Marsh  mar- 
ried Miss  Margaret  Fowler,  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Elizabeth  (Davis)  Fowler.  Seven  children 
were  liorn  of  this  union,  two  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters: William  II.,  of  Melvin,  who  is  married  and 
engages  in  making  hydraulic  wells;  Laura  A.,  at 
home;  Maiy  F.,  wife  of  P.  W.  AVorth,  a  hardware 
merchant  of  Buckingham,  111.;  Edward  T.,  wlio  is 
engaged  in  the  jewelry  business  in  Jlelvin;  Mrs. 
Koscie  Clinel)ell;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Clark  E.  Wood- 
word,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  and  Cordelia  II., 
wife  of  Pev.  Henry  Heck,  an  evangelist  residing 
in  Jackson,  Minn. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Marsh  was  an 
old-line  Whig  and  when  the  Republican  party  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ly.t 


organized,  lie  became  an  ardent  admirer  of  its 
principle-s.  He  was  a  gentleman  firm  in  Ills  con- 
victions and  very  determined  in  manner.  He  held 
tlie  oHice  of  Justice  of  tlie  Peace,  of  Laconia,  Ind., 
for  eiglit  years,  and  Judge  Walter  (J.  Gresliam 
prosecuted  cases  in  his  court. 

Mr.  Marsh  and  his  family  came  to  Ford  County 
in  the  fall  of  1^74,  and  were  honored  and  respected 
citizens  of  the  community  from  that  time.  Both 
were  earnest  members  of  the  Jlethodist  Church  of 
Melvin,  and  he  was  a  Master  Mason  and  a  leading 
member  of  Lodge  No.  17'.),K.  of  P.,  of  Melvin,  111. 

Mrs.  Marsh  was  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  live 
sons  and  three  daughters,  four  of  whom  are  still 
living:  Mary,  wife  of  William  Frakes,  a  farmer 
residing  in  Indiana;  Margaret,  wife  of  our  subject; 
John  W.,  who  served  in  the  late  war  as  one  of  tlie 
boys  in  bhie  and  is  now  married  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Coiydon,  Ind.;  and  Rachel,  wife  of  John 
Love,  also  a  soldier  of  the  late  war,  now  residing 
in  New  Amsterdam,  Ind. 

Mr.  Marsh  was  called  to  his  final  rest  on  tlie  19th 
of  January,  1891,  after  he  and  iiis  loving  wife  had 
traveled  life's  journey  together  for  thirty-six 
jears.  lie  was  interred  in  Melvin  Cemetery, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
a  beautiful  monument  has  been  erected  to  mark 
his  last  resting  place.  Mrs.  Marsh  still  resides  with 
her  daughter  Laura  in  their  comfortable  home  in 
Melvin,  where  she  is  surrounded  by  her  loving 
children  and  her  many  friends. 


SillOMAS  CUFj  is  a  well-known  farmer  of 
Hrenton  Township,  residing  on  section  15, 
where  he  has  a  well-improved  farm  that  has 
been  his  home  for  seventeen  years.  It  comprises 
one  hundred  and  sixt3'-five  acres  of  arable  land, 
the  greater  part  of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in 
return  for  his  care  and  labor.  He  has  erected  good 
barns  and  other  oiitbuihliiigs  and  has  made  many 
improvements,  all  of  which  indicate  the  thrift 
and  enterprise  of  the  owner.  He  is  a  successful 
farmer  and  also  deals  in  stock.     lie  raises  cattle  and 


hogs,  which  he  sells    directly  to  the  Chicago  mar- 
kets, and  makes  a  sjjecialty  of  heavy  draft  liorses. 

The  life  record  of  Mr.  Cue  is  as  follows:  He  was 
born  in  Bishopstorne,  Wiltshire,  England,  in  Aug- 
ust, 1837,  and  is  one  of  eight  children,  whose  parents 
were  Thomas  and  F^lizabeth  Cue.  His  father  fol- 
lowed farming  and  died  in  186(5,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years.  His  wife  de[)arted  this  life  in  1867, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Of  their  family, 
William  and  Mary  both  died  in  England;  Jane 
died  in  Woodford  County,  111.,  in  1892,  at  the 
age  of  sixty  years;  Joseph  is  a  resident  farmer 
of  Crawford  County,  Iowa;  Thomas  is  the  next 
younger;  Elizabeth  died  in  F^ngland  in  1882;  Ed- 
win resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  England;  and 
Richard  died   in  Iowa  about   fourteen    years  ago. 

Thomas  Cue,  of  this  sketch,  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  land  until  fourteen 
years  of  age  and  then  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  work  upon  his  father's  farm  for  four 
j^ears.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  bade  good-bye 
to  friends  and  native  land  and  went  to  London, 
whence  he  sailed  to  the  United  States,  reaching 
New  York  after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks.  This 
was  in  1855.  He  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Woodford  County,  where  he  began  work  as  a  farm 
hand  and  was  tlius  employed  for  some  time.  He 
came  to  Ford  Count}'  in  1870,  and  five  years  later 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  has  since  re- 
sided. 

In  Woodford  County,  on  the  30tli  of  IMarcli, 
1870,  Mr.  Cue  led  to  the  marriage  altiir  Miss  Vic- 
toria Arrowsmith,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna  Arrowsmith, 
natives  of  England,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1830.  They  emigrated  Westward  to  Illi- 
nois in  1847,  and  both  spent  their  last  days  in 
Onarga,  where  they  died  about  five  years  ago. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cue  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren: Thomas  11.,  who  was  born  in  this  county, 
April  2,  1872,  now  aids  his  father  in  the  operation 
of  the  home  farm;  Elizabeth  Ann  died  about  1879 
at  the  age  of  five  years;  Mary  Jane,  who  is 
sixteen  years  of  age;  and  Nora,  Ellen,  a  maiden  of 
fourteen  summers,  still  reside  with  their  parents. 
Mrs.  Cue  is   a    member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


200 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Cue  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen. 
Harrison.  He  is  an  intelligent  man,  well  informed 
concerning  the  questions  of  the  day,  and,  in  his 
business  career,  has  met  with  good  success,  of  which 
he  is  well  deserving. 


C-Xf 


■50- 


\  AMES  M.  AVRIGHT,  who  is  a  retired  farmer 
now  residing  in  Keinpton,  was  born  in 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  February  15,  1835,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  and  Mary  Wright,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Lincolnshire,  England.  His 
father  came  to  America  about  1830.  Crossing  the 
Atlantic  he  settled  in  New  .Jersey,  where  for  some 
time  he  made  his  home.  In  1854,  he  emigrated 
Westward  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Winnebago 
County.  His  deatli  occurred  in  Vermillion,  S. 
Dak.,  on  the  7th  of  September,  1889.  His  wife 
passed  away  on  the  3d  of  November,  1886.  Eight 
children  have  been  born  unto  them:  William,  who 
died  in  infancy;  James  M.  of  this  sketch;  John, 
who  died  in  1857;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Isaiah  Wash- 
burn, a  resident  farmer  of  South  Dakota;  George, 
who  is  also  engaged  in  farming  in  Soutii  Dakota; 
Charles,  who  died  in  1832;  and  Peter,  whose  deatli 
occurred  the  same  3'ear. 

Our  subject  acquired  a  common-school  education 
in  the  State  of  his  nativity.  He  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  the  West  and  has  resided 
in  Illinois  almost  continuously  since.  He  remained 
with  his  father,  working  on  the  farm,  for  two  years, 
and  then  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  working 
as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month,  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  late  war.  When  the  South  rebelled  in 
1861,  he  responded  to  the  call  for  troops  to  aid  in 
the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  C,  Fift3'-fifth  Illinois  Infantry. 
The  important  engagements  in  which  he  partici- 
pated were  the  siege  of  Corinth,  Arkansas  Post, 
Champion  Hills,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  the 
battles  of  Jackson,  Mission  Ridge  and  Atlanta. 
When  his  three  years'  term  of  service  had  expired, 
he  was  honorably  discharged  on  the  30th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1864. 

Mr.  Wright  then  returned  to  Illinois  and  again 


engaged  in  farming.  Tn  1865,  he  removed  to 
Grundy  Count}-,  locating  near  Lisbon,  where  he 
resided  until  1871.  That  year  witnessed  his  arrival 
in  Ford  County.  He  had  previously  married  on 
the  3d  of  September,  1868,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Sarah  E.  Ashton,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizal)eth  (Sliaw)  Ashton.  Three  children  have 
been  born  of  their  union  but  all  are  now  deceased. 
Clara  died  April  19,  1880;  George  H.,  April  20, 
1880;  and  Alice  May,  August  27,  1887. 

On  coming  to  Ford  County,  Mr.  Wright  made 
a  location  in  Mona  Township,  where  he  rented  land 
for  seven  years.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  acres  on  section  32,  Rogers  Townsiiip, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1884.  In  that  year 
he  came  to  Keinpton,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home,  living  retired.  His  life  has  I)een  well  and 
worthily  spent  and  by  his  industrious  and  perse- 
vering efforts,  he  accumulated  a  sufficient  capital 
to  enable  him  to  rest  from  business  cares  and  spend 
his  remaining  days  in  peace  and  retirement.  He 
is  a  prominent  citizen  and  well  deserves  represen- 
tation in  this  volume. 

OIIN  J.  CLESS,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
fanning  on  section  30,  Brenton  Township, 
has  had  a  varied  life.  He  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, has  shared  in  the  hardships  of  pio- 
oneer  life  in  Illinois  and  the  experiences  of  gold 
mining  in  California,  and  is  now  living  quietly  as 
a  farmer.  His  birth  occurred  in  Wurtemberg  on 
the  10th  of  July,  1827.  He  is  one  of  ten  children 
born  to  Gotlieb  and  Catherina  (Buckenberg)  Cless. 
His  father  was  a  stonemason  and  spent  liis  entire 
life  in  his  native  land.  When  eighteen  years  of 
age,  he  served  in  the  armj-  against  Napoleon  and 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Lille  on  the  return 
of  the  French  Emperor  from  Russia.  The  children 
of  the  Cless  family  are  Gotlieb,  now  a  resident  of 
Newark,  N.  J.;  Conrad,  who  came  to  this  country 
and  died  of  sunstroke;  John,  of  this  sketch;  Will- 
iam, who  is  living  in  Newark,  N.  J.;  Gustaf,  who 
died  in  Germany,  and  Fredericka,  who  is  living  in 
Newark,  N.  J.     The  others  of  the   family  are  all 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


201 


deceased  and  those  who  still  survive  are  residents 
of  America. 

At  tlie  age  of  fourteen,  our  subject  began  learn- 
ing the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  wlieu  he  determined  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  the  United  States  and  in  1849 
sailed  from  Havre  to  New  York.  The  succeeding 
three  jears  of  his  life  were  spent  in  New  Jersey', 
where  he  worked  for  a  time  at  cabinet-making  at 
low  wages,  and  followed  any  other  pursuit  whereby 
he  might  earn  an  honest  living.  Attracted  by  the 
discovery  of  gold,  he  sailed  for  California  in  the 
spring  of  1852,  going  bj'  the  Isthmus  route,  and 
spent  three  and  a  half  years  in  the  mines  on  the 
Pacific  Slope,  meeting  with  a  fair  degree  of  suc- 
cess. He  returned  in  1855  by  the  wa}-  of  the  Nica- 
ragua route  and  remained  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  until 
1856,  when  he  removed  to  Wisconsin  and  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Waukesha  County,  upon  which 
he  made  his  home  for  ten  years.  He  then  sold  out, 
and  in  1866  came  to  La  Salle  County, 111.,  where  he 
spent  two  years. 

In  September,  1856,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine, 
Mr.  Cless  was  married,  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  to  Bar- 
bara Stadler.  who  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany, 
and  when  a  maiden  of  nine  summers  came  with 
her  parents  to  the  United  States.  They  had  seven 
sons  and  two  dauglitcrs:  William,  a  barber  of  Chi- 
cago; George,  a  policeman  of  the  same  city;  Jacob, 
who  operates  the  farm;  Samuel,  who  is  living  in 
Chicago,  where  he  is  employed  as  a  sign-hanger; 
Henry,  Charles,  Edward;  Louisa,  wife  of  Dan  Mill- 
grain,  a  farmer  of  Brenton  Township,  and  Emma, 
wife  of  .John  Burger,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Brenton  Township. 

The  year  1868  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Cless 
and  family  in  Ford  Count}-.  He  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  has 
f  si  nee  made  his  home,  with  the  exception  of  five  years 
which  he  spent  in  Chicago  just  after  the  great 
fire,  his  farm  being  rented  during  that  period.  He 
has  made  many  good  improvements,  has  erected  a 
comfortable  house  and  barns  and  planted  hedges 
and  shade  trees,  which  add  both  to  the  value  and 
attractive  appearance  of  the  place.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing retired  while  his  sons  o|)erate  the  farm.  When 
he  came  to  America  he  had  onl}'  ^oO  in  his  pocket, 


and  he  certainly  deserves  great  credit  for  the  suc- 
cess which  has  crowned  his  efforts  and  made  him 
one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  communitj-. 
Mr.  Cless  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Franklin  Pierce  in  1852.  He  voted  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1860,  and  on  questions  of  national  im- 
portance affiliates  with  the  Republican  party,  but 
at  local  elections  votes  independently.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  Overseer  of  Highways  in  his  dis- 
trict but  has  never  sought  for  public  preferincnt. 
In  religious  belief,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  as  is  also  his  wife.  In  the  community 
where  he  h.as  made  his  home  for  almost  a  cpiarter 
of  a  centuiy,  he  is  widely  and  favorably- known  and 
is  recognized  as  a  valued  citizen. 


■^■'i*^  ■  >»  >    I  > 


?   I   '  I   f     I  I    I 


ROF.  EDWARD  H.  MILLER,  Principal  of 
the  public  schools  of  Piper  City,  is  a  native 
of  the  llawkeye  State.  He  was  born  near 
Burlington,  Des  Moines  County,  Iowa,  on 
the  18th  of  July,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  B.  II.  and  Car- 
rie A.  (Styer)  Miller.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania  and  after  their  marriage  removed  to 
Iowa,  in  1845,  locating  in  Burlington,  where  the 
father  followed  bis  trade  of  milling.  His  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years,  and  his 
wife  also  died  when  young.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  but  the  eldest,  Mrs.  Alice  A. 
Ballard,  died  m  Burlington;  II.  II.,  who  was  edu- 
cated in  Burlington,  is  now  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics in  a  business  college  of  California;  our  sub- 
ject is  the  next  younger,  and  J.  E.,  who  completes 
the  family,  is  attending  school  in  Iowa. 

Prof.  Miller  was  a  lad  of  only  fourteen  years  when 
his  parents  died,  since  which  time  he  has  made  his 
own  way  in  the  world,  being  entirely  dependent  on 
his  own  efforts.  He  went  to  La  Salle  County,  where 
he  worked  by  the  month  on  a  stock  farm  near 
Mendota  for  six  mouths,  and  through  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year  he  attended  school.  He  was 
desirous  of  securing  a  good  education,  and  in  order 
to  do  this  he  had  to  earn  the  money  necessary  to 
pay  his  expenses.  He  pursued  a  four-years'  clas- 
sical  course  in   the  Normal  School  of  Dixon,  111., 


202 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArillCAL  RECORD. 


from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1886,  and  then 
engaged  in  teaching  for  two  years  in  Mendota,  be- 
ing assistant  Principal  of  the  High  School.  In 
188'.),  he  went  to  Paxtou  where  lie  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  Professor  of  Mathematics  in  the  Rice  Col- 
legiate Institute,  serving  as  such  for  three  ji^ears, 
when  he  came  to  Piper  City  and  has  since  been 
Principal  of  its  schools. 

Prof.  Miller  was  married  on  ilie  6th  of  October, 
1887,  in  Mendota,  111.,  IMiss  Marcia  M.  Freeland 
becoming  his  wife.  She  is  a  native  of  that  place 
and  a  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Sarah  Freeland, 
residents  of  Colfax,  111.  Two  children  grace  the 
union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  a  son  and 
daughter:  Stafford  De  Witt  and  Margaret.  Prof, 
and  Mrs.  Miller  are  both  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  and  are  prominent  people  in  this 
community  and  held  in  high  esteem  by  their 
many  friends. 

In  his  social  relations,  the  Professor  is  an  Odd 
Fellow  and,  in  i)olitics,  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  but  has  never  been  an  oflice-seeker.  He 
is  an  intelligent,  .iljle  young  man,  a  most  suc- 
cessful instructor,  and  has  won  general  favor  in 
the  communities  where  he  has  been  employed  as 
teacher.  He  may  well  be  termed  a  self-made  man, 
for  since  a  very  early  age  he  has  made  his  own  way 
in  life,  never  having  a  cent  but  what  he  earned 
himself.  The  industrj',  enterprise  and  perseverance 
which  have  characterized  his  career  argue  well  for 
a  successful  future. 


,,..,  LFRED  PHILLIPS,  who  owns  and  operates 
(^'Ol  ninety  acres  of  land  on  section  12,  Peach 
Orchard  Township,  has  the  honor  of  be- 
ing a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born 
Januar}'  15,  1857,  near  Caledonia,  Putnam  Couut}', 
and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one  of  the  pio- 
neer families  of  that  county.  His  parents  were 
George  and  Jane  (Lights)  Phillips.  His  father 
was  born  in  England  and  when  thirteen  3'ears  of 
age  came  to  the  United  States.  His  mother  was 
born  in  Chester  County,  Pa.  They  came  to  Illinois 
in  1837,  locating  near  jMagnolia,  Putnam  Count}-, 
where    Mr.  Phillips  built  a   tlouring-mill   on    the 


bank  of  Sandy  Creek.  He  also  built  a  sawmill  on 
Clear  Creek.  Until  1863,  he  made  his  home  in 
that  county  and  then  removed  to  La  Salle  County, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm,  upon  which  he  made 
his  home  one  year.  The  year  1864  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Ford  County.  He  purchased  all  of  sec- 
tion 12,  Peach  Orchard  Township,  and  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  more  on  section  16.  LTpon  his  farm,  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death  in  1869.  In  1866,  he 
served  his  township  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  of  the 
Odd  Fellows'  fraternity.  Mrs.  Phillips  died  in  1865. 

The  family  numbered  seven  children:  Catherine, 
wife  of  John  Tliackary,  a  farmer  residing  in  Peach 
Orchard  Township;  Jane,  wife  of  George  II.  AVar- 
ner,  of  Normal,  111.;  Mary,  deceased,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Baxter;  George,  who  is  living  in  Slelvin,  111.; 
Alfred,  of  this  sketch;  Susan,  wife  of  Frank  Thomp- 
son, a  retired  farmer  residing  in  Melvin,  and  Abra- 
ham L.,  an  attorney  at  law  of  Gibson  City. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  in  his  youth  attended  the  district 
schools  and  acquired  a  practical  English  education. 
He  began  life  for  himself  in  1875,  when  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  engaged  in  farming  for  himself 
for  two  3'ears,  after  which  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month.  Throughout  his  entire  life, 
he  followed  agi'icultural  pursuits  and  has  been  very 
successful  in  his  business  dealings.  After  his  mar- 
riage, he  removed  to  the  farm  on  which  he  has 
since  resided,  and  in  connection  with  its  cultiva- 
tion carries  on  stock-raising.  His  landed  posses- 
sions are  quite  extensive.  He  owns  ninety-eight 
and  one-half  acres  in  his  home  farm,  eighty  acres 
on  section  8,  Peach  Orchard  Township,  a  like 
amount  iu  Dix  Township  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Wall  Township. 

Sei)tember  29,  1879.  Mr.  Phillips  married  Miss 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Lizzie  Brooks,  and 
they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the  farm  which 
is  still  their  home.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  one  daughter,  Edna,  who  was  born  January 
23,  1884.  The  parents  are  highly  respected  peo- 
ple of  this  communitj-  and  have  many  warm 
friends.  In  his  political  atliliations,  Mr.  Phillips 
is  a  Republican. 


i 


1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


205 


I 


ON.  ALFRED  SAMPLE,  Circuit  Judge  of 
the  Eleventh  .hulieial  District  of  Illinois, 
has  won    honorable   distinction   in  the  line 

!s£))  of  his  profession  and  well  deserves  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume.  A  native  of  Ohio,  he 
was  horn  in  Butler  County.  November  27,  1846. 
His  parents  were  .James  and  Jane  (Beard)  Sample. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  the 
mother  of  \'irginia.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and 
stock-dealer.  With  his  fanuly  he  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Livingston  County,  111.,  in  1857,  and  was 
a  resident  of  that  and  McLean  County  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  April  20,  1883.  Ilis  wife, 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  a  woman  possessed  of 
many  excellencies  of  character,  survived  her  lius- 
liand  until  April  13,  1892. 

Alfred  Sample  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents 
when  eleven  years  of  age  and,  when  not  attending 
school,  was  employed  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  the 
home  farm.  November  24,  1863,  when  but  sixteen 
years  of  age,  he  enlisted  for  the  late  war  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  immediately  went 
into  active  service.  His  regiment  was  assigned  to 
Sherman's  Army  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  At  the  battle  of  Resaca,  Ga.,  May  15, 
1864,  the  young  soldier  of  wliom  we  are  writing 
was  severely,  and  at  that  time  su|)posed  to  be  mor- 
tally, wt)unded,  being  shot  in  the  breast  and 
through  both  arms.  Thus  unBtted  for  duty,  he 
received  an  honorable  disciiarge  I)eceml)cr  6,  1864, 
on  account  of  Ins  wounds  received  on  the  field  of 
battle.  He  carries  with  him  through  life  a  crippled 
arm  as  a  memento  of  the  so-called  ''late  unpleas- 
antness between  the  States." 

(Jn  returning  from  the  war,  Mr.  Samiile  became 
a  student  in  Eureka  College,  where  he  pursued 
his  studies  for  three  years,  after  which  he  entered 
Monmouth  College,  taking  a  special  course  in 
each,  and  giving  particular  attention  to  the  classics 
and  mathematics.  While  at  college,  he  taught 
select  school  several  terras  during  vacations  and 
was  engaged  in  teaching  schooJ  for  one  year  after 
leaving  Monmouth  College.  He  then  entered 
upon  the  study  of  law  under  the  preeoptorship  of 
the  Hon.  Robert  G.  Ingersoll,  tiie  famous  Ameri- 
can orator  and  attorney  at  law  of  Washington, 
9 


D.  C,  then  a  jtrominent  lawyer  of  Illinois  and 
a  resident  of  Peoria.  In  1871,  after  the  regular 
examination,  Mr.  Sain[jle  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
and  that  same  year  openeil  an  ollice  at  Paxton, 
where  he  entered  upon  a  successful  jji-actice  of  his 
profession.  His  talent  and  ability  soon  won  for 
him  an  honorable  position  in  the  Bar  of  Eastern 
Illinois. 

In  politics.  Judge  Sample  is  a  Republican,  but 
he  has  never  sought  or  desired  piominence  in  the 
line  of  political  distinction,  but  has  [Jieferred  to  de- 
vote his  energies  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
and  to  .accept  such  preferment  as  is  the  legitimate 
outgrowth  of  success  in  that  direction.  The  only 
purel}'  political  position  he  has  been  known  to  fill 
was  that  of  Presidential  elector  in  the  campaign 
of  1880,  when  James  A.  (iarfield  was  chosen  Presi- 
dent. He  has  served  as  State  Attorney  for  eight 
years.  City  Attorney  of  Paxton  for  four  years, 
and  in  June,  1885,  was  nominated  and  elected  with- 
out opposition  to  the  honorable  position  of  Judge  of 
the  Eleventh  Judicial  District  of  Illinois.  After 
serving  a  term  of  six  years,  he  was  again  nomin- 
ated and  elected  for  the  succeeding  term  without 
opposition.  The  fact  of  Judge  Sample  being  the 
unanimous  choice  of  the  citizens  of  that  district 
on  both  occasions  speaks  volumes  in  his  praise  and 
is  a  compliment  of  which  he  m.ay  well  be  jiioikL 
The  Eleventh  Judicial  District  of  Illinois  includes 
within  its  limits  the  counties  of  Livingston,  Kan- 
kakee, Iroquois,  McLean  and  Ford,  and  Judge 
Sample's  associates  are  Judges  Charles  R.  Starr  and 
Thomas  F.  Tipton.  In  June,  1891,  Judge  Sample 
was  appointed  to  the  Appellate  Bench  of  the  Fourth 
District  of  Illinois,  which  position  he  holds  at  the 
present  time. 

On  the  fifth  of  September,  1876,  the  Judge  was 
mariied  to  Miss  E'lorence  A.  Cook,  a  daughter 
of  Col.  H.  D.  Cook,  a  well-known  and  piomincnt 
citizen  of  Illinois,  a  sketch  of  whom  a|)pcars  else- 
where in  this  work.  The  lady  was  born  in  Cappa, 
Woodford  County,  111.  .Judge  and  Mrs.  Sample 
have  two  daughters:  Florence  I.  and  Lois  A.,  both 
born  in  Paxton.  Socially,  Judge  Sample  is  a  Ma- 
son and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. He  belongs  to  Paxton  Lodge  No.  416,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter   No.  113,  R.  A.  M.;  Mt. 


206 


PORTRAIT  AND  EJOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Olivet  ConiTnanclcry  No.  38,  K.  T.,  and  was  in  the 
j'car  1878  the  Grand  Orator  of  the  Masonic  (4 rand 
Lodge  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  Paxton  Post  No.  387,  G.  A.  K. 

Tlie  personal  popularity  of  the  Jndge  has  grown 
with  the  yeais  of  his  service  in  a  judicial  capacity. 
He  is  comparatively  a  young  man  .and  has  the 
physical  strength  to  hold  court  until  the  work 
on  the  docket  is  disposed  of,  not  having  lost  a 
day  on  account  of  illness  in  about  seven  years. 
He  li.as  the  executive  ability  to  dispatch  business 
with  rapidity  and  without  any  undue  haste,  and  his 
career  as  a  lawyer  has  been  successful  from  the 
start.  He  is  studious  by  habit,  possessing  quick  per- 
ceptive faculties  and  a  mind  well  adapted  to  the  in- 
tellectual profession  of  his  choice.  Asa  judge,  his 
rulings  have  ever  been  fair  and  impartial,  so  that 
lawyers  and  litigants  interested  feel  at  the  conclu- 
sion that  they  have  been  fairly  and  impartially 
treated.  In  manner.  Judge  .Sample  is  unassuming, 
yet  dignified,  cordial  and  aflfable,  gifted  as  a  con- 
versationalist and  always  good  company'.  He  has 
won  his  success  in  life  by  hard  study  and  earnest 
application  to  business,  and  is  essentially  a  self- 
made  man.  He  is  the  owner  of  valuable  tracts  of 
land  and  has  recenth'  erected  at  Paxton  a  very 
comfortable  and  modern  residence,  which  he  de- 
signed for  a  permanent  home.  Several  years 
prior  to  his  elevation  to  the  bencli,  .Judge  Sample 
distinguished  himself  by  the  able  and  successful 
manner  in  which  he  conducted  suits  against  railroad 
companies  to  eomiiel  tlie  adoption  of  the  legal 
rate  of  three  cents  a  mile  fare  and  to  prevent  the 
annoyance  and  loss  to  the  traveling  public  of  tlie 
illegal  rate  of  four  cents.  This  laih'oad  litigation, 
which  was  of  public  interest  at  the  time,  attracted 
general  attention  and  tlie  marked  sucttess  attend- 
ing ihe  efforts  of  Judge  Sample  won  for  him  much 
favorable  comment  and  well-merited  praise. 


VILLIAM  J.  WILSON,  president  of  the 
private  banking  house  of  Mattlnson,  Wil- 
son &  Co.,  of  Gibson  City,  111.,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  on  the 
.29th   of    June,    1838.    His    parents,   Washington 


and  IMary  A.  (Forman)  Wilson,  were  from  Ohio. 
His  father's  birth  occurred  on  the  18th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1811,  near  Fairfield,  Greene  County,  and  the 
mother  was  born  in  Clarke  County.  They  were 
married  May  22,  183(3,  and  lived  together  as  lius- 
band  and  wife  for  nearly  lialf  ii  century,  when 
called  to  their  fin.al  rest.  Wasliington  Wilson 
died  at  his  home  in  Si)ringfield,  Ohio,  on  Sunday, 
April  2G,  188."),  at  tlie  age  of  seventy-three  years 
and  seven  months.  His  wife  i)assed  away  on  the 
5th  of  Maj'  following,  surviving  her  husband  only 
nine  days.  They  had  joined  the  Christian  Church 
together  in  1839,  and  remained  worthy  and  con- 
sistent members  of  that  society  to  the  close  of 
their  lives.  It  is  said  of  them  that  they  were  re- 
markably adapted  to  e.acli  other  and  were  pos- 
sessed of  noble  traits  of  char.icter. 

Michael  Wilson,  the  father  of  AVashington  Wil- 
son, was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  died 
soon  after  his  return  from  the  war  from  tlie  effects 
of  exposure  while  in  the  service.  His  widow  re- 
moved to  Harmony  Township,  and  later  made  her 
home  with  her  son  Washington  in  Springfield, 
where  she  died  in  1880,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninetj--two  years. 

Washington  and  Mary  A.  AVilson  were  the  par- 
ents of  eleven  children:  Michael,  William  J., 
George  W.,  Harrison,  John,  Addison;  Luther,  de- 
ceased; Nancy  T.,  Harriet;  Mary  A.,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Strain;  Flora  is  now  Mrs.  Dr. 
Claience  Kay;  Michael  and  Addison  reside  in 
Spiingfield,  Ohio;  George  W.,  who  w.as  State  Sen- 
ator, makes  his  home  in  London,  Ohio;  Harriet  is 
a  resident  of  London,  Ohio;  Nancy  T.  is  the  wife 
of  John  J.  (ioodfellow;  Harrison  is  a  farmer  of 
Madison  County,  Ohio,  and  .hjhn  resides  in  (iibson 
City. 

Washington  Wilson  made  his  home  in  Spring- 
field at  an  early  day.  He  was  industrious  and 
frugal,  and  .accumulated  a  large  landed  estate,  hav- 
ing nearly  two  thousand  acres  of  land  near  Spring- 
field at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the 
prime  movers  in  the  firgauization  of  the  Christian 
Cliurch  in  Springfield,  and  was  one  of  its  oHicers  and 
most  earnest  supporters.  As  a  Christian,  he  was 
Biblically  orthodox,  and  practically  evangelical 
with  charity  for  all.     He  was  active  as  a  speaker 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


207 


and  worker  in  duircli,  prnvcr  meetings  and  Siin- 
day-sciiool,  and  his  iios|iitaiitv  to  tlie  ministers 
was  lilieral  and  nuicli  iiartaken  ot.  He  was  noted 
for  steadfastness  of  purpose,  a  broad  C'liristian 
spirit  and  for  liis  efforts  to  do  good  in  his  eonimu- 
nity  and  to  encourage  and  develop  a  true  Cliris- 
tian  siiirit  in  those  who  came  witliin  tlio  range 
of  his  inrtuence.  The  sterling  (pialities  of  this 
worthy  nian  and  his  estimable  wife,  wliieli  gave 
them  sucli  high  standing  in  their  eomnuinity,  have 
had  their  intluenee  in  forming  the  eharacter  of 
their  children,  who  have  become  useful  and  worth}' 
members  of  society. 

William  J.  '\Vilst)n  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits  and  was  educated  in  the  i)ublic  schools  of 
Si)ringfield,  Ohio.  On  the  17tli  of  September, 
1863,  he  was  married,  in  his  native  county,  to 
Miss  L3'dia  Goodfellow,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Lucy  (Bennett)  (Joodfellow,and  a  native  of  Clarke 
Count}-,  Ohio. 

On  attaining  man's  estate,  Mr.  Wilson  engaged 
in  farming  near  his  old  home,  and  continued  in 
that  vocation  until  1875,  when  he  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business  at  London,  Ohio.  In  1876, 
he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Gibson  City,  111.,  and 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade,  which  he  conducted 
successfully  until  the  burning  of  his  elevator.  On 
coming  to  Gibson  Cit}^  Mr.  AVilson  invested  in 
farming  lauds  in  Ford  County,  and  has  increased 
his  acreage  until  he  now  owns  fifteen  hundred 
acres  of  agricultural  lands,  which  are  situated 
partly  in  the  following  counties:  Ford,  ^'ermilion 
and  Lee.  Two  years  after  he  settled  in  Gibson 
City,  Mr.  Wilson  became  a  [lartner  in  the  bank- 
ing house  now  carried  on  under  the  firm  title  of 
Mattinson,  Wilson  ife  Co.,  the  oldest  bank  in  the 
city,  and  has  maintained  partnership  relations  with 
that  institution  continuously  since.  In  addition  to 
the  business  interests  already  mentioned,  Mr.  Wil- 
son has  done  an  extensive  business  in  growing, 
buying,  feeding  and  shipping  live  stock.  lie  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Gibson  Canning  Company, 
of  which  he  is  Vice-President. 

Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  AVil- 
son,  three  sons  and  six  daughters  now  living: 
]\Iinnie  B.  is  the  wife  of  Evan  IMattiiLson,  of 
the  banking   house  of  Mattinson,  Wilson    &  Co.; 


Luther  B.  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate  lousiness  in 
Dixon,  111.;  Cora  IMay  resides  with  lier  parents; 
Lucy  V.  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Browning,  a  farmer 
of  Drummer  Township;  William  J.,  Jr.;  Mary 
Maud,  Grace,  Mabel  and  Arthur  Glenn.  One 
died  in  infancy. 

In  politics,  IMr.  Wilson  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  public  ollice.  In  their 
religious  views,  Mr.  Wilson,  his  wife  and  older 
children  are  Presbyterians,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  that  church.  The  chil- 
dren older  than  Mary  Maud  were  born  in  Clarke 
County,  Ohio,  while  she  and  those  younger  are 
natives  of  Gibson  City. 

Since  his  residence  at  Gibson  City,  Mr.  Wilson 
has  been  actively  and  prominently  identified  with 
its  commercial  and  linaneial  interests,  and  it  is  no 
flattery  to  say  of  him  that  his  record  has  been  that 
of  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  enterprise  and  abil- 
ity. In  his  business  career,  he  has  been  eminently 
successful,  and  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a 
large  and  valuable  property,  while  his  uniformly 
upright  course  in  life  and  just  regard  for  the 
rights  of  others  have  entitled  him  to  a  place  in  the 
foremost  ranks  of  the  most  respected  and  worthy 
citizens  of  Ford  County. 


•^^ 


A.  COAL,  proprietor,  editor  and  publisher 
of  the  daily  and  weekly  Gilison  City  Enter- 
jmse,  the  leading  Republican  journal  in  the 
western  part  of  Ford  County,  is  a  native 
of  Washington,  Pa.,  and  was  born  November  28, 
1856.  His  father  is  Dr.  W.  P.  T.  Coal,  a  retired 
physician,  now  of  Bloomington,  111.,  but  formerly 
of  Washington  County,  Pa.  He  still  owns  the  old 
family  homestead  in  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  that 
has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  since  the 
patent  was  obtained  from  the  Government  in 
Colonial  days.  He  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  16th  of  November,  1818,  and  is  of 
German  descent,  several  generations  remote.  He 
was  graduated  from  Bath  Medical  College  and 
practiced  his  profession  for  forty  years.  He  is  a 
thorough  scholar,  though  largely  self-educated,  and 


208 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPIIICAL   EECORD, 


is  a  contriljutor  to  several  Eastern  majjazines  and 
periodicals.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Breckenridge  Count}',  Ky.,  in  May, 
1819,  and  was  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  prominent  of  Kentucky  families.  She 
passed  to  her  fmal  rest  many  years  ago,  her  death 
occurring  in  December,  1859. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Illinois  in 
1858,  and  was  educated  in  the  High  School  at 
Tremont  and  at  the  Normal  University,  at  Normal, 
spending  about  two  j-ears  as  a  student  in  the  last- 
named  institution.  On  completing  his  term  at  the 
University,  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  and  was 
emplo3-ed  in  that  vocation  for  nine  years.  He 
taught  the  Sibley  School,  the  P^lliott  School  and 
what  is  known  as  the  Dixon  School,  to  the  south  of 
Gibson  City.  During  a  part  of  this  time,  he 
taught  two  different  schools  in  the  same  year,  so 
that  he  really  taught  twelve  months  in  the  year. 

In  December,  1879,  he  started  the  Sibley  Index, 
and  on  the  5th  of  June,  1883,  established  the  Gib- 
son City  Enterprise,  a  straight  Republican  weekly 
paper,  still  continuing  the  publication  of  the  Index 
a  year  and  a  half  later.  He  started  the  daily  Gib- 
son Qity  Enterprise  in  December,  1889.  a  six-column 
folio,  still  carrying  on  the  weekly  Enterprise,  a 
six-column  quarto.  He  has  continued  the  publica- 
tion of  both  to  the  present  time,  having  made  a 
success  of  the  venture  and  built  up  a  prosperous 
business.  He  has  in  connection  with  his  newspaper 
publishing  a  well-appointed  job  ofJlce  and  does  an 
extensive  business  in  the  line  of  first-class  com- 
mercial job  work. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1879,  Mr.  Coal  was 
married,  in  Gibson  City,  to  Miss  Sadie  E.  Black,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  J.  Black.  Her 
father  is  deceased  and  her  mother  is  now  the  wife 
of  J.  H.  Dungan,  of  Gibson  City.  Mrs.  Coal  was 
bom  in  Clinton  County,  Ind.,and  came  to  Illinois 
in  childhood.  She  has  become  the  mother  of  one 
child,  a  son.  Earl  H.  D.,  who  was  born  on  the  26th 
of  June,  1888.  The  parents  are  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  work  of 
which  they  take  an  active  interest. 

Mr.  Coal  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  a  member 
of  Gibson  Lodge  No.  733,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Gib- 
son Chapter  No.  183,  R.  A.  M.;  of  Gibson  Council 


No.  72;  and  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery  No.  38,  K.  T., 
of  Paxtou.  He  is  an  active  and  earnest  supporter 
of  Republican  principles  and  is  a  potent  factor  in 
campaign  work.  His  acquaintance  is  extensive 
throughout  the  county  and  his  friends  are  many 
and  among  the  best  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He 
possesses  a  genial  and  fraternal  spirit,  is  always 
courteous  and  cordi.al  in  manner  with  strangers  as 
well  as  friends.  He  is  a  fluent,  easj'  writer  and  his 
papers  are  among  the  best  published  in  this  i)art  of 
the  State.  He  and  his  wife  rank  high  in  social  cir- 
cles and  are  numbered  among  the  prominent  and 
worthy  citizens  of  Ford  County. 


ROF.  JOHN  D.  SHOOP,  who  has  been 
)  Principal  of  the  Gibson  City  schools  since 
S  ^  September,  1890,  was  born  in  Sabina,  Clin- 
I  \  ton  County,  Ohio,  March  3,  1857,  and  is  a 
son  of  Jonathan  and  Margaret  (Sn3-der)  Shoop. 
His  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his 
mother  in  Fleming  County,  \s.y.  Our  subject  was 
orphaned  in  childhood,  his  mother  dying  while  he 
was  yet  an  infant,  and  his  father  passing  away 
when  he  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  His  parents 
were  in  limited  circumstances,  and  John  D.  was 
left,  at  the  early  age  of  seven,  to  fight  the  battle 
of  life  alone  and  unaided.  He  was  reared  to 
manhood  among  strangers,  and  was  apprenticed  to 
a  farmer  until  twenty-one  years  of  age.  His  edu- 
cation was  obtained  at  private  schools  and  by  self- 
culture.  He  began  teaching  in  1878,  in  Fayette 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  Principal  of  the  schools  at 
Blooiningburg,  Ohio,  for  three  years.  Subsequently, 
he  taught  in  the  Institute  at  Washington  Court 
House,  where  he  remained  until  1889. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1887,  Prof.  Siioop  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jennie  B.  Perrill. 
Mrs.  Shoop  was  born  at  Washington  Court  House, 
and  IS  a  daughter  of  James  and  Rebecca  Perrill. 
Her  father  is  a  prominent  farmer  of  her  native 
county,  and  one  of  the  highl}'  esteemed  citizens. 
In  1889.  Prof.  Shooji  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Saybrook.  McLean  County,  where  he  was  employed 


c;!^^<A<y 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


211 


as  Principal  of  the  schools  foi'  one  year.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time,  he  resigned  to  accept  his 
present  position,  that  of  Principal  of  the  Gibson 
C'it.y  Schools.  These  schools  have  an  enrollment 
of  five  hiuuli'ed  pupils.  Ten  teachers  are  em- 
ploj'ed  and  the  schools  arc  in  a  prosperous  and 
tliriving  condition. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoop  hold  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and,  in  politics,  he 
alliliates  with  the  Republican  part^-,  of  which  he  is 
a  stanch  supporter,  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  public  office.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  M.ason, 
being  a  member  of  Garfield  Coramandery  No.  28, 
of  Washington  Court  House,  Ohio,  and  also  be- 
longs to  Hope  Lodge  No.  140,  K.  of  P.,  of  Say- 
brook,  111.  Prof.  Shoop  is  recognized  as  an  emi- 
nently qualified  and  skillful  educator  and  during 
his  two  years'  charge  of  the  Gibson  City  schools, 
has  won  the  confidence  and  good  opinion  of  those 
interested  in  the  cause  of  education  at  that  place. 
He  is  thorough  and  systematic  in  the  management 
of  the  schools,  and  is  well  supported  by  an  able 
corps  of  teachers,  and  the  school  is  ra|)idly  ad- 
vancing to  a  high  standard  of  perfection. 


^-^i. 


~S1 


^4-^ 


ir^ 


<»  IVILLIAM  A.  lUCKET,  general  manager  of 
\/\//l  the  Hiram  Sibley  estate  in  Ford  and  Liv- 
^fy^  ingston  Counties,  was  born  in  Toronto, 
Canada,  Septemljer  9,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
and  .Jane  (Leckie)  Bicket,  Iiotli  of  whom  are  now 
deceased.  Our  suljject's  connection  with  the  im- 
mense i)roperty  of  which  he  is  now  tlie  nianager 
began  in  August,  1872,  wlien  Michael  L.  SuUivant 
was  proprietor,  and  since  1878,  when  Hiram  Sib- 
ley succeeded  to  its  ownership,  lie  has  been  general 
manager.  A  brief  description  of  the  property  in 
question  will  not  be  inappropriate  in  connection 
witli  tlie  biography  of  its  resident  legal  represen- 
tative and  general  manager,  so  we  give  a  sketch  of 
the  same  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

The  fatlier  of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land and  emigrated  to  Canada  in  his  youth.  The 
mother  was  born  in  Canada,  and  was  of  Scotcli 
and  English  descent.     Tlieir    f.unilv    consisted   of 


five  children,  as  follows:  Isaac  B.,  the  eldest, 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Union  army  during  the 
late  war.  He  was  poisoned  by  drinking  from 
the  poisoned  wells  of  Maryland,  and  received  his 
discharge  on  account  of  physical  disability,  but 
afterward  re-enlisted  in  ttie  seventeenth  Illinois 
Cavalry  .and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
married,  and  died  in  Sibley  on  the  27th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1880,  presumably  from  the  effects  of  the 
poison  which  remained  in  his  sj'stem  from  the 
time  of  his  service.  William  A.  is  the  next 
younger.  Agnes,  the  only  daughter,  is  the  wife 
of  the  Rev.  George  Mitchell,  B.  A.,  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  St.  Catharines, 
Canada.  James  L.,  the  youngest,  is  employed  as 
book-keeper  in  the  Sible}'  estate  office  in  Sibley, 
111.     One  cliild  died  in  infancy. 

William  A.  Bicket  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Canada,  attended  the  public  sciiools  and  served  a 
flve-years'  apprenticeship  to  tlie  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Perth,  Ontario.  In  1860,  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago, and  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  commis- 
sion house  for  two  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Wabaslia  County,  Minn.,  wliere  he  purchased  a 
farm  and  was  engaged  in  .agricultural  pursuits 
until  February,  1864.  On  the  2;jth  of  that  month, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  A,  Seventli  Minnesota  In- 
fantry, was  detailed  on  special  dut}'  immediately 
after  entering  the  service  and  was  stationed  at 
Ft.  Snelling,  where  he  was  in  cliarge  of  receiving 
and  forwarding  recruits  to  the  front,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  line  of  duty  until  mustered  out 
May  11,  1865. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mv.  Bicket  engaged 
in  the  grain  commission  business  in  Cliicago  until 
1866,  when  he  went  to  Loda,  111.,  and  took  charge 
of  a  distillery,  then  one  of  the  largest  in  tlie  United 
States,  continuing  there  until  August,  1872,  when 
he  entered  the  service  of  Mr.  Sullivant  in  Ford 
County  as  commissary  for  his  mammoth  farm. 
On  the  failure  and  assignment  of  his  employer 
early  in  1877,  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the 
property  as  manager  under  the  assignee,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  until  October,  1878,  when  Mr. 
Sibley  came  into  legal  possession  of  the  property. 
He  was  retained  by  the  new  proprietor  in  the  same 
capacity  and  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Sibley,  on  the 


212 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


11th  of  July,  1888,  he  has  been  general  manager 
of  the  estate  in  Ford  and  Livingston  Counties. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Bicket  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
been  active  and  inlluential  in  tlie  local  cam|)aign 
work  of  his  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ford 
County  RepuVilican  Committee,  liaving  often  served 
as  delegate  to  district.couuty  and  State  conventions, 
and  has  held  various  official  positions.  For  four- 
teen 3'ears  he  has  been  Supervisor  of  Sullivant 
Township,  was  Coroner  of  Ford  County  for  four 
years  and  has  held  every  office  at  times  in  the 
vill.igc  of  Sibley  from  President  of  tlie  Board  of 
Education  to  President  of  the  village.  He  is  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason,  belonging  to  Sibley  Lodge 
No.  761,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Gibson  Cliapter  No.  183, 
U.  A.  M.;  Gibson  Council  No.  72;  and  Mt. Olivet 
Conimandery  No.  38,  K.  T.  lie  is  also  a  member 
of  Lott  Post  No.  70,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Gibson. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1867,  Mr.  Bicket  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Faribault,  Minn.,  to  Miss 
Ellen  Pratt,  who  was  born  in  Berlin,  Wis.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Henrj-  and  Jane  E.  Pratt.  Iler  father 
was  among  the  pioneers  of  Minnesota,  and  was  in 
the  Government  service  at  the  Winnebago  Indian 
Agency  at  an  early  day.  Eight  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bicket,  of  wliom  six  arc  yet 
living:  Mary  Gertrude,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Elbert 
H.  Alford,  of  the  Methodist  Church,  of  Sibley,  by 
whom  she  has  two  children,  Don  Bicket  and  Gene- 
vieve; Nellie  Louise  is  employed  in  her  father's 
office  in  Siblej';  Effie  May  is  a  teacher  in  the  Sib- 
ley schools;  James  Pratt  is  a  student  in  Chaddock 
College,  of  (Juincy,  111.;  William  Albert  died  at 
the  age  of  titeen  months;  Harry  Leckie  died  when 
twelve  months  old;  Grace  Darling  and  Hiram  Sib- 
ley, the  youngest  of  the  family,  now  surviving. 
In  their  religious  belief,  the  family  are  Method- 
ists, members  of  the  church  in  Sibley,  of  which 
Mr.  Bicket  is  a  Trustee. 

It  is  now  twenty  years  since  our  subject  became 
identified  with  the  property  known  as  the  Hiram 
Sibley  estate  and  fifteen  years  since  he  had  full 
control  of  the  management  of  the  entire  estate  in 
Ford  and  Livingston  Counties.  The  history  of 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  property  is 
covered  in  a  description  of  the  estate  published 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  which    speaks   volumes  in 


praise  of  the  sagacity,  fidelity  and  executive  abil- 
ity of  the  manager.  His  just,  liberal  and  impar- 
tial treatment  of  tlie  tenants  has  won  their  regard 
and  confidence,  while  his  honest  and  judicious 
discharge  of  duty  has  been  eminently  satisfactory 
to  tliose  interested  in  the  estate. 


UGH  ALEXANDER  KELSO,  M.  D.,  the 
oldest  medical  practitioner  in  continuous 
years  of  practice  of  Ford  County,  as 
'jj  well  as  one  of  the  most  successful  phy- 
sicians and  surgeons  of  Eastern  Illinois,  first  saw 
the  light  of  day  in  Morgan  County,  Ind.,  on 
the  6th  of  December,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
B.  and  Malvina  (Hudeburg)  Kelso.  His  paternal 
ancestors  were  from  Jamestown,  Va.,  and  the 
branch  of  the  family  from  which  tlie  Doctor  is 
descended  removed,  some  time  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  last  century,  to  North  Carolina,  and  thence  to 
Eastern  Tennessee  early  in  the  present  century. 

Dr.  Kelso's  father  was  born  in  East  Tennessee, 
in  1807,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
State,  and  was  there  married,  about  1828,  to  Miss 
Hudeburg.  The  following  year  he  removed  with 
his  wife  to  Morgan  County,  Ind.  He  entertained 
strong  abolition  principles  and  left  Tennessee  on 
account  of  his  hostility  to  the  institution  of  slav- 
eiy.  His  wife  died  in  Indiana  in  1840,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-five.  Mr.  Kelso  remained  in  that 
State  until  18.59,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  locat- 
ing in  Cumberland  County.  Subsequently,  lie  re- 
moved to  Vernon,  111.,  but  afterward  returned  to 
Cumberland  County,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

Dr.  Kelso,  after  attending  preparatory  schools, 
entered  the  State  University  at  Bloomington,  Ind., 
where  he  was  a  student  during  1848  and  1849. 
He  then  went  South  and  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  Louisiana.  In  1850,  he  began  the  study 
of  medicine  in  Morehouse  Parish,  La.,  and  at- 
tended lectures  at  the  Ohio  State  Medical  Col- 
lege, of  Cincinnati.  In  1855,  he  established  him- 
self in  practice  in  Morgan  County,  Ind.,  where  he 
continued  with   success  until  1858,  when   he  came 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


213 


to  Illinois  and  located  at  Farmington,  Coles 
Ciiiiiity.  Tliere  lie  soon  built  iiji  a  large  practice, 
whicli  he  aliaiuloned  to  iMiter  the  volunteer  ser- 
vice for  the  late  war. 

The  Doctor  became  First  Assistant  Surgeon  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twent^y-tliird  Illinois  In- 
fantry in  August,  1M(;2.  That  regiment  was  under 
Gen.  Buell  at  first,  but  was  subsequently  mounted 
and  armed  with  Spencer  rifles  and  assigned  to 
Gen.  Thomas'  Division.  They  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862;  Chick- 
amauga,  September  19  and  20,  1863;  Looliout 
Mountain,  November  24;  and  Missionarj'  Ridge 
the  following  day,  together  with  the  capture  of 
Hoover's  Gap.  At  the  battle  of  Chiekamauga, 
when  the  Union  forces  had  fallen  back.  Dr.  Kelso 
remained  on  the  field,  seeking  the  wounded  who 
might  need  a  surgeon's  care,  with  the  view  of 
being  admitted  through  the  rebel  lines  with  the 
privilege  of  serving  our  injured  in  the  hands  of 
the  Confederates.  After  relieving  tlie  few  wounded, 
finding  in  the  woods  a  much  less  number  than  he 
expected,  he  saw  appi'oaching  a  train  of  twenty 
.ambulances  from  Crawfish  Springs  Hospital,  and 
saw  a  lot  of  straggling  Union  troops  in  squads 
about  in  the  woods.  An  officer  expressed  the 
opinion  that  to  escape  cai)ture  was  impossible,  and 
that  they  might  as  well  stay  where  they  were  and 
surrender.  The  idea  of  surrendering  had  not  oc- 
curred to  the  Doctor  who  replied,  "You  can  get 
out  of  here  if  you  want  to."  Tiie  Captain  then 
said,  "If  you  can  get  us  out,  lead  the  w.ay."  Hav- 
ing liy  previous  excursions  become  familiar  with 
the  country,  and  believing  they  might  be  led  in 
safety  to  join  their  comrades,  Dr.  Kelso  assumed 
command,  directing  orderlies  to  the  various  squads 
with  instructions  tor  all  to  fall  in  line  and  follow 
the  amlnihinces,  one  of  which  he  mounted,  lead- 
ing off  .across  the  country  regardless  of  roads,  over 
hills,  through  valleys  and  woods  until,  having 
covered  a  distance  of  two  miles,  tliey  came  up 
with  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Illinois 
Mounted  Infantry,  cut  off  from  the  main  army 
and  ready  to  fall  back,  ^'ery  much  to  the  sur- 
prise of  the  commanding  officer,  the  Doctor  proved 
to  have  a  following  nearly  equal  in  number  to 
the  One    Hundred    and    Twenty-third.       He    was 


then  informed  that  he  had  been  in  demand  to 
form  one  of  a  detail  of  Federal  surgeons  to  go 
through  the  Confederate  lines  and  aid  in  the  care 
of  the  wounded,  which  opportunity  he  had  missed, 
an  event  for  which  he  w.as  not  sorry  when  he 
learned  subsequently  liow  the  Union  surgeons 
that  did  go  were  misused.  This  story  is  related 
as  one  of  the  peculiar  experiences  the  Doctor  met 
during  Ids  term  of  service,  a  curious  feature  of  the 
affair  being  that  the  very  means  he  took  to  get 
into  the  Confederate  lines  defeated  his  purpose, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  he  was  the  means  of 
saving  a  train  of  ambulances  and  a  considerable 
body  of  troops  from  capture,  and  thus  rendered 
the  Government  valuable  service  entirely  outside 
his  line  of  duty. 

Following  the  battle  of  Chiekamauga,  Dr.  Kelso 
was  detailed  under  Surg.-Gen.  Blair  to  estab- 
lish a  general  hos|iilal  near  the  field  of  Chiek- 
amauga, which  he  did,  devoting  a  month  to  that 
duty.  He  was  then  placed  in  charge  of  a  long 
train  of  ambulances,  conveying  a  body  of  partially 
convalescent  troops  from  Chiekamauga  over  the 
mountains  to  Stephenson  Station,  whence  they 
were  to  be  sent  home  on  furlough.  Having  per- 
formed that  duty,  he  was  detailed  to  join  a  squad 
of  cavalry  that  w.as  sent  out  in  search  of  guerrillas, 
but  w.-is  recalled  to  take  charge  of  a  smallpox  hos- 
pital at  Paint  Rock,  Ala.,  where  he  spent  some 
months.  Later,  he  went  down  the  river  to  Ilunts- 
ville,  rejoined  his  regiment  and  was  detailed  to 
establish  a  hospital  near  there  for  .Stanley's  Cav- 
alry Division.  He  approiiriated  the  elegant  pri- 
vate residence  of  United  States  Senator  Clement 
C.  Clay  for  the  purpose.  The  mansion  was  richly 
furnished  and  the  cellars  were  stocked  with  choice 
wines  and  delicacies  that  proved  a  very  valuable 
auxiliary  to  the  usual  hospital  stores.  He  re- 
mained in  charge  at  that  hospital  until  the  spring 
of  1861,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  his 
home  in  Illinois.  Perryville  was  the  first  regular 
battle  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  and  Dr. 
Kelso  tells  a  rather  humorous  anecdote  in  the 
first  experience  of  his  line  of  duty  on  that 
occasion.  He  had  only  been  a  month  in  the  ser- 
vice and,  as  opportunity  offered,  he  read  the 
printed    ariny    regulations    and    the     instructions 


214 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  regard  to  the  proper  disposition  of  the  ambu- 
lances and  liospital  force  relative  to  the  regi- 
ment. The  surgeon's  assistants  were  to  take  po- 
sition ten  paces  to  tlie  rear  of  their  respective 
companies  and  the  aminilances  were  to  be  placed 
fifty  paces  in  the  rear  of  each  company.  When 
tiie  regiment  was  drawn  up  in  the  line  of  battle  at 
Perryville,  he  placed  his  force  and  the  ambulances 
according  to  regulation  directions,  as  he  supposed, 
and  about  the  time  his  arrangements  were  com- 
pleted, Gen.  Terry  came  riding  by.  The  surgeon, 
after  saluting,  asked  the  Gener.al  if  tlie  arrange- 
ment of  the  ambulance  corps  was  all  rigiit,  and 
was  a  little  surprised  that  the  General  laughed  as 
he  said  ".Ml  right."  A  few  minutes  later  a  can- 
non ball  knocked  the  front  end  of  one  ambulance 
to  slivers.  Later,  the  surgeon  discovered  that  the 
regulations  he  had  followed  were  intended  for 
dress  parade,  and  that  in  action  tiic  ambulances 
were  safer  more  distant  from  the  front  and  would 
be  more  apt  to  be  in  condition  for  service  when 
needed  than  if  placed  in  dress  parade  style.  It 
was  then  plain  to  him  why  Gen.  Terry  had  been 
so  amused  on  the  occasion  mentioned.  The  event 
may  have  been  the  last  to  bring  a  smile  to  the 
General's  lips,  as  he  was  killed  within  three  hours 
afterward.  The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third 
Illinois  Mounted  Infantry  was  in  the  hottest  of 
the  fight  at  Perryville  and  sustained  a  loss  of 
thirt^'-seven  killed  on  the  field.  Seven  died  soon 
afterward  of  their  wounds  .and  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  were  seriously  injured.  At  the  close  of 
the  engagement,  l^r.  Kelso  was  the  only  surgeon 
with  his  regiment  able  for  duty,  the  others,  with 
the  exception  of  one  at  Louisville,  being  sick. 

In  July  following  his  return  from  the  army,  tlie 
Doctor  established  piaclice  at  Paxton,  which  he 
has  since  pursued  with  marked  success,  covering  a 
period  of  twenty-eight  years.  During  the  early 
years  of  his  practice  in  Ford  County,  the  country 
was  but  sparsely  settled,  the  roads  were  few  and 
bridges  not  often  met  with,  and  the  Doctor,  like 
his  brethren  of  the  profession  throughout  the 
country  at  that  time,  w.as  forced  to  endure  much 
hardship  and  sometimes  danger  of  liodily  injury. 
Blizzards,  with  the  mercury  at  thirty  degrees  be- 
low zero,  were  encountered  on  open  prairies  where 


miles  intervened  between  human  habitations.  The 
fording  of  swollen  streams,  which  was  not  unusual, 
was  not  conducive  to  comfort  or  health,  but,  as 
time  passed  and  the  country  became  better  settled, 
things  improved  and  the  Doctor's  business  became 
extended  until  he  enjoyed  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice,  which  he  has  held  to  the  jji-esent  time. 

Dr.  Kelso  has  been  twice  married,  first  in  early 
manhood  in  his  native  county  to  Miss  Sarah  Knox, 
who  died  in  little  less  than  a  year  from  her  wedding 
da^^  In  September,  1858,  at  Charleston,  Coles 
County,  111.,  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Brashares, 
daughter  of  the  Kev.  Perry  Brashares,  who  was  a 
local  minister  and  a  near  and  intimate  neighbor  of 
the  parents  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  Doctor  and 
his  wife  had  three  children:  Perry,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years.  Elmer  Lincoln,  who  was 
born  in  Coles  County  in  November,  ItSGO,  w.as 
educated  at  Champaign  and  studied  for  the  medi- 
cal profession  in  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  from 
wh.ich  he  was  graduated  March  27,  188.3,  with  the 
degree  of  M.  D.  He  married  Miss  Leota  Keffner 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Paxt(jn,  having  secured  a  liberal  patronage.  Ilugli 
A.,  the  second  surviving  son,  was  born  in  Coles 
County  and  graduated  from  the  Paxton  Collegiate 
Institute.  Possessing  marked  musical  talent,  he 
studied  under  the  best  masters  in  the  countiy,  and 
is  now  the  leading  pianist  at  the  Conservatory  of 
Music,  in  the  Chicago  Auditorium,  under  Prof. 
Sherwood.  He  has  also  been  the  pianist  of  the 
National  Chautauqua,  of  New  York,  under  the 
same  leader. 

Dr.  Kelso  is  a  Republican  and  a  Knight  Temp- 
lar Mason.  He  belongs  to  Paxton  Lodge  No. 
416,  A.  F.  A  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter  No.  113,  R.A.M; 
and  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery  No.  38,  K.  T.,  all  of 
Paxton.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State 
]\ledical  Society,  the  Central  Illinois  Medical  So- 
ciety and  an  honorary  graduate  of  the  Chicago 
Medical  College  of  Chicago.  Dr.  Kelso  has  won 
an  envi.able  reputution  throughout  Eastern  Illi- 
nois, both  as  a  i)hysician  and  surgeon,  and  his 
well-known  ability,  skill  and  experience  liave  placed 
him  in  the  front  rank  of  his  profession.  He  has 
been  a  tlK)rough  student  and  careful  reader  of  the 
best  current  literature  of   the  profession,  so   that 


\^' 


7.  /.  S 


cnry-C 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


21: 


he  has  kept  himself  well  abreast  of  the  medical 
and  scientific  discoveries  of  tiie  day  from  year  to 
year.  His  acquaintance  is  extensive  throughout 
Eastern  and  Central  Illinois,  where  he  has  made 
many  friends  who  hold  him  in  hijjii  esteem. 


^4.4.4..;.  ^^^^  •^•^•r  *^k: 


^^^^^^^^)^^^^ 


r^RANCE  L.  COOK,  State  Attorney  of  Ford 
.rr(s)]  County,  who  is    now  serving    his    twelfth 
/l^  year  in  that  office,  is  one  of  the  well-known 

and  prominent  citizens  of  Paxton.  A  native  of 
tlie  Empire  State,  he  was  born  in  Oneida  County, 
August  3,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Harry  D. 
and  Joanna  (Hall)  Cook,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears on  another  ))age  of  this  work. 

Our  subject  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  in 
1850,  while  yet  a  child  of  eight  years,  and,  after 
attending  the  public  schools,  entered  Eureka  Col- 
lege, and  subsequently  continued  his  studies  in 
Knox  College,  where  his  literar}'  education  was 
completed.  For  four  years,  from  1862  to  1866, 
he  was  in  tlie  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road Company  as  agent  at  Kappa,  this  State,  and, 
in  the  latter  year,  went  to  Washington,  D.  C,  as 
assistant  of  his  father,  who  was  financial  agent  of 
Illinois  in  charge  of  collection  of  State  claims 
against  the  general  Government,  growing  out  of 
the  late  war.  During  1867-68,  he  was  Clerk  of  the 
committee  on  foreign  affairs,  of  which  Gen.  Banks, 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  was  Chairman. 
Subsequent!}-  he  was  made  Clerk  of  the  committee 
on  Territories,  of  which  Senator  CuUom,  of  Illi- 
nois, vvas  Chairman.  At  the  same  time  he  was 
reading  law,  and  was  a  student  of  the  Columbian 
Law  College  of  Washington,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  the  Class  of  '71,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  the  same  year.  In  the  autumn  of  that 
year,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Normal,  111.,  and 
the  following  spring  opened  a  law  office  in  Pax- 
ton,  where  he  has  been  in  active  and  successful 
practice  continuously  since.  He  was  alone  in  bus- 
iness until  1885,  when  the  existing  partnership 
was  formed  with  W.  S.  Moffett,  and  tlie  (inn  style 
of  Cook  &  Moffett  was  assumed. 

On  November   8,    1870,  Mr.  Cook  vvas  joined  in 


wedlock,  in  Normal,  III.,  with  Miss  Kate  Ander- 
son, of  that  place,  who  was  barn  in  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  William  Anderson,  a  pioneer  of 
Bloomington,  111.  She  came  to  this  State  in  child- 
hood, and  was  educated  at  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Normal,  after  s|)(>nding  her  earlier  years 
in  Bloomington. 

Since  old  enough  to  take  an  interest  in  politics, 
which  was  during  the  exciting  da^-s  of  the  Civil 
War,  Mr.  Cook  has  alway.s  been  an  advocate  of 
Repul)lican  jirinciples.  In  1880,  he  was  elected 
State  Attorney  for  Ford  County,  has  been  twice 
re-elected,  and  is  now  serving  his  twelfth  j-ear  in 
that  position.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason, 
holding  membership  witli  Paxton  Lodge  No.  416, 
A.  F.  A  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter  No.  113,  R.  A.  M., 
and  of  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery  No.  38,  K.  T.,  all 
of  Paxton.  He  is  also  Vice-president  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors. We  find  in  Mr.  Cook  a  lawyer  of  ac- 
knowledged ability,  who  occupies  a  foremost  po- 
sition at  the  Ford  Count}^  Bar.  His  life  in  Wash- 
ington, during  one  of  the  most  interesting  periods 
of  our  country's  history,  afforded  him  an  oppor- 
tunity to  observe,  more  or  less  intimately,  tlie 
leading  men  in  public  life  of  that  day,  many  of 
whom  have  become  historic  characters.  A  close 
observer  of  men  and  events,  a  good  memory  and 
a  happy  faculty  for  ex()iessing  his  thoughts  and 
views,  make  Mr.  Cook  an  entertaining  conversa- 
tionalist and  a  most  agreeable  companion. 


\]^xETER  PAPINEAU,  of  Paxton,  is  numbered 
Jl)  among  the  early  .settlers  of  Ford  County. 
^  He  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  on  the 
/  \  20th  of  June,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Maria  Papineau.  Both  of  his  parents  were  of 
French  extraction.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is 
a  self-made  man,  and  whatever  success  he  has 
achieved  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts. 
He  had  very  limited  school  privileges,  only  at- 
tending until  about  eleven  years  of  age,  and  no 
special  advantages  of  an}'  kind.     He  remained  un- 


218 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


der  the  parental  roof  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  he  left  his  father's  home  and  started  out  to 
earn  his  own  livelihood.  His  choice  of  an  occupa- 
tion fell  upon  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  after 
learning  that  business,  he  followed  it  for  some 
years  in  his  native  land. 

It  was  in  1857  that  he  came  to  the  United  States, 
and  his  first  location  was  made  in  Illinois.  He  be- 
came a  resident  of  Kankakee,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  for  three  years,  and  then  went  to  Galena, 
111.,  where  the  succeeding  year  of  his  life  wiis 
passed.  He  then  spent  one  year  in  St;  Ann,  and 
in  18(53  we  find  him  a  resident  of  Ford  County. 
He  made  a  location  in  tlie  city  of  Paxton,  and  soon 
afterward  erected  a  blacksmith  shop  and  began 
business.  Since  that  time  he  has  engaged  in  black- 
smithing  and  carri.age-making  continuously,  and, 
being  an  expert  workman,  has  secured  a  liberal 
patronage,  which  he  retains  by  his  courteous  treat- 
ment .ind  earnest  efforts  to  please  his  i)atrons. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1859,  Mr.  P.apineau  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  Miss  Caroline  Beaugard,  who  is 
a  native  of  Canada,  and  is  also  of  French  descent. 
Their  union  lias  been  blessed  witli  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children,  who,  in  order  of  birth,  are  as  follows: 
Peter,  Edward,  Charles,  Josephine;  George,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Joseph,  River,  Reener,  Arthur, 
John,  Amy,  Leo  and  Loraine.  The  parents  and 
the  children  are  memliers  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  throughout  Ford  County  the  f.amily  is  well 
and  favorably  known.  Mr.  Papineau  is  an  enter- 
prising business  man,  who  by  his  own  efforts  has 
made  liis  life  a  successful  one.  lie  is  wide  awake 
to  tlie  interests  of  the  city,  faithfully  jierforms  all 
his  duties  of  citizenship,  and  is  well  worthy  of 
representation  in  this  volume. 


^->^^<^^-!- 


¥TLLIAM  KENNEY,  a  prominent  farmer 
residing  on  section  21,  AVnll  Township, 
claims  Pennsylvania  as  tlie  State  of  his 
nativity,  lie  was  born  in  Washington  Count3', 
on  the  26th  of  April,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  James 
Kenne}',  wlio  was  l)orn  on  the  s.ame  farm  as  our 
subject  and  there  still   m.akes  his  home.     His  par- 


ents were  Beniaminaud  Elizabeth  (Blair)  Kenney. 
The  former  w.as  liorn  June  9,  1764;  the  latter,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Blair,  was  bom  Sep- 
tember 17,  1771,  and  their  marriage  was  celebrated 
September  17,  1789.  Tiiey  became  the  parents  of 
eight  children:  Margaret,  who  was  born  August  8, 
1790;  IMary,  January  22,  1792;  John  Blair, 
who  was  born  June  14,  1794.  and  died  Septem- 
ber 14,  1808;  Elizabeth,  wiio  was  liorn  July  6, 
1802,  and  died  on  the  22d  of  December,  of  that 
year;  Benjamin,  who  was  born  December  23,  1804, 
and  died  September  8,  1805;  James,  January 
11,  1806;  Wesley,  May  8,  1808,  and  Rebecca, 
Decenil)er  31,  1810.  The  father  of  this  family- 
died  March  28,  1843,  and  his  wife  survived  un- 
til .January  26,  1852,  when  she  too  was  called  to 
her  final  rest. 

The  father  of  our  subject.  Rev.  James  Kenney, 
acquired  his  education  in  the  log  schools  of  that 
early  day,  and  before  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
twentj'  3-ears  he  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  began  preacliing.  For  more  than 
sixty  years  he  has  engaged  in  the  ministerial  work, 
in  connection  with  which  he  h:is  carried  f>n  the 
operation  of  that  farm  which  has  l)een  his  home 
throughout  his  entire  life. 

About  1828,  Rev.  Mr.  Kenney  w.as  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ann  Sproat,  who  was  three  years 
his  junior  and  was  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  Sproat,  farmer  people  of  Washington  County. 
They  l)ecamethe  parents  of  four  children:  AVilliara 
of  tills  sketch;  Elizalieth,  wife  of  Asbury  Greenfield, 
of  California;  C3'rus,  who  is  living  on  a  ranch  in 
Ventura  County,  Cal.;  John  F.,  who  follows  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Wall  Townshi|).  The  mother 
died  when  our  subject  was  about  ten  years  old,  and 
a  year  later  his  father  married  Patience  Moore,  a 
native  of  Greene  Countj',  Pa.  The\-  became  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children:  Benjamin  F.,  who  is  farming 
in  California;  Eliza,  who  became  the  wife  of  John 
Freeman  and  died  in  Florida;  INIargaret,  wife  of 
Wilson  Ward,  of  Washington  Counts',  Pa.;  James, 
who  m.akcs  his  home  in  the  same  county';  Josephine, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Kate,  twin  sister  of  .Josephine, 
living  with  her  parents,  and  ISIary  M.,  wife  of 
Lewis  Cleaver,  a  merchant  of  AVashington  Count3', 
Pa.     The    father   of   this   faniiiy   was  one  of  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


219 


most  liiirlilv  rcspeeterl  citizens  of  tliat  cominunity. 
In  iiis  social  relations,  he  is  a  Mason  and,  in  politics, 
is  a  Republican.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  John  ()iiincy  Adams,  and  afterwards  supported 
the  AViiig  party  until  the  rise  of  the  Republican 
party. 

There  was  not  much  to  vary  the  monotony  of 
the  early  life  of  our  sulijcct,  which  was  spent  in 
farm  work  and  in  the  attendance  at  the  common 
schools.  As  tiie  family  was  in  limited  circumstances, 
he  saw  something  of  the  harder  side  of  life.  His 
health  not  being  very  good,  he  learned  the  trade  of 
a  saddler,  which  he  followed  in  the  Keystone  State 
until  Ibi'iS,  when,  believing  he  could  better  his  fi- 
nancial condition, he  emigrated  to  Putnam  County, 
111.,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  and  for  two  years 
worked  by  the  day  as  a  farm  hand.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  himself  until  1856,  when  he 
removed  to  La  Salle  County,  whei-e  he  rented  land 
until  1K71,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County,  and 
bought  an  unimproved  tract  of  eighty  acres.  To 
this  he  has  since  added,  until  he  now  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  a  good  farm  well  improved 
and  highly  cultivated. 

In  1850,  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  Mr.  Ken- 
ney  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  INIary  Mc^'ain, 
who  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Pa.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Mary  (Keys)  ]McVain.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Greene  County.  I'a.,  and 
died  when  about  seventy  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade  and  was  an  industrious  man. 
In  jiolitics,  he  was  a  Democrat.  Ilis  wife  died 
when  Mrs.  Kenncy  was  only  a  small  child,  scarce!}- 
nine  years  of  age.  In  the  common  schools,  Jlrs. 
Kenney  acquired  her  education.  She  is  a  kind  and 
loving  wife  and  mother,  and  hand  in  hand  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  have  walked  for  forty-one  years. 
Unto  them  have  been  born  twelve  children,  six  yet 
living:  Elizabeth  A.,  a  resident  of  La  Salle  County, 
111.;  Mary  E.  and  Martha  J.,  deceased;  Mary  M., 
wife  of  Charles  Stoneljieaker,  who  resides  in  Rob- 
erts, 111.;  James  M.,  who  is  living  in  Vermilion 
County;  Asbury  G.,  deceased;  Charles  L.,  a  farmer 
of  Wall  Township,  Ford  County;  John  "\V.  and 
Maggie  F.,  deceased;  Leander  S.,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Wall  Township;  John  F.,  at  home,  and  Mabel 
who  has  also  passed  away. 


INIr.  Kenney  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Wintield  Scott,  and  was  an  advocate  of  Whig  princi- 
ples until  1856,  when  he  voted  for  Fremont,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  a  stalwart  Rei)ublican. 
He  has  often  been  a  delegate  to  the  conventions 
of  his  party  and  served  on  its  committees.  For  seven 
years  he  has  been  Supervisor  of  Wall  Township, 
and  was  its  Treasurer  for  about  fourteen  years. 
True  to  every  trust  reposed  in  him,  his  duties  were 
faithfully  discharged,  and  he  won  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  had  been  brought 
in  contact.  He  is  a  highl}-  resiiected  citizen  of  the 
community  and  one  who  has  the  best  interests  of 
the  county  at  heart 


ENJAMIN  STITES,  a  pioneer  of  Ford 
.^  County  of  1855,  settled  on  section  17,  on 
j^M)jl!  Government  land,  and  made  that  his  home 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  born 
in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  October  14,  1805,  and  w.as 
a  son  of  Benjamin  Stites.  His  grandfatlier  was  a 
IMajor  in  the  German  Army,  and  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
took  part  in  the  struggle  for  independence,  and 
held  the  rank  of  Captain.  He  and  one  Judge 
Syinmes  had  a  grant  of  three  million  acres  of  land, 
which  they  located  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ohio 
River.  Mr.  Stites  located  the  town  of  Columbia, 
Ohio,  and  made  that  place  his  home.  Of  the  tract 
so  located,  a  considerable  portion  is  still  in  posses- 
sion of  the  descendants  of  the  original  proprietors. 
In  an  early  day,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  re- 
moved to  Cincinnati,  where  he  owned  and  oper- 
ated an  extensive  stone-quarry,  which  was  located 
at  what  is  now  the  head  of  North  Sycamore  Street 
of  that  city.  He  was  twice  married.  His  Qrst  wife 
died  in  1828,  leaving  two  children,  both  now  de- 
ceased. In  his  native  State  he  afterward  married 
Miss  Susan  E.  Stewart,  a  native  of  Hamilton,  But- 
ler County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Susan  Stewart.  Eight  children  were  born  of  their 
union:  Benjamin  F.  wedded  Miss  Martha  A.  Dunn, 
and  died  in  the  fall  c>f  1889;  Sarah  A.  was  the  wife 
of  Henry  A.  Dewey,  and  died  in  1861;  Hannah  S. 


220 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


is  tlie  wife  of  Eliliu  Swisher,  of  Paxton;  Plirebe  A. 
is  the  wife  of  John  White,  of  Paxton;  Margaret 
E.  married  Jonathan  Covalt,  and  is  now  a  widow, 
residing  m  Oswego,  Kan.;  William  H.  married 
Clara  A.  MoKee.  and  resides  in  Paxton;  Samuel  S. 
is  a  resident  of  Elwood,  Ind.;  and  Susan  M.  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Hill,  whose  home  is  in  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Pluebe  A.  and  those  30unger  were  born  in 
Illinois,  while  the  elder  members  of  the  family 
wei'e  born  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Stites  continued  to  reside  in  Cincinnati  until 
1837,  when,  with  his  family,  he  emigrated  West- 
ward and  settled  near  Dan  ville,  Vermilion  County, 
111.,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  March. 
ISofi,  when  he  removed  to  what  is  now  Ford 
County.  In  1854,  he  came  to  this  county  and 
opened  a  farm  on  section  17,  town  of  Patton,  and 
on  the  site  of  the  village  of  Prairie  Cit^-  (now 
Paxton),  which  he  platted,  and  of  which  he  may 
properly  be  called  the  founder,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death,  wliich  occurred  December  fi, 
1860.  Ilis  good  wife  survived  him  until  IMay  13, 
1887,  when  she  too  passed  away.  Mr.  Stites  took  an 
active  interest  in  getting  the  territory,  of  which 
Ford  County  is  composed,  set  off  from  certain 
counties.  The  county  was  very  new  and  sparsely 
settled  at  the  time,  and  he  suffered  from  exposure 
in  traveling  to  secure  signatures  to  a  petition  to 
the  Legislature  of  18r)9  to  have  Ford  Count\^ 
created.  His  death  is  said  to  have  resulted  from 
disease  contracted  while  emplo^'cd  in  that  duty.  He 
was  an  earnest  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  sometimes  served  as  local  preacher  while  resid- 
ing in  Illinois.  His  family  were  members  of  the 
same  denomination.  AVliile  in  Ohio,  they  be- 
longed to  the  Baptist  Church,  but  on  coming  to 
this  State,  had  found  no  organized  society  of  that 
church,  and  attached  themselves  to  the  Methodist 
Chinch.  For  some  years  prior  to  the  building  of  tiie 
house  of  worship  in  Paxton,  religious  meetings  were 
held  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Stites,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  ctmsistent  members  of  the  Paxton  Church. 

In  politics,  f)ur  subject  was  an  original  Aboli- 
tionist, and  joined  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois 
at  its  organization.  He  voted  for  Fremont  and 
Dayton  in  18.')(),  and  for  Lincoln  and  Hamilton  in 
1860,  which  was  his  last  vote,  as  his  death  occurred 


the  following  December.  In  manner,  he  was  plain 
and  unpretending,  and  in  every  act  of  life  earnest 
and  sincere.  Integrity  and  rectitude  characterized 
his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men,  and  none  knew 
him  but  to  esteem  and  respect  lum.  ','D'.'."Ij 

Samuel  Stites,  the  j'oungestson,  was  born  in  A'er- 
milion  County,  111.,  September  20,  1849,  received  a 
common-school  education,  and  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  Until  1883.  he  was  engaged  in 
farming,  and  then  embarked  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness in  Kansas,  subsequently  extending  his  opera- 
tions into  Colorado,  Texas,  Missouri,  New  Mexico, 
and  the  Indian  Territory.  In  December,  1890,  lie 
became  interested  in  the  real-estate  business  in  the 
young  and  booming  town  of  F]hvood,  Ind..  a  place 
that  has  sjjrung  from  a  small  village  to  a  city  of 
five  thousand  people  in  a  short  time,  through  its 
wonderful  supjjly  of  natural  gas,  which  furnishes 
heat,  light  and  power  for  mechanical  purposes,  and 
which  is  rapidly  developing  into  an  important 
manufacturing  center. 

N 4^S«^ y 


\ 


i^^  AMITEL  EMMONS,  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
^^^  tiers  of  F\)rd  County,  was  born  in  Maniil- 
l^l/j|  ton  County,  Ohio,  September  13,  1836,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Pearson) 
F^mmons.  The  father  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
and  when  young  removed  to  Ohio  with  his  par- 
ents, who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  that 
State.  In  Hamilton  County,  he  married  Miss  Pear- 
son, a  native  of  that  county.  About  1838,  thej' 
removed  to  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  which  was  then 
a  wilderness,  their  nearest  neighbor  being  five 
miles  distant.  Having  built  a  log  house  and  cleared 
some  ten  acres  of  land,  Mr.  Emmons  took  sick  and 
died,  in  1840,  when  in  the  prime  of  life,  being  only 
thirty-six  years  of  age.  He  left  three  cliildren,  the 
eldest  of  whom  was  burned  to  death  in  childhood. 
Samuel  was  the  next  in  order  of  birth,  and  Almira, 
the  youngest,  is  now  Mrs.  Lind,  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  The  mother  afterward  married  again,  but 
p,assed  to  her  final  reward  in  1890,  being  .seventy- 
six  years  of  age. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAi'lIlCAL   RECORD. 


223 


Our  subjc't't  is  the  only  one  of  tlie  family  living 
in  this  county,  and,  sini'u  about  the  age  of  nine 
years,  has  made  his  own  wa\'  in  the  world.  Hav- 
ing worlced  for  wages  for  several  years,  he  began 
farming  for  iiimself.  Mr.  Emmons  wedded  Mary 
U.  George,  on  the  SUlh  of  October,  IbfJO.  She  was 
a  native  of  Darke  County,  Oliio,  and  a  hidy  of 
French  descent.  Soon  after  tlieir  marriage,  tiiey 
removed  to  Le  Ro_v,  .AIcLean  County,  ill.,  where 
he  carried  on  a  farm  until  August  8.  1862. 

On  tiiat  date,  Mr.  Emmons  enlisted  in  Compan}' 
(i,  Ninety-fourtli  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  The 
regiment  was  sent  to  Southern  Missouri  and  North- 
ern Arkans.as.  and  the  fust  battle  in  whieli  our 
suliject  engaged  was  Prairie  (irove,  Ark.,  which 
was  followed  by  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  cap- 
lure  of  Yazoo  City  and  Morganza.  In  186:5,  the 
command  crossed  the  Gulf  and  captured  Browns- 
ville, after  which  it  returned  and  captured  Ft. 
Morgan,  was  engaged  in  the  battles  of  Fish  River, 
Pasca  Gula,  and  Spanish  Fort,  which  was  the  last 
engagement  in  which  our  subject  participated.  He 
was  never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner,  but  soon 
after  the  battle  of  Vicksbuig,  while  on  a  march  be- 
tween Yazoo  City  and  Jackson,  he  received  a  sun- 
stroke from  which  lie  has  never  recovered.  He 
was  a  biave  soldier,  and  was  discharged  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  in  August,  1865,  after  the  close  of  the 
war. 

Returning  to  McLean  County,  Mr.  Emmons 
turned  his  attention  to  farming,  and  in  1867  re- 
moved to  Ford  County,  but  soon  after  went  again 
to  McLean  County,  where  he  spent  a  year  and  then 
returned  to  this  county.  Having  farmed  until 
1872,  he  came  to  Gibson  Cit_y,  and  has  since  made 
this  place  his  home. 

In  1880,  Mrs.  Emmons  was  called  to  her  final 
rest,  leaving  six  children,  of  whorn  Ave  are  still 
living:  Addie,  wife  of  J.  S.  Jloore,  of  Gibson  City; 
William  M.,  an  expressman  of  Gibson;  Amy,  Min- 
nie, and  Gertrude,  now  the  wife  of  P.  Ryan,  of 
Gibson  Cit}-.  The  mother  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  and  a  true  Chiistian  lady. 

On  the  5tli  of  Maj',  1881,  Mr.Emmons  was  .again 
united  in  marriage,  this  time  to  Mrs.  Laura  L. 
Moore,  adaughterof  A.  N.  and  Delilah  (Hamilton) 
Nevin,  who  emigrated  from  Brown  County,  Ohio, 


to  McLean  County,  111.,  aI)out  18.5.5,  and  in  that 
county  Mrs.  Emmons  married  James  Moore,  by 
whom  she  had  four  children,  two  of  whom  arc  still 
living,  Blanche  and  Bertha.  Mr.  Moore  died  in 
1874,  and,  in  1881,  his  widow  married  oursuliject, 
as  is  given  above.  Of  this  union  two  children  were 
born,  Mamie  and  Lucilc.  Mrs.  Emmons  is  a  Meth- 
odist in  religious  belief,  and  in  the  church  of  that 
denomination  is  an  earnest  worker. 

Since  coming  to  Gibson  City,  Mr.  Emmons  lias 
engaged  in  a  variety  of  occupations,  carrying  on  a 
meat  market,  a  restaurant,  and  a  draying  and  ice 
business.  In  political  sentiment,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
that  party.  Socially,  he  is  member  of  Lott  Post 
No.  7(),  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is  a  charter  meinlier, 
and  has  held  all  the  ollices.  In  the  war,  he  was  a 
biave  iind  valiant  soldier,  and  in  peace  is  a  true 
and  worthy  citizen. 


*»'  OHN  H.  MOFFETT,  Mayor  of  Paxton  and 
the  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Moffett  ifc  Day,  is  well  known  as  one  of  the 
I  prominent  and  highly-respected  citizens  of 
Ford  Count3'.  He  was  born  in  Cl.ayton,  Adams 
County,  111.,  on  the  2.5tli  of  I'el^ruary,  18.56,  and 
is  the  son  of  Samuel  R.  and  Mary  (Strong)  Moffctt, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  South  Carolina. 
In  1834,  the  father  left  his  native  State,  emigrating 
to  Monroe  County,  Inc).,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  1855,  wliich  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Illinois.  He  located  in  Adams  County,  but  after 
remaining  there  for  a  period  of  two  3-ears,  the 
family  returned  to  Indiana.  It  was  in  April, 
1865,  that  they  again  came  to  Illinois  and  settled 
in  Paxton,  where  the  father  died  in  1879.  The 
mother  yet  survives  him  and  is  still  a  resident  of 
Paxton. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  went  to  Monroe 
County,  Ind.,  with  his  parents  in  infancy  and 
began  his  school  life  in  that  county.  In  1865,  he 
came  with  the  family  to  Paxton  and  attended  the 
public  school  of  that  city,  where  he  iirepared  him- 
self for    college,   after    which   he   attended   Mou- 


224 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


mouth  College,  of  Moiimoutli,  111.,  for  two  years. 
He  entered  upon  the  study  of  law,  under  the  pre- 
ce[)torship  of  .Tohn  R.  Kinnear,  of  Paxton,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  IJar  in  Springfield,  in  January, 
1880,  after  which  lie  embarked  in  the  prosecution 
of  tlie  legal  profession  in  Rixton,  in  comijany 
with  his  former  preceptor.  That  connection  was 
continued  until  I\Ir.  Kinnear  removed  to  Seattle, 
Wash.,  in  May,  1883.  In  tlie  following  Septem- 
lier,  'Sh:  IMoffett  liecame  associated  in  practice  with 
.ludge  Tipton,  of  IMoomington,  111.,  he  being  the 
resident  partner  of  the  firm  in  Paxton.  In  .Tune, 
1890,  C.  L.  Day  was  admitted  to  i)artnersiiip,  the 
firm  becoming  Tii)ton,  Moffett  &  Day,  which  con- 
nection was  continued  until  .Tune,  18'J1,  when 
.Judge  Tipton  withdrew,  and  since  that  time  the 
lirm  has  existed  as  at  present,  doing  business  under 
the  firm  title  of  .Aloffett  &  Day. 

On  May  16,  1878,  Mr.  IMoffett  was  married 
in  Loda,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Martha 
S.Gray,  a  native  of  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  .T.  Gray.  Four 
children  have  been  born  of  their  union;  two  died 
in  childhood  and  two  survive:  Samuel  Claude 
and  .lolin  Carl.  The  parents  arc  both  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Moffett  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  in  1888  served  as  Cit}'  Alderman  of  Pax- 
ton; while  in  the  spring  of  18'J1  he  was  elected 
Mayoi',  and  is  now  filling  that  otiice  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
lie  has  been  an  industrious  student  and  is  well 
grounded  in  the  theory  and  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. He  possesses  superior  natural  aljility,  un- 
tiring energy  and  strict  integrity,  and  while  com- 
|)arativoly  a  young  man,  he  has  won  an  envhable 
reputation  as  a  lawyer. 


«#■ 


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'^> 


^  AMES  L.  SAXTON,  a  leading  merchant  of 
Gibson  City,  a  dealer  in  dry-goods,  carjiets, 
boots  and  shoes,  estalilished  business  in  that 
^_^  town  on  the  10th  of  April,  187;").  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  German,  Chenango  County, 
N.  Y.,  August  13,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 


Serenia  (Brown)  Saxton,  both  natives  of  ISIassa- 
chusetts.  His  father  was  born  TNlarch  12,  lM14,and 
his  mother's  birth  occurred  December  24,  1816. 
Both  are  still  living  and  make  their  home  in  Cin- 
cinuatus,  Cortland  County,  N.  Y. 

When  James  L.  was  six  years  of  age,  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Cincinnatus,  where  he  received 
an  academic  education,  after  which  he  was  engaged 
in  teaching  school  until  August,  1866,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  was  employed  .as  a  merchant's 
clerk  in  Henry,  Marshall  County,  for  three  years. 
He  was  next  engaged  in  the  same  capacity  in 
Mackinaw,  Tazewell  County,  for  a  year  and  a  half, 
after  which  he  became  an  equal  partner  of  his 
brother  William,  of  that  place,  and  there  continued 
merchandising  until  March,  187.^,  when  he  came  to 
Gibson  Cit}',  starting  his  present  business.  He  was 
quite  successful,  and  has  now  an  annual  trade 
amounting  to  840,000  and  upwards.  lie  is  the 
oldest  dry-goods  merchant  in  the  city  in  continu- 
ous j'ears  of  business,  and,  since  the  beginning,  his 
trade  has  rapidly  increased. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  1871,  Mr.  Saxton  married, 
in  Henry,  Marsh.all  County,  III,  Miss  Mary  E. 
AVhitney.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Fulton  County, 
111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Whitney; 
the  former,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  is  now  de- 
ceased. Her  mother,  who  is  still  living,  was  born 
in  Indiana,  and  is  a  resident  of  (Tibson  Cit^'. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Saxton  affiliates  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  lie  and  his  wife  ai'e  consistent 
members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  (Tib- 
son,  in  which  he  holds  the  oHice  of  clerk.  In 
Sunday-school  wiork,  Mr.  Saxton  takes  an  active 
interest  and  part,  having  been  Superintendent 
eight  j'ears;  President  of  the  Ford  County  Sunday- 
school  Association  one  term;  Treasurer  of  the  same 
three  j'cars;  President  of  the  Sixth  District  Sunday- 
school  Association  two  terms. 

In  1886,  he  removed  to  Owatonna,  Minn.,  where 
for  two  years  he  carried  on  merchandising,  and 
then  returned  toGilisoii  City  and  resumed  tnisiness 
there.  With  the  excei)tii)n  of  the  two  years  spent 
in  Owatonna,  he  has  been  engaged  in  business  in 
Gibson  City  continuously  since  187.1.  Mr.  Saxton 
carries  a  full  and  complete  stock  of  goods  in  his 
line,  is  alwajs   up  with  the  times  in  styles,  and  is 


4 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


225 


one  of  the  most  poiiular  and  successful  mei-chants 
iu  Ford  County,  where  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known.  As  a  business  man  and  citizen  he  stands 
deservedly  high,  and  during  his  many  years  of 
business  in  Gibson  lias  won  the  good  opinion  of 
the  best  people  in  the  city  and  adjacent  country, 
will)  whom  ho  has  liad  business  or  social  vel.ations. 


RED  W.  BEARDSLEY,  Secretary  of  ihe 
))  Gibson  Canning  Company,  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  founding  that  institution  and  has 
been  actively  identifled  with  its  successful  man- 
agement ever  since.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  Cantield,  Mahoning  County,  on  the  Western 
Reserve,  on  the  27tli  of  November,  1831.  His 
parents  were  Philo  and  Lois  Smith  (Gun)  Beards- 
ley,  botii  members  of  old  N(;w  England  families. 
The  father  was  born  in  Warren,  Litchfield  County, 
Conn.,  August  14,  1794,  and  was  of  English  de- 
scent. Tiie  Beardsley  family,  of  which  our  subject 
is  a  member,  was  founded  in  America  by  William 
Beardsley,  an  English  emigrant,  who  first  settled 
in  what  is  now  Stratford,  Conn.,  in  1635.  The 
mother  of  Fred  W.  w.as  born  December  24,  1797, 
in  New  Preston,  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  and 
was  descended  from  Scotch  ancestry,  her  family 
dating  its  settlement  in  the  New  World  prior  to 
the  Revolutionary  War.  The  parents  of  our  sub- 
ject were  married  at  New  Preston,  Conn.,  March 
3,  1810,  and  the  same  year  moved  by  ox-team  to 
Oliio,  settling  on  the  Western  Reserve,  which,  at 
that  time,  was  a  wild  and  almost  uninhabited 
region.  Philo  Beardsley  was  a  man  of  excellent 
business  ability,  and,  in  course  of  time,  became  a 
well-to-do  farmer.  In  politics,  he  w.as  a  Whig 
until  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question,  when 
he  became  a  strong  Abolitionist.  On  the  rise  of 
the  Republican  part}',  he  espoused  its  pi inciples 
and  ever  remained  true  to  them.  Botli  he  and 
wife  were  active  workers  in  the  Congregational 
Ciiurch.  In  the  days  when  each  State  required  its 
citizens  to  spend  some  time  each  year  in  military 
drill,  Mr.  Beardsley  held  the  office  of  Captain,  and 


was  ever  afterward  known  as  CM|)t.  Beardsley. 
On  the  27tli  of  August,  1818,  his  wife  p.-issed 
from  among  the  living.  She  wiis  the  mother  of 
twelve  children,  six  sons  and  six  daugliters,  of 
whom  eight  are  still  living.  Mr.  Beardsley  died 
February  21,  1870. 

F'red  W.  Beardsley  is  tlie  eighth  of  the  above- 
named  famil}-.  After  a  preparatory  course  in  the 
public  scliools,  he  entered  Mt.  Union  College,  tak- 
ing a  scientific  course,  but  left  during  the  senior 
year.  F'or  some  six  winters  he  engaged  success- 
fully in  teaching  school,  and  at  the  same  time 
conducted  writing-schools.  It  is  doubtful  whetlier 
there  is  a  finer  penman  in  tlie  county  than  Mr. 
Beardsley.  In  1860,  he  was  elected  Clerk  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  ex-()tficio  Clerk 
of  the  District  Court  for  Mahoning  County, and  was 
re-elected  b}-  acclamation,  serving  in  all  six  years. 
Wliile  tlius  engaged,  he  spent  his  leisure  hours  in 
reading  law,  and  in  1866  was  admitted  to  the  Bar, 
in  Cantteld,  Ohio,  where  he  practiced  his  profession 
until  his  removal  to  the  West. 

In  October,  1860,  our  subject  was  married,  in 
his  native  county,  to  Miss  Jaqueline  Gee,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Almira  Gee.  Mrs.  Beardsley  was 
born  iu  Berlin  Centre,  Mahoning  Count}',  Ohio. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ellsworth,  Mahoning 
Count}',  and  the  mother  of  Deerfield,  Portage 
County,  of  the  same  State.  Three  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beardsley,  of  whom  two 
are  living:  Almira  Day,  the  eldest,  is  now  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Finnegan,  of  Kankakee,  111.;  Lois  G. 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years;  and  Bertha  E. 
resides  with  her  father. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Beardsley  came  to  Illinois  as  busi- 
ness manager  for  an  Ohio  capitalist,  who  had  large 
sums  of  money  loaned  and  invested  in  this  State, 
and  in  1876  moved  his  family  to  Champaign 
County,  where  he  resided  three  years,  and  in  1879 
removed  to  Gibson  City,  where  he  still  makes  his 
home.  He  was  in  charge  of  the  same  business  from 
1872  until  1888,  collecting  and  re-loaning,  until 
the  capital  was  withdrawn  from  the  State.  Much 
of  that  business  covered  investments  in  farmino' 
lands,  which  w.as  conducted  with  ability  and  fidel- 
ity and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  proprietor.  Be- 
sides this,  he  was  extensively  interested  in  raisino- 


226 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


live  stock.  In  1885,  Mr.  Beardsley  interested 
himself  in  the  organization  of  the  Gibson  Canning 
Factory.  He  was  cliosen  secretary,  which  position 
he  has  since  filled.  These  works  are  tiie  second 
largest  in  capacity  in  the  United  States,  and  in 
round  numbers  pack  annually  two  million  cans  of 
corn,  and  in  the  summer  of  18!)2  they  expect  to 
exceed  that  amount.  In  addition  to  his  interest 
in  the  canning  business,  Mr.  Beardsley  is  the  owner 
of  four  farms,  lying  in  Ford  County,  aggregating 
six  hundred  and  seven  acres.  One  of  them,  a  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  is  situated  at 
what  is  known  as  Switch  1),  on  the  Lake  Erie  & 
Western  Railroad;  another,  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  is  a  mile  west  of  Gibson  City;  another, 
of  fifty-two  acres,  joins  the  city  on  the  soutli;  and 
the  last,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres,  joins 
Gibson  City  on  the  west.  He  keeps  a  herd  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  Sliort-horn  and  high-grade  cat- 
tle, a  flock  of  Oxford  Downs  sheep,  besides  Berk- 
shire and  Poland-China   hogs   and  Morgan  horses. 

On  the  21st  of  December,  1891,  Mr.  Beardsley 
was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  death  of  his  wife, 
who  had  been  his  faithful  and  devoted  com|)anion 
through  the  joys  and  sorrows,  the  hopes  and  fears, 
the  trials  and  successes  of  his  life  for  thirty-one 
years.  She  was  an  earnest  Christian  woman  and 
for  many  years  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church.  During  all  these 
years,  she  was  faithful  to  every  duty,  devoted  to 
her  husband  and  children  and  always  made  her  in- 
fluence for  good  felt,  not  only  within  the  limits  of 
her  liome,  but  in  the  social  circles  and  the  com- 
munity where  she  dwelt. 

.lust  a  few  weeks  prior  to  her  death,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Beardsley  had  moved  into  their  new  home, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Gibson  City,  and  a 
model  of  convenience.  Every  department  of  the 
house  is  furnished  with  both  hot  and  cold  w-ater, 
supplied  from  a  reservoir  above  which  is  filled  by 
a  hot-air  pump;  private  gas  apparatus  lights  the 
house,  and  the  latest  improved  hot-water  system 
furnishes  it  with  heat.  In  short,  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  conceive  of  a  home  more  complete  in  its 
appointments.  How  different  this  edifice  is  from 
the  pioneer  cabin  of  twenty  years  ago! 

Mr.  Beardsley  and  his  daughter  are   members  of 


the  same  church  to  which  tlic  wife  and  mother  be- 
longed. In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
his  party.  In  the  days  of  slavery  agitation,  Mr. 
Beardslej',  true  to  the  traditions  of  the  "Old  West- 
ern Reserve,"  was  an  original  Abolitionist,  and 
during  the  war  that  grew  out  of  the  slavery 
troubles,  he  gave  the  Government  a  hearty  and 
patriotic  support,  contributing  more  money  to  the 
cause  than  any  other  itjan  in  his  native  township. 
During  his  residence  in  ISIahoning  County,  Ohio, 
he  was  chosen  and  served  as  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer of  the  County  Fair  Association,  was  Secre- 
tary of  his  local  School  Board,  and  was  otherwise 
prominently  connected  with  public  affairs.  Since 
his  residence  in  Ford  County,  111.,  he  has  always 
shown  a  laudable  interest  in  local  matters  and  has 
ever  been  found  public-spirited.  A  thoroughly' 
practical  business  man,  he  enjoys  in  a  marked 
degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


^'^"T^c 


,,.,,  MMON  COOMES.  Among  the  entcrpris- 
(.QSjO  ing  and  successful  business  men  of  Paxtou 
lit  should  be  numbered  the  popular  druggist 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  Mr.  Coomes 
established  business  in  this  cit3'  in  May,  1882,  with 
a  full  line  of  drugs,  medicines,  paints,  oil,  wall 
paper  and  toilet  articles,  and  has  continued  the 
business  with  marked  success  to  the  present  time, 
covering  a  period  of  ten  years. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio, 
September  15,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of  Upton  and 
Mary  J.  (Gregg)  Coomes.  The  father  was  born 
on  the  28th  of  July,  1828,  in  the  same  county  as 
the  son,  and  the  mother  on  the  4th  of  June  of  the 
same  year,  in  Virginia.  The}'  emigrated  to  Illinois 
in  1855,  and  settled  in  McLean  County,  near  Grid- 
ley,  and,  in  1875,  removed  to  Streator,  where  they 
now  reside.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Coomes 
was  a  minister  in  the  Christian  Church. 

Amnion  Coomes  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents 
when  a  lad  of  six  summers,  and  attended  school  at 
Gridley,  preparing  himself  for  college,  after  which 


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4 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


22!^ 


he  entei-ed  Eureka  College,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  the  Class  of  '73.  He  fol- 
lowed teaching  school  for  several  years  as  a  voca- 
tion, serving  as  |)rlncii)al  of  village  schools,  but, 
not  content  to  make  this  his  life  work,  in  JMay, 
1882,  he  formed  a  i)artnershi|)  with  William  Me- 
Taggart,  under  the  firm  name  of  McTaggart  & 
Coonies,  druggists  at  Paxton.  Mr.  Coonies  made 
a  study  of  the  business  in  a  practical  way,  and, 
after  passing  a  very  llatteriug  examination  before 
the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Pharmacy,  was  awarded 
a  diploma.  In  1884,  he  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  and  has  since  conducted  the  business  alone 
with  marked  success,  having  an  excellent  trade 
and  the  liberal  patronage  is  certainly  well  de- 
served. 

In  I'iper  City,  Ford  County,  on  the  2.5th  of  No- 
vember, 1883,  Mr.  Coonies  wedded  Miss  Margaret 
Clark,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Eliza  Clark, 
and  a  native  of  Paterson,  N.  ,1.  With  her  parents 
she  came  to  Illinois  in  18(i4.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coomes 
hold  membership  with  the  Congregational  Church 
of  Paxton.  They  are  well  known  throughout  this 
community  and  rank  high  in  social  circles.  Mr. 
Coomes  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
of  the  Republican  part}-,  and  keeps  himself  well 
informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day,  but  has  never 
sought  or  desired  public  otiiee. 


A!n^i    -  1 1  >    I  > 


]^i  VAN  MATTINSON,  cashier  and  member  of 
the  banking  firm  of  Mattinson,  Wilson  A 
Co.,  was  born  in  Clarke  Count}',  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 30, 18.')7,  and  is  a  son  of  Matthew  and  Mar- 
garet (Evans)  Mattinson.  His  father  was  iiorn  in 
Westmoreland  County,  England,  October  15,  1810, 
and  came  to  America  when  about  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  He  made  his  home  in  Clarke  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  Decemlier  20,  1841, 
to  Miss  Margaret  Evans,  a  daughter  of  Edward 
Evans.  Mrs.  Mattinson  was  born  in  North  Wales 
in  1820,  and  came  to  the  Fnited  States  in  1837. 
Both  yet  reside  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio. 

Evan   Mattinson  was   reared  on  a  farm  and  re- 
oeivcd  his  education  in  the  schools  of  South  Charles- 
10 


ton,  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  closing  in  the  High 
Schools  of  that  city.  He  was  engaged  in  farming 
in  his  native  State  until  1880,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  Gil)son  City.  He  then  en- 
gaged as  clerk  in  the  banking  house  of  Burwell, 
Leffel  &  Co.,  of  wliicli  the  present  bank  is  an  out- 
growth. When  the  existing  firm  was  formed,  he 
was  made  casliicr  and  has  continued  to  serve  in 
that  capacity  until  the  present  time. 

On  the  5th  of  JIarch,  1885,  Mr.  ^Mattinson  was 
united  in  marriage,  at  Gibson  City,  to  Miss  Minnie 
Belle  Wilson,  a  daughter  of  AVilliam  .1.  and  Lydia 
(Goodfellow)  Wilson.  She  was  born  in  Clarke 
County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Gibson  City  with  her 
parents  in  187G.  One  child,  M.  Clarence,  has  been 
born  to  them. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Mattinson  is  a  Republican,  while 
he  and  his  wife  are  meiiil)ers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  Jl.ason,  a  member 
of  all  the  Masonic  bodies  of  Gibson  City,  and  of 
Mt.  Olivet  Commanderv  No.  38,  Knights  Templar 
of  Paxton.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Gibson  Camp, 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  He  has  been  City 
Treasurer  of  Gibson  City  several  times,  also  Treas- 
urer of  the  Gibson  Building  and  Loan  Association, 
and  of  the  Gibson  Canning  Comijany. 

As  a  financier  and  business  man,  Mr.  Mattinson 
stands  deservedly  high.  His  management  of  the 
affairs  of  the  bank  has  been  such  as  to  insure  pub- 
lic confidence  and  make  friends  of  its  patrons.  He 
is  enterprising,  yet  conservative,  and  his  integrity 
is  beyond  question.  The  successful  career  of  the 
bank  since  his  connection  with  it  bears  no  uncer- 
tain testimony  as  to  his  right  to  a  fair  share  of  the 
credit,  without  detracting  at  all  from  the  healthful 
influence  of  his  worthy  associates. 


R.  DEKALB  DENMAN  is  one  of  the  well- 
known  contractors  and  builders  of  Paxton, 
and  his  handiwork  may  be  seen  in  many  of 
the  principal  buildings  of  this  city.  The  life 
record  of  this  gentleman  is  as  follows:  He  was 
born  in  Jlontgomery  County,  Ind.,  February  4, 
1842,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  six  sons  and  four 


230 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


daughters  who  grew  to  mature  j'ears,  but  one  son 
and  two  daughters  are  now  deceased.  The  father, 
A.  J.  Denman,  was  born  iu  Ohio,  April  20,  1811, 
and  in  1829  accompanied  his  father,  William  Den- 
man, to  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  where  the  grandfather 
settled  with  his  family.  About  three  years  later, 
he  removed  to  Montgomery  County,  becoming 
one  of  its  pioneer  settlers,  and  iu  its  development 
aided  largely.  He  had  served  his  country  in  the 
War  of  1812. 

A.  J.  Denman  acquired  a  good  education  and  iu 
his  younger  life  suceessf ull}'  engaged  in  teaching 
school  for  a  time.  In  Montgomery  County,  Ind., 
he  married  Nancy  Smith,  who  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  but  spent  the  daj's  of  lier  maidenhood  in 
Indiana,  whither  she  came  witli  her  lather,  Samuel 
Smith,  who  was  born  iu  Virginia.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  Montgomery 
County,  where  they  resided  until  1852,  .when  they 
removed  to  Fountain  County,  where  Mr.  Den- 
man is  still  living,  a  hale  and  hearty  old  gentle- 
man of  eighty-one  years.  His  eldest  son  carries 
on  the  farm.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred  De- 
cember 31,  1888. 

The  educational  privileges  which  our  subject  re- 
ceived were  only  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools.  The  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were 
passed  upon  his  father's  farm,  but,  wishing  to  fol- 
low some  other  pursuit  beside  that  of  agriculture, 
he  served  a  four-3ears'  apprenticeship  to  the  car- 
penter's trade  iij  Montgomery  County.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  in  this  county  on  tlie  lltli  of 
February,  1869,  to  Elvira  Lytic,  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery County,  Ind.,  and  a  daughter  of  Setli 
Lytic,  who  was  born  iu  Ohio,  hut  when  a  young 
man  went  to  the  Hoosier  State.  He  was  there 
married  and  for  some  time  resided  in  Montgomery 
Count}',  but  afterward  became  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Ford  County  of  1859.  He  located  on 
a  farm  near  the  city  but  is  now  residing  iu  Paxton. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Denman  returned  to 
Indiana,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  two 
years  and  then  became  a  resident  of  Paxton. 
Since  187G,  he  lias  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building,  and  has  done  an  excellent  business  which 
is  constantl}'  increasing.  He  has  liuilt  a  large 
number  of  the  residences   and    business    houses  of 


the  city  and  also  has  been  employed  largely 
throughout  the  surrounding  country.  He  eu!plo3's 
on  an  average  about  eight  hands.  As  he  al- 
ways does  his  work  in  a  satisfactory  manner  and  is 
known  to  be  a  straightforward,  honorable  busi- 
ness man,  he  receives  the  liberal  patronage  of 
which  he  is  so  deserving. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denman  have  four  children:  Ai- 
mer, who  graduated  from  the  Paxton  Collegiate 
Institute,  is  now  station-agent  on  the  Wisconsin 
Central  Railroad  at  Franklin  Park,  a  suburb  of 
Chicago;  Eva,  Clarence  and  Amy.  They  also  lost 
three  children:  Ernest,  who  died  at  the  age  of  f 
eight  years;  Delbert,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen months;  and  Gussie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years. 

Mr.  and  Mis  Denman  hold  membership  witli  the 
First  Congregational  Church  of  Paxton.  He 
formerly  exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
of  the  Democratic  party,  and,  on  account  of  his 
views  concerning  the  temperance  question,  is  now 
a  Prohibitionist.  He  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  .but  has  served  as  Alderman  of  the  city 
in  an  efficient  manner.  Mr.  Denman  commenced 
life  a  poor  man,  with  his  own  way  to  make  in  the 
world.  There  were  many  hardships  in  his  path 
and  many  difficulties  to  overcome,  but  by  perse- 
verance and  determination  he  has  worked  his  way 
upward  to  success  and  is  now  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances. He  has  the  best  interests  of  the  city 
at  heart  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  tiiose  with 
wliom  he  has  been  l)rouglit  in  contact.  M 


■^[AMES  R.  PHILLIPS,  an  enterprising  and 
successful  farmer,  residinsi;  on  section  28 
Button  Township,  claims  Ohio  as  the  State 
of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in  Mahoning 
Count}-,  May  16,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Phil- 
lips, a  native  of  Scotland,  who  emigrated  to  the 
New  World  when  a  child  of  three  summers  with 
his  father,  .James  Phillips,  the  family  settling  in 
Ohio,  among  the  pioneers  of  Mahoning  County. 
The  fatlier  of   our  subject  was   there    reared,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


231 


married  Miss  Elizabetli  White,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania.  With  his  wife,  he  afterward  re- 
moved to  Cuyalioga  County,  which  was  then  an 
almost  inibrolven  wilderness  and,  in  the  midst  of 
the  forest,  he  cleared  and  dovelo|)ed  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  the  I'cmain- 
der  of  his  life,  lie  i)assed  away  on  tiie  1  Itii  of 
.July,  1840,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  old  family 
cemetery,  llo  left  a  widow  and  four  small  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Phillips  long  survived  her  husband, 
her  death  occurring  in  Feliruary,  1881,  when  she 
was  laid  l)y  his  side.  A  beautiful  monument  now 
marks  their  resting  place.  Our  subject  is  the  eld- 
est of  their  four  sons;  Nathaniel  White,  the  second, 
resides  with  his  family  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  David 
Little  operates  the  old  homestead  farm;  and  Nich- 
olas Allen  is  married  and  also  resides  on  the  old 
homestead. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  mother  until  after 
he  had  attained  to  man's  estate,  and  in  his  youth 
acquired  a  good  English  education.  On  the  ytli 
of  December,  185G,  ni  Mahoning  County,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Denisa  Henderson,  a  native 
of  Portage  County,  Ohit),  and  a  sister  of  .John 
Henderson,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
W(.)rk.  In  the  spring  of  185U,  they  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  first  in  Putnam  County,  where  Mr. 
Phillips  worked  with  his  father-in-law  for  one3'car. 
In  1860,  they  removed  to  Kansas,  settling  near 
Lawrence,  but,  after  one  summer  spent  in  that 
State,  returned  to  Illinois,  and  again  located  in 
Putnam  County,  where  Mr.  Phillips  purcliased  a 
sawmill  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber. 
After  six  years  he  sold  out,  and,  in  Ihe  fall  of  1«()7, 
came  to  lord  County. 

In  the  meantime,  on  the  11th  of  May,  1861,  he 
joined  Comi)any  15,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Tliir- 
ty-ninlh  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  until  the 
following  October.  On  his  arrival  in  this  county, 
he  purch.ased  a  tract  of  wild  laud  of  eighty  .acres, 
and  began  its  development,  building  fences,  plow- 
ing and  cultivating  his  land  and  making  a  good 
home.  Ills  farm  is  now  one  of  the  desirable  places 
in  this  locality,  and  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
thrifty  and  enterprising  agriculturists  of  IJutttm 
Townshi|>. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Phillips  w.as  called   uiion  to  unburn 


the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  13th  of  Octo- 
ber, leaving  four  children:  William  Henderson,  who 
is  married,  and  follows  the  printing  business  in 
Grand  Crossing,  111.;  Albert  II.,  who  operates  the 
home  falm;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  France,  of 
Sawyer,  Kan.;  and  Ella  Fiances,  who  is  attending 
the  home  school.  Mr.  Phillips  was  again  married, 
November  24,  1886,  his  second  union  being  with 
Martha  A.  Ivoss,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  II.  Ross.  They  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Presb3'terian  Church  of  Rankin. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
having  supported  eveiy  Presidential  nominee  of 
that  party  since  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Hon.  .John 
C.  Fremont.  He  has  held  the  ottice  of  Commis- 
sioner of  Highways  for  several  years,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  School  Ikiard.  His  i)ublic  duties 
have  ever  been  faithfully  discharged,  and  he  is 
alike  true  to  every  private  trust. 


=^^>^^<m= 


,  ENRY  DIER.S,  proprietor  of  a  nursery  and 
^^  greenhouse,  also  editor  of  the  Sibley  Gazette, 
is  one  of  the  well-known  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Siblej^  As  he  has  many 
ac(juaintances  throughout  the  community,  we  feel 
sure  this  record  of  bis  life  will  prove  of  interest  to 
man}'  of  our  readers.  Jlr.  Diers  is  of  German  birth 
and  a  son  of  Frederick  and  !\Iary*Diers.  The  fa- 
ther died  ill  the  Old  Country  in  1866,  and  the 
mother  is  still  living  in  her  native  land.  Henry  is 
the  eldest  of  three  children:  Margaret  is  the  wife 
of  Andrew  Poppe,  and  Annie  is  the  wife  of  George 
Oltemans,  who  is  still  living  in  the  Fatherland. 

Mr.  Diers,  of  this  sketch,  attended  school  until 
fourteen  years  of  age  and  then  worked  upon  a 
farm  for  two  years,  after  which  he  spent  a  similar 
period  in  mills.  He  then  attended  a  business  col- 
lege for  a  year  and  <m  his  return  home  again  be- 
gan working  at  his  trade  of  milling,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  1882.  That  ye.ar  witnessed  his  arrival 
in  the  United  States.  He  first  located  in  Chicago, 
and  after  a  short  time  went  to  Lake  County,  III., 
where  he  worked  upon  a  farm  for  a  year.  He  next 
became    a    resident  (_>f  .lauesville,  Wis.,  where    he 


232 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAI  HICAL   RECORD. 


learned  telegraphy,  at  which  he  worked  until  he 
caiue  to  Sibley,  in  1885.  For  some  time  after  lo- 
cating here,  he  was  emi)lo3ed  in  the  Sibley  estate 
oflice  under  Mr.  Bicket  as  assistant  book-keeper, 
and  after  three  years  took  the  contract  of  putting 
in  all  tiie  tiling  on  the  Sibley  estate,  and  still  is 
manager  of  that  branch  of  the  business  connected 
with  that  vast  property.  In  the  year  1888,  he  had 
laid  one  hundred  and  flfty-flve  miles  of  tiling. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1888,  Mr.  Diers  married 
Miss  Susan  Robbins,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane 
(Scott)  Robbins.  Unto  them  have  been  born  three 
children:  Frederick,  born  in  188i»;  Raymond,  who 
was  liorn  in  1890  and  died  on  the  8th  of  May, 
1891,  and  Cecil,  born  March  3,  1892. 

In  connection  with  his  other  business  industries, 
Mr.  Diers  established  a  nursery  at  Sibley  in  1890, 
and  the  following  >'ear  added  to  this  a  greenhouse. 
He  is  also  editor  of  the  Sibley  Gazette,  which  was 
establislied  in  1892  and  has  a  circulation  of  liiree 
hundred.  In  politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  Repub- 
lican princiiiles  and  was  elected  Township  Clerk  in 
1891.  lie  is  a  member  of  tlie  Masonic  order  and  a 
charter  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen.  Ho  be- 
longs to  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  is  a 
public-spirited  citizen  and  one  favorably  known 
throughout  this  community. 

■^flAMES  E.  CRAMMOND,  tlie  oldest  grocer 
in  Gibson  City  in  years  of  business  at  that 
place,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most  enterprising 
and  (prosperous  citizens,  establislied  trade 
there  in  July,  1873.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  he 
built  the  first  bric]<  building  in  the  cit}',  and  tlie 
following  year  occupied  it,  carrying  on  business 
there  for  nearly  ten  years,  or  until  it  was  destroyed 
by  Are  on  the  night  of  January  30,  1883.  It  was 
23x64  feet,  two  stories  in  height,  with  a  basement, 
and,  in  its  day,  was  one  of  the  best  business  blocks 
in  the  city.  He  rebuilt  tlie  following  summer,  but 
the  second  building  is  one  stor}'  in  heiglit,  with  a 
basement,  and  is  25x100  feet.  The  store-room  is 
sixteen  feet  high.  Mr.  Crammond  does  an  annual 
business  of  from  $8,000  to  810,000,  and   carries  a 


full  and  complete  line  of  staple  and  fancy  grocer- 
ies, queensware,  wooden-ware  and  provisions. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Hawes- 
ville,  Hancock  County,  Ky.,  August  22,  1852,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Augustus)  Crammond. 
His  father  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  came  to 
America  when  a  lad  of  fourteen  summers,  and  set- 
tled in  Kentucky',  wliere  he  was  afterward  married. 
He  was  a  steamboat  owner,  his  boats  plying  on  the 
Ohio  River.  His  death  occurred  in  March,  1867. 
Tlie  mother  was  born  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1824, 
and  died  in  August,  1878. 

James  E.  was  educated  in  tlie  i)rivate  schools  of 
his  native  State,  and  from  an  early  age  was  em- 
ployed on  his  father's  steamboats  as  a  pilot  on  the 
Ohio,  until  the  spring  of  1873.  On  the  28th  of 
May,  of  that  year,  he  was  married,  in  his  native 
county,  to  Mary  H.  Davidson.  Mrs.  Crammond 
was  born  in  Hawesville,  Hancock  County,  Ky.,and 
was  a  daughter  of  N.  C.  Davidson,  formerly  of 
Kentucky,  but  now  of  Farmer  City,  111. 

Imraediatel\'  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Crammond  settled  in  Gibson  City,  Ford  County, 
111.  In  July,  1873,  he  began  business  as  a  grocer 
in  Gibson,  as  previously  stated.  He  has  now  been 
in  business  in  that  city  for  nearly  twent3-  years, 
having  one  of  the  best  stores  in  his  line. 

On  the  3d  of  December,  1889,  Mrs.  Crammond 
passed  away,  leaving  six  children,  three  sons  and 
three  daughters:  Daisy  E.,  Maggie  H.,  John  D., 
.James  E.,  AVilliam  C,  and  Lucile  M.,  all  of  whom 
were  born  in  Gibson  City.  Mrs.  Crammond  was  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  a 
kind  and  affectionate  wife  and  mother,  and  her 
loss  was  a  sad  lilow  to  her  husband  and  children. 
She  left  many  friends  in  this  community,  where 
she  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  the  Hardin  family,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  families  of  Kentucky.  Mr. 
Crammond  is  an  active  inemlier  of  tlie  same  church 
to  which  his  wife  belonged,  and  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  its  Board  of  Trustees  for  six  years,  and 
President  of  the  same  for  four  years.  The  older 
children  also  hold  membership  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Crammond  is  a  Democrat  and  an 
earnest  supporter  of    the  principles  of    that  party. 


'(MmaL- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


235 


Although  living  in  n  Repuliliean  town,  he  has 
through  personal  popularity-  been  chosen  to  fill 
various  local  otfices.  He  has  been  Village  Trustee 
five  years,  and  President  of  the  Board  for  two 
years.  He  has  served  three  years  as  Director  of 
the  Gibson  School  Board,  and  has  recentlj'  been 
re-elected  for  another  term  of  the  same  number  of 
years,  and  has  also  held  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  For  three  years  he  has  been 
Chairman  of  the  Ford  County  Democratic  Com- 
mittee, being  an  active  and  influential  man  in  the 
local  councils  of  his  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
Gibson  Lodge  No.  542, 1.  O.  O.  F.,and  of  Brothers' 
Encampment  No.  158,  of  the  same  order.  He  has 
filled  the  official  chairs  of  tlie  subordinate  lodge 
and  encampment,  has  been  representative  to  the 
Grand  Bodies  of  the  State,  and  is  tlie  present  Dis- 
trict Deputy-.  He  holds  membership  with  Canton 
Ford  Patri.-irch  Militant  No.  55,  and  of  Drummer 
Lodge  No.  l,Gll,Iv.  of  H.,  being  presiding  officer 
of  the  last-named  body  at  one  time,  and  is  the 
present  F'inancial  and  Corresponding  Reporter  or 
Secretarj'.  He  belongs  to  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  Building  and  Loan  Association  of  Gibson 
Cit}'.  Enterprise,  public  spirit  and  integrity  have 
characterized  Mr.  Crammond's  course  in  life,  while 
his  intercourse  with  both  acquaintance  and  stranger 
is  always  marked  b\-  courtesy  and  kindness. 


•5'^E«= 


_V 


fflOMAS  R.  WT  LEY,  M.  D.,  B.  S.,  the  pioneer 
physician  and  surgeon  of  Gibson  City,  or 
the  oldest  in  years  of  practice  now  residing 
there,  was  born  near  Colfax,  McLean  County,  111., 
.June  19,  1844.  His  parents  were  Lyttle  R.  and 
Sarah  R.  Wiley.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  near  Lexington,  on  the  16th  of 
November,  181K,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1840,  en- 
gaging in  farming  in  McLean  County.  His  mar- 
riage was  celebrated  in  Indiana,  his  wile  being  a 
native  of  that  Slate,  born  in  Switzerland  County. 
He  died  in  November,  1889,  but  her  death  occurred 
at  her  home  in  McLean  County,  this  State,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1885. 


Thom.as  R.  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  twenty 
years  of  age  and  after  attending  the  preparatory 
schools,  took  a  full  collegiate  course  at  the  Illinois 
Wesleyan  University,  being  graduated  with  the 
degree  of  B.  S.  in  tiie  class  of  1871.  He  then  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Hill,  of  Blooni- 
ingtoii,  and  later  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Michigan  State  University  at  Ann  Arbor.  Later  he 
attended  Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  where 
he  further  fitted  himself  for  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1874.  The  following  March  he  established 
practice  in  Gibson  City,  which  he  has  continued 
with  marked  success  to  the  present  time.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Central  Medical  Association 
and  of  the  National  Railway  Surgeons'  Association. 
He  has  been  the  local  surgeon  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad  for  four  years  and  is  examining  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  for  the  following  named  insur- 
ance companies  and  societies:  New  York  Life,  New 
York  Mutual,  the  Equitable  of  New  York,  New 
York  Home;  Aetna,  of  Hartford;  Nortliwestern 
Mutual,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  Franklin,  of  Hartford, 
Conn.;  the  INIutual,  of  Hartford,  Travelers',  and 
others. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  1874,  Dr.  Wiley  was  mar- 
ried in  Bloomington,  111.,  to  Miss  Mattie  E.  Reeves, 
a  daughter  of  O.  S.  Reeves.  Mrs.  Wiley  was  born 
in  McLean  County,  and  was  reared  in  Lero}',  111. 
She  is  a  devoted  member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  one  of  its  earnest  workers.  Her  father  died 
when  she  was  a  child  and  her  mother,  who  still 
survives  her  husband,  makes  her  home  in  Bloom- 
ington. Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wiley  have  one  child,  a 
daughter,  Beulali  Belle,  who  was  liorn  in  Gibson 
City. 

The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and,  in  political  sentiment,  is  indepen- 
dent. He  has  been  chosen  by  his  fellow-citi- 
zens to  various  official  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  He  was  the  second  Piesident,  of  Gibson 
Village  Board.  For  several  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  tiie  Village  School  Board,  for  three 
years  of  that  time  serving  as  its  President  and  has 
shown  much  interest  in  the  advancement  of  edu- 
cation. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
People's  International  Investment  and  Loan  Asso- 


236 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ciatiou,  of  which  lie  has  been  its  President,  and  a 
director.  He  is  also  interested  in  the  land  syndi- 
cate that  h."i.s  invested  in  tiie  city  real  estate  under 
the  title  of  the  Gibson  Land  Improvement  Com- 
pany. In  addition  to  valuable  city  property,  Dr. 
Wiley  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  five  hundred 
and  thirty  acres,  situated  in  tlie  town  of  Brown, 
Champaign  County,  which  he  leases.  The  Doctor 
is  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  recognized  abilitj', 
thorough  culture  and  large  experience.  He  has 
been  eminently  successful  in  his  practice,  accumu- 
lating a  valuable  property,  and  has  won  a  foremost 
place  among  the  skilled  of  liis  profession  in  East- 
ern and  Cciitial  Illinois. 

WALLACE  SHUMWAY  LAMB,  the  leading 
fui'niture  dealer  of  Gibson  City,  is  num- 
bered among  the  energetic  young  business 
men  who  are  lapidly  advancing  that  town  to  the 
first  place  in  business  importance  of  any  in  the 
coujit3'.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary  (Shumway) 
Lamb,  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Stephen- 
son County,  111.,  whither  the  father  emigrated  in 
1840,  his  wife  moving  there  at  a  later  date.  After 
their  marriage,  they  located  on  a  farm,  Mr.  Lamb 
becoming  a  well-to-do  farmer.  He  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  his  wife  of  Ohio,  but  since  coming 
to  Illinois  they  have  made  their  home  in  Stqjhenson 
County,  Mr.  Lamb  still  residing  in  Yellow  Creek 
at  the  age  of  sevent3'-seveu  j'ears.  His  wife,  who 
was  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  died 
in  that  faith  in  1886.  Politically,  he  w.as  a  Whig, 
but  when  the  question  of  al)olishing  human  slavery 
arose,  he  threw  his  influence  in  that  direction, 
making  public  addresses  as  well  as  private  argu- 
ments. Since  the  rise  of  the  Republican  party,  he 
h.as  been  a  strong  advocate  of  its  principles  though 
not  an  otlice-seeker.  The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lamb  consisted  of  seven  chddren,  five  sous  and 
two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are-still  living. 

Our  subject,  who  was  born  in  Freeport,  111.,  May 
5,  1862,  is  the  youngest  of  the  family,  and  until 
the  age  of  sixteen  j'ears  he  spent  his  time  on  the 
farm  and  in  the  district  schools.     He  subsequently 


pursued  a  business  course  at  Dixon,  111.,  graduate 
ing  in  1881,  and  the  following  four  jears  was 
book-keeper  for  Seelej'  it  Read,  of  Freeport.  Hav- 
ing served  three  years  in  the  wholesale  carpet  de- 
partment of  Marshall  Field  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  he 
established  business  on  his  own  account  in  Wilcox, 
Neb.  In  1888,  he  came  to  Gibson  City  and  suc- 
ceeded S.  L.  Ilarnit  &  Co.  in  the  furniture  busi- 
ness, and  the  firm  title  adopted  is  W.  S.  Lamb  ct 
Co.  They  carry  the  largest  stock  of  furniture  in 
the  county,  to  which  they  have  added  an  under- 
taking business.  Their  main  store,  one  hundred 
feet  deep,  fronts  on  Galena  Avenue,  the  principal 
business  street  of  the  town,  while  a  fortj'-foot  store- 
room fi-onts  on  the  street  on  the  south.  Besides, 
they  have  a  two-story  warehouse,  and  all  are  filled 
with  select  goods.  Mr.  Lamb  is  a  genial,  wide- 
awake young  man,  justly  deserving  the  success  he 
has  met  in  his  financial  undertakings. 

Mr.  Lamb  visited  Shawneetown,  111.,  and  wiiile 
there  was  married,  on  the  10th  of  March,  1887,  to 
Miss  Abbie  A.  Edwards,  a  native  of  that  i)laee. 
By  this  marri.agc  have  been  born  two  children: 
Wilber  E.  and  Wallace  S.  In  religious  belief,  both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lamb  are  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  and,  in  politics,  he  is  a  Republican. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and' 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


^Y/  AMES  D.  HALL  is  an  honored  pioneer  of 
what  is  now  Ford  County  and  resides  in 
Paxton.  He  came  to  the  county  in  F^ebru- 
ary,  1852,  and  soon  after  his  settlement 
here,  the  Tax  Collector  called  at  his  house  and  told 
him  that  there  were  then  but  eighteen  settlers' 
cabins  in  the  region  now  embraced  in  Ford  Countj', 
that  was  set  off  from  Vermilion. 

Mr.  ILall  was  born  in  the  town  of  Adelphi,  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  April  10,  1821,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Hester  (Hilleiy)  Hall.  His  parents  were 
from  Cumberland  County,  Md.,and  settled  in  Ohio 
prior  to  the  War  of  1812,  in  which  his  father  and 
uncles  took  part.  In  his  j'onth,  our  subject  learned 
the  blacksmith's  trade    and    in    1830    worked    in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


237 


Indiana,  locating  near  Attica,  where  he  engaged 
in  farm  work  and  teaming,  receiving  for  one  j'ear's 
services  only  ¥!100.  Two  years  later,  he  removed 
to  Warren  Connty  of  the  same  State,  where  he 
rented  a  farm  for  two  years.  In  the  summer  of 
1814,  in  company  with  nine  others,  he  entered 
eleven  hundred  acres  of  Government  land  on  the 
prairie  by  pre-emption,  and  the  first  _year  a  part  of 
this  was  broken  and  planted  in  crops.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  Mr.  Hall  had  his  share  separated  and 
afterward  added  to  his  farm  by  subsequent  pur- 
chase. In  a  small  wa}',  he  began  dealing  in  cattle 
and  continued  buying,  raising  and  selling  until  he 
did  an  extensive  business  in  that  line.  In  1851, 
he  took  a  drove  of  cows  through  to  Northern  Wis- 
consin, selling  them  in  Oshkosh,  that  State.  On  his 
return,  he  prospected  for  a  location  in  Illinois,  and 
in  February,  1852,  settled  in  what  was  known  as 
Henderson's  Grove,  then  in  Vermilion  but  now  in 
Ford  County.  There  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising. 

Mr.  Hall  was  married  in  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
in  1811.  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Eliza  A. 
Wisman,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  a  daughter  of 
John  Wisman.  Five  children  were  liorn  of  their 
union,  but  onl}'  two  are  now  living.  Henry  C, 
the  eldest,  wedded  Miss  Mary  Pierpont  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  business  inPaxton;  Hester  died 
in  infancT;  William  F.  was  drowned  in  the  Missis- 
sippi River  when  eighteen  years  of  age;  and 
Rebecca,  widow  of  David  II.  Snyder,  resides  in 
Paxton. 

Mr.  Hall  made  his  home  in  Henderson's  Grove 
until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  he  bought  a  tract 
of  land  on  section  33,  Patton  Township.  He  is 
said  to  have  built  the  fir.st  frame  house  north  of 
the  Vermilion  River,  in  what  is  now  Ford  County. 
His  farm  contained  two  hundred  and  eighty-six 
acres  and  was  one  of  the  best  in  the  county.  In 
1860,  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Ford  County  and 
served  a  term  of  two  3ears  in  that  office.  On  his 
election  to  the  position,  he  removed  to  Paxton,  re- 
turning to  his  farm  at  the  close  of  his  term  of  ser- 
vice and  in  1865  again  came  to  Paxton,  where,  in 
company  with  his  son,  Henry  C,  he  engaged  in 
the  grain  trade.  In  1869,  we  again  find  him  upon 
the  farm  but  he  also  continued  business  as  a  grain 


dealer.  Since  1885,  he  has  resided  in  the  city.  He 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  in  his  views  on  the  subject 
of  religion  is  an  avowed  atheist.  Mr.  Hall  is  one 
of  the  oldest  surviving  pioneers  of  Ford  County 
and  well  deserves  mention  among  her  early  settlers. 


ICHAEL  H.  DOLAN  is  well  deserving  of 
representation  in  the  history  of  Ford 
County,  for  he  is  an  enterprising  citizen 
of  Roberts.  He  claims  New  York  as  the 
State  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in  Lockport, 
March  28,  1859,  and  is  the  eldest  of  ten  children, 
six  sons  and  four  daughters,  born  unto  John  and 
Belle  (Hooks)  Dolan.  His  father,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, was  born  in  Ma}^,  1819,  and  was  reared  as  a 
stock-raiser.  On  attaining  his  majority,  he  crossed 
the  briny  deep  and  became  a  resident  of  Canada, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years,  when  he  w^ent 
to  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and  was  foreman  in  a  stone 
quarry  for  some  time.  He  became  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Farmer  City,  111.,  removing  thence  when  it 
contained  only  two  stores.  He  is  now  one  of  the 
three  oldest  citizens  of  that  place  and  himself  and 
wife  are  classed  among  its  prominent  people.  They 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  he  has 
been  a  supporter  of  Democratic  principles  since 
coming  to  America. 

The  seven  children  of  the  Dolan  family  yet  liv- 
ing are  Michael  H.,  of  this  sketch;  James,  an  em- 
ploye of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company; 
Edward,  who  is  agent  on  the  Big  Four  Railroad 
at  Farmer  City,  111.;  Robert,  who  is  operator  at 
the  same  place;  Phoebe,  who  is  clerking  for  Bu- 
ford  Brothers,  of  Farmer  City;  Anna,  who  is  one 
of  the  successful  teachei's  of  Ford  County,  and 
Nellie,  who  is  engaged  in  dress-making  in  Farmer 
City. 

Our  subject  was  quite  young  when  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  the  West  and  in  Farmer  City 
he  acquired  his  education.  He  left  the  parental 
roof  and  began  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four  years,  and  since  August,  1880,  has  re- 


238 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sided  in  Roberts,  being  employed  as  a  section  fore- 
man of  the  Illinois  Central  Kailroad.  Mis  long 
continued  service  with  one  company  indicates  his 
faithful  performance  of  duty  and  tlie  confi'lence 
reposed  in  him  Itj'  his  employers. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  188.3,  Mr.  Dolan  was 
united  in  marriage  with  ]\Iiss  Sadie  Eisaman,  who 
was  l)orn  in  Woodford  Connty,  111.,  May  12,  1862. 
They  were  married  in  Paxton  and  their  union  has 
been  l)lessed  with  two  little  daughtei's:  Edna  Pearl, 
aged  seven,  and  Ina.  The  mother  is  a  member  of 
the  Metiiodist  Churcli  of  Roberts.  The  Dolan 
household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  its  doors 
arc  ever  open  for  the  reception  of  the  many  friends 
of  (nii-  suiijrct  and  wife. 

Mr.  Dolan  on  questions  of  national  importance 
votes  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  at  local  elec- 
tions votes  for  the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  qual- 
ified for  the  office,  regardless  of  part\'  aftiliations. 
For  two  j'ears  he  has  served  as  one  of  the  Village 
Trustees  of  Roberts,  and  has  proved  an  ellicient 
oHicer.  He  is  an  honored  member  of  Lyman 
Lodge  No.  293,  K.  P.,  of  Roljerts,  which  he  joined 
on  its  organization  and  is  n()w  serving  as  Prelate. 
An  open-hearted,  generous  man,  he  has  given  liber- 
ally for  the  support  of  all  enterprises  calculated  to 
prove  of  ((ublic  benefit,  and  is  a  citizen  of  sterling 
worth. 


^ILLIAM  A.  HUTCHISON,  engineer,  of 
Clarence,  Ford  County,  111.,  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  Holmes  County,  December 
16,1850.  His  grandfather.  Col.  William  Hutch- 
ison, was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  but  of  Scotch 
parentage.  After  attaining  his  m.ajority,  he  moved, 
in  about  1800,  to  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
became  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen,  being 
the  first  .Judge  of  Holmes  County,  and  a  C'olonel 
of  the  militia.  His  father,  Samuel  I.  Hutchison, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Holmes  Count}-  and  there 
married  Mary  Rodgers,  a  nativeof  Wajne  County, 
Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Rodgers,  who  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  tiiat  county.  After 
their  marriage,  he  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 


suits in  his  native  county  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  enlisted  in  the  one-hundred-day  S(!rvice  for 
the  late  war  and  served  during  the  term  of  his  en- 
listment. In  1868,  he  moved  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Button  Township,  Ford  County,  where  he 
opened  up  a  farm  on  which  he  resided  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  died  in  Clarence,  March  4,  1892. 
His  wife  survives  him  and  resides  with  her  son. 
They  had  a  family  of  three  sons  and  one  daughter, 
all  of  wliom  are  living  and  are  heads  of  families. 
William  A.  is  tiie  ehlest;  John,  a  farmer  in  Button 
Township,  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Irvin  is 
an  engineer  residing  in  Rochester,  Ind.;  and 
i;iizaljeth  is  the  wife  of  R.  M.  Garsuch,  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  of  Button  Township. 

William  A.  Hutchison  came  with  his  parents  to 
Ford  County  when  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
j-ears.  His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  and  in  at- 
tending the  common  schools  of  his  native  .State. 
He  also  attended  school  a  short  time  after  locating 
in  Illinois.  He  continued  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1876,  when  he  gave  up  farming  and  en- 
gasjed  in  merchandisins'  in  the  villasje  of  Clarence. 
He  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  the  place  and 
served  in  that  cap.acity  for  twelve  years.  When 
he  sold  out  his  mercantile  business,  he  engaged 
in  running  a  stationary  engine  in  Clarence,  in 
which  business  he  is_yet  engaged.  He  is  the  owner 
of  a  good  farm  adjoining  the  village  and  has  also 
good  residence  propertj'  both  in  Clarence  and 
Paxton. 

Mr.  Hutchison  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Lo- 
gan County,  Ohio,  in  November,  1876,  to  Miss 
Margaret  Ghormaley,  a  native  of  Ohio.  By  this 
marriage  there  are  four  children:  Owen,  Mary, 
Elsie  and  an  infant.  There  are  eight  years'  dif- 
ference in  the  ages  of  the  last  two  children,  and 
both  were  born  on  the  same  d.ay  of  the  same  month, 
the  first,  February-  29,  1884,  and  the  latter,  Febru- 
ary 29,  1892. 

Mv.  Hutchison  is  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  of  which  he  has  been  an  earnest  sup- 
porter since  his  majority.  He  has  served  in  sev- 
eral local  positions,  having  been  Collector  of  But- 
ton Township,  also  Clerk  and  Assessor.  He  is  a 
man  of  good  business  habits  and  is  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  men  of  the  village,    in   which  he  has 


^^5. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


241 


resided  for  fifteen  j-ears.  He  was  tlie  first  to  lo- 
cate at  the  place  and  weiglied  the  first  load  of 
grain  marketed  in  the  village.  He  and  bis  wife 
are  mcmljers  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  are 
held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  know  them. 
A  most  worthy  citizen,  a  good  friend  and  neigh- 
bor, he  well  deserves  reiiresentation  in  this  volume. 


-^i 


^-A^P= 


ANIEL  11.  ANDREWS,  a  f.armcr  rehidiug 
on  section  7,  Wall  Township,  is  a  native 
of  Illinois,  born  in  Fulton  County,  on  the 
2.5th  of  October,  18,50,  and  is  a  son  of 
Ilarman  Andrews,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  and 
was  of  English  descent.  When  veiy  young,  his 
father  died,  and  he  was  compelled  to  begin  life  for 
himself.  He  worked  for  a  time  as  a  farm  hand,  but 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  began  learning  the  ship  car- 
penter's trade,  at  which  he  was  employed  untd  the 
age  of  twenty-two.  He  followed  this  occupation 
chiefly  with  his  brothers,  in  New  Orleans.  In  1842, 
Mr.  Andrews  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Fulton 
County,  and  began  the  cultivation  of  a  farm,  lie 
enlisted  in  this  State  under  Col.  E.  D.  liaker  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  was  made  Cor|)oral,  serving  one 
year. 

Harman  Andrews  was  united  in  marriage  in  Ful- 
ton County,  November  22,  1843,  to  Eliza  Peter- 
son, who  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  but  of  German  de- 
scent. They  became  the  parents  of  eight  children, 
three  sons  and  five  daughters:  Flora,  who  died 
April  14,  1870;  Benjamin  C,  a  farmer  of  Wall 
Township,  this  county,  was  born  on  the  27th  of 
September,  1846,  and  his  sketch  appears  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work;  Julia  C,  born  September 
24,  1848,  died  in  1878;  our  subject  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth;  .Tosiah  S.,  born  November  24, 1852, 
was  called  to  his  final  rest  October  15, 1854;  Sarah 
E.,  wife  of  Charles  Brandenburg,  of  Nebraska,  was 
born  on  the  13th  of  March,  1855:  James  II.,  a 
farmer  of  Wall  Township,  was  born  September  25, 
1857;  and  Eliza  Jane,  born  June  13,  1861,  was  the 
■wife  of  C.  C.  Broadus,  and  is  now  deceased. 

The  father  of  this  family  served  for  two  years' 
as  Captain  of  Company  (i.  Forty-seventh  Illinois 
Infantry,  in  the  late  war.  Resigning  that  command. 


he  returned  home  and  raised  another  company, 
becoming  its  Captain.  It  wa.s  mustered  into  the 
service  as  Company  A,  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-first  Illinois  Infantry.  With  this  company 
he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Corinth,  a  piece  of  shell 
shattering  his  left  arm,  after  which  he  was  taken 
prisoner,  but  at  the  end  of  sixteen  days  was  pa- 
rolled.  Capt.  Andrews  participated  in  several  im- 
portant engagements,  including  that  at  Island  No. 
10,  luka.  New  Madrid  and  Corinth,  and  was  in  the 
Vicksburg  campaign  until  the  fall  of  that  city.  He 
received  his  discharge  in  January,  1866. 

From  Fulton  County,  Capt.  Andrews  removed 
to  IMarshall  County,  this  State,  where  he  laid  his 
land  warrant  in  1855,  and  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  27th  of 
February,  1875,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  his 
birth  being  on  the  29th  of  January,  1820.  His 
wife  followed  him  to  the  final  home  only  thirteen 
days  later,  and  both  were  buried  in  Marshall 
County.  In  religious  belief,  he  was  a  Methodist, 
and  sociall}'  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  fra- 
ternity. He  took  an  active  part  in  political  affairs, 
and  was  first  a  Whig,  but  on  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  became  one  of  its  stanch  sup- 
porters, and  was  a  strong  Lincoln  man.  He  served 
for  two  terms  as  County  Treasurer  of  Marshall 
County. 

Daniel  H.  Andrews  was  reared  to  manhood  on 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  remained  until  past  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  receiving  his  literary  education 
in  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  thirteen, 
when  his  father  was  fighting  for  the  Union,  he  as- 
sisted his  mother  in  the  management  of  the  home 
farm.  When  he  had  reached  his  majority,  he  be- 
gan life  for  himself  as  a  farmer  in  Marshall  County, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  came  to 
Ford  County,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  is  now  the  owner  of  two  hiindrtd  and  seventy 
acres  of  arable  land,  but  on  coming  to  this  county, 
he  only  purchased  ninety  acres.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  being 
a  breeder  of  fast  horses,  and  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising farmers  of  the  community. 

Our  sul)ject  was  married  in  Marshall  County. 
March  5,  1872,  to  Miss  Minnie  Durfey.     She  is  a 


242 


i'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


native  of  Oliio,  born  on  the  29th  of  October, 
1850,  and  the  fourth  in  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren born  unto  Reuben  and  I^lmily  M.  (Vining) 
Durfey.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio. 
Throughout  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  her  father 
has  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  Attracted 
by  tlic  discovery  of  gold,  lie  went  to  California  in 
1850,  making  his  way  across  the  plains.  He  was 
quite  successful  in  his  mining  operations,  and  after 
about  a  year,  returned  by  the  Isthmus  of  Panama. 
The  old  money  belt  whijsh  he  brought  with  him  is 
now  in  the  Durfey  home.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Cliurch.  His  wife,  who  died  in  1874, 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Of 
their  family,  five  are  yet  living:  Elmer,  who  is 
married  and  resides  with  his  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren upon  a  farm  in  Ohio;  Sarah,  wife  of  John 
Davis,  a  resident  farmer  of  Delaware,  Ohio;  Mrs. 
Andrews,  wife  of  our  subject;  Alice,  wife  of  Clar- 
ence Manter,  of  Ohio;  Elsie,  who  is  married  and 
resides  in  Delaware,  Ohio;  Girard,  the  eldest  of 
the  family,  was  one  of  the  bojs  in  blue.  He  en- 
listed in  Company  C,  Fourth  Ohio  Infantry,  under 
Capt.  Crawford,  and  his  regiment  was  assigned  to 
tlie  Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  losing  all  the  fingers  of  his 
right  hand,  after  which  he  never  enjoyed  a  day's 
health.  In  1865,  he  was  married,  but  liis  wife  died 
In  1876,  leaving  a  son.  In  October,  1888,  death 
relieved  him  of  his  sufferings  while  an  inmate  of 
Washington  Hospital,  where  he  had  gone  for 
treatment. 

Mrs.  Andrews  spent  her  ni.iidenhood  days  under 
the  parental  roof,  and,  after  attending  the  common 
schools,  was  for  two  years  a  student  in  the  select 
school  and  one  and  a  half  years  in  the  female  sem- 
inary of  Delaware,  Ohio,  after  which  she  tried 
teaching  in  her  native  county.  She  is  a  lady  of 
culture  and  refinement,  and  pre.sides  with  grace 
over  her  hospit.able  liome.  Unto  our  subject  and 
his  wife  have  been  born  nine  children:  Frankie, 
born  July  14,  1873,  died  Januarj'  15,  1876;  Fannie, 
born  February  22,  1875;  Orville,  July  17,  1876; 
Otis,  December  28,  1878;  Willie,  March  24,  1880; 
Alice,  February  8,  1882;  Maggie,  February  14, 
1884;  Minnie,  M.arch  21,  1889;  and  Hazel,  .lanii- 
,ar}'  25,  1891;  all  of   whom  are  with  their  parents. 


Mr.  Andrews  and  his  wife  are  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Melvin, 
and  take  an  active  interest  in  its  work.  He  is  a 
strong  Republican  in  his  political  sentiment,  but 
h.is  never  been  an  olHce-seeker,  though  he  does 
much  for  the  advancement  of  the  party.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans,  being  the 
present  Commander  of  Camp  No.  369,  of  Melvin. 
He  is  one  f)f  the  prominent  citizens  of  Wall  Town- 
ship, .and  is  liheral  with  his  me.ans  in  the  advance- 
ment of  those  enterprises  for  the  benelit  of  the 
community. 


'X,  jiA LLI AM  E.  THOMPSON,  who  is  recognized 
\/\///  ^^  ^"'^  °^  ^'^^  rising  young  business  men 
^^U  of  Melvin,  is  a  memlier  of  the  Thompson 
Company,  dealers  in  farm  implements,  lumber  and 
paints.  Ijelinont  County,  Ohio,  is  the  place  of 
his  nativity,  and  February  9,  1863,  the  date  of  his 
birth.  With  his  parents,  John  M.  and  Jane  (Day) 
Thompson,  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1865,  and  since 
1872  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Melvin.  After 
leaving  the  public  schools  of  that  jilace,  he  spent 
two  years  in  the  liter.ary  department  of  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomington,  111.  Subsequently  he 
pursued  a  commercial  course  in  the  same  institu- 
tion, graduating  with  the  Class  of  '83.  Soon 
thereafter  he  entered  his  father's  implement  and 
lumber  establishment,  continuing  until  1886,  when 
he  and  his  uncle,  W.  H.  Thompson,  became  part- 
ners iji  the  implement  and  lumber  trade,  assuming 
the  firm  title  of  Thompson  Company.  They  have 
an  extensive  patronage,  which  has  been  won  by 
fair  and  honorable  dealing.  It  is  no  ex:iggeration 
to  say  that  thej',  both  as  individuals  and  as  a  busi- 
ness firm,  have  the  unallo3'ed  confidence  of  the 
community. 

On  the  11th  of  November,  1885,  Mr.  Thompson 
wedded  Miss  Maggie  Stather.  The  lady  is  a  na 
tive  of  Canada,  but  in  girUiood  came  with  her 
parents  to  Ford  County,  where  she  has  since  made 
her  home. 

Unto  Mr.   and  INIrs.   Thompson   were  born  three 
children,  but  Elma  J.   is   the  onl3'  one  surviving. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


243 


two  having  died  in  infanoy.  Both  he  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and,  in  political  principles,  he  is  a  stanch  Republi- 
can, taking  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of  his 
partj-.  Socially,  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  179,  K.  P.,  having  p.assed  through 
all  the  chairs,  and  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society. 
No.  l.')9.  For  eiglit  years  he  has  served  as  No- 
tary Public.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  h.as 
shown  himself  a  man.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  su- 
perior ability-  and  accomplishments.  During  liis 
school  life,  whether  in  public  school  or  in  college, 
he  always  stood  among  tlie  best  students  in  his 
cl.ass,  and  in  business  circles  he  takes  a  front 
rank. 


?RANK  B.  FAGERBURO,  proprietor  of  the 


^l  Bon  Ton  Boot  and  Shoe  Store,  is  one  of 
the  leading  young  business  men  of  the  city, 
wide-awake  and  enterprising.  He  has  been  en- 
g.aged  in  his  present  line  for  only  a  few  months 
but  has  already  won  a  liberal  patronage  and  his 
store  is  rapidly  gaining  favor  with  the  public.  Mr. 
Fagerburg  was  born  in  Shelbjville,  Shelby  County, 
111.,  on  the  21st  of  .September,  1863,  and  is  a  son 
of  Alfred  and  Catherine  (.Johnson)  Fagerburg. 
His  parents  were  born  in  Sweden  and,  leaving  their 
native  laud  in  18.53,  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  Am- 
erica, settling  in  Rockford,  111.  They  now  reside 
in  McLean  Count}-  of  this  .State,  where  the  father 
is  engaged  in  farming. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  iiistory  of  tlie 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  He  re- 
ceived liberal  educational  advantages,  attended 
Augustana  College  of  Rock  Island,  where  he 
learned  the  Swedish  langu.agc,  and  w.as  graduated 
from  the  Wesleyan  University  in  the  Class  of  '80, 
following  which  he  took  a  course  at  the  Business 
College  of  Bloomington,  111.,  and  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  1881.  Having  thus  been 
well-fitted  for  a  business  career,  he  then  .accepted 
the  position  of  .assistant  p.aymaster  of  the  Chicago 
it  Alton  Railroad  Company,  which  he  held  for  six 
and  a  half  years,  being  a  trusted   employe   of    the 


road.  He  then  went  to  Boston  and  for  two  years 
was  secretary  for  the  superintendent  of  motive 
power  for  the  New  York  and  New  England  R:iil- 
road  Company'.  At  the  expiration  of  tliat  time, 
he  came  to  Paxton,  and  since  December,  181)1,  has 
been  engaged  in  his  present  business.  In  Bloom- 
ington, 111.,  September  25,  1884,  he  wedded  .lessie 
L.  Wolcott,  who  died  about  a  year  later.  One 
child  of  this  marriage,  Rudolph  F.,  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  1890,  Mr.  Fagerburg  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Miss  Charlotte  F.  Anderson, 
a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Champaign,  and  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Anderson.  lie  and  his  wife 
both  belong  to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church, 
and,  in  his  political  affiliations,  he  is  a  Reiniblican, 
having  supported  that  party  since  he  attained  his 
majority.  Soci.ally,  Mr.  P\agerburg  is  a  Knight 
Templar  M.ason,  holding  membership  with  Paxton 
Lodge  No.  416,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter  No. 
113,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery  No.  38, 
K.  T.  He  also  belongs  to  Paxton  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  is  one  of  the  live  young  business  men  of  Pax- 
ton, has  a  well-stocked  and  tasty  store  and  is 
building  up  a  prosperous  and  increasing  trade, 
which  he  well  merits. 


'  ^AUL  KOESTNER,  deceased,   was  for   some 

Jl)  3'ears  a  well-known  and   prominent   farmer 

^    of  Ford  County,  and  it  is  but  meet  that  this 

I  \  sketch  of  his  life  be  given  in  the  history  of 
his  adopted  county.  He  was  a  native  of  Bavaria, 
Germ.any,  born  on  the  20th  of  August,  1851,  and 
was  one  of  eight  children  whose  paren ts, .lohu  and 
Catherine  Koestner,  where  also  of  German  birth. 
Our  subject  spent  his  early  boyhood  d.ays  in  his 
native  land  and  in  1866,  when  a  lad  of  fifteen 
years,  came  to  America.  Crossing  the  ocean,  he 
Landed  at  New  York  City,  continuing  his  Westward 
journey  until  he  arrived  in  Henry,  Marshall 
County,  111.,  where  he  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
farm  hand,  working  by  the  month.  He  there 
spent  several  years  and  in  1871  came  to  Ford 
County,  where  he  continued  to  make  his  iiomc  un- 


244 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


til  his  death.  For  two  .years,  he  continued  to 
work  upon  a  farm  by  the  month  and  then  rented 
land  both  in  Wall  and  Peacli  Orchard  Townships. 
He  also  gave  considerable  attention  to  stock-raising 
and  it  was  while  on  his  wa}'  to  Chicago  with  stock 
that  he  met  liis  death  in  a  railroad  accident  on  the 
nth  of  .lanuar}',  1888.  He  was  then  but  in  the 
prime  of  life  and  his  loss  was  a  deep  blow  to  his 
family  and  friends.  His  remains  were  brought 
back  to  Ford  County  and  interred  in  Melvin 
Cemetery.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Demf)crat  and  was 
a  worthy  and  respected  citizen  of  the  community. 
The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  iNIrs.  Koestner 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Jliss  Fannie  Holmes, 
daughter  of  W.  B.  and  Eliza  (Wrenn)  Holmes,  who 
were  tiie  first  white  settlers  to  make  a  permanent 
location  in  Peach  Orcliard  Township.  A  sketch  of 
their  lives  is  given  on  another  page  of  this  work. 
Mrs.  Koestner  was  the  first  child  born  in  that 
township,  and  she  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  her  marriage  on  the  23d  of  March,  1881. 
By  this  union  were  born  three  cliildien,  two  of 
whom  are  j'ct  living:  Frankie  and  William,  who 
make  their  home  with  their  mother.  Henry,  the 
eldest,  died  August  22,  1884.  Mrs.  Koestner,  since 
her  husband's  deatli,  has  removed  to  Melvin, 
where  she  opened  a  boot  and  shoe  store  which  she 
still  carries  on.  She  is  a  lady  of  good  liusiness 
ability,  characterized  by  industry  and  enterprise, 
and  in  her  commercial  efforts  is  meeting  with  good 
success  which  she  justly  deserves. 


W|  AMES  HOCK,  a  pioneer  of  the  territorj-  now 
comprising  Ford  County,  who  dates  his 
first  coming  here  from  1852,  and  perma- 
nently settled  at  what  is  now  the  city  of  Pax- 
ton  in  the  winter  of  1853-4,  was  born  in  Fountain 
County,  Ind.,  November  5,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  and  Amy  (Leatherman)  Hock.  His  father 
was  twice  married  and  James  was  the  youngest  of 
the  second  family  of  children.  There  were  eight 
children  in  all  who  grew  to  mature  years.  Mr. 
Hock,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  dur- 


ing his  childhood  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Preble  County,  Ohio.  In  the  Buckeye  State,  he 
was  married  and  then  took  up  his  residence  in 
Fountain  County,  Ind.,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days,  dying  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
years.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  and  died  in  middle  life. 

In  1852,  James  Hock  came  to  Illinois  to  what  is 
now  Ford  County,  but  made  no  permanent  settle- 
ment. The  following  summer  he  returned  to  Ind- 
iana and,  in  the  spring  of  1853,  we  once  more  find 
him  in  Illinois.  During  the  greater  part  of  the 
succeeding  summer,  he  was  employed  in  hauling 
timber  for  bridge  and  culvert  building  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad  through  Iroquois  County, 
and  also  engaged  at  farm  work.  In  the  winter  of 
1853-4,  he  returned  to  Ford  County  and  made  his 
home  a  mile  from  Prairie  City,  now  Paxton.  For 
a  while  he  rented  land  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. A  few  j'ears  later,  he  removed  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Danville,  where  he  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits. 

On  the  27tli  of  March,  1859,  in  Prairie  City,  Mr. 
Hock  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cordelia 
Day,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Peggy  (Puviance) 
Day.  Siie  was  born  in  Preltle  Count}-,  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1851  vvith  her  par- 
ents, the  family  settling  in  Paxton  in  the  summer 
of  1854.  A  sketch  of  her  father  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mr.  Hock  have  two  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  a  daughter:  Clara,  now  the  wife 
of  George  Laybourn,  a  resident  of  Duluth,  Minn., 
and  Ross,  who  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
in  Peoria. 

In  1866,  Mr.  Hock  purchased  a  quarter-section  of 
land  on  section  34,  township  of  Wall,  Ford 
County,  adjoining  the  north  line  of  Patton  Town- 
ship, and  situated  about  four  miles  northwest  of 
the  city  of  Paxton,  which  he  still  owns  and  which 
is  one  of  the  best  improved  and  most  valucil  farms 
of  Ford  County.  There  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising  until  1871,  when  he  removed  to 
Paxton  and  engaged  in  the  live-stock  business, 
continuing  operations  in  that  line  very  successfully 
for  twelve  years.  Later  he  was  engaged  in  the 
grain  and  farm  implement  business  and  for  a  time 
was  in  the  groceiy  business  in  Paxton,  also  was 


c^tr-^  ^^^^^^^-^^^JL 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


247 


owner  of  a  lumber  yard  for  a  year.  At  the  pres- 
ent time,  he  is  practically  living  a  retired  life,  at- 
Icniling  only  to  the  care  of  his  property.  Himself 
and  wife  are  miimbcrs  of  the  Congregational  Church 
and  tlicir  daughter  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and,  in  politics,  Mr.  Hock  is  a  Republican, 
having  supported  that  party  siuce  he  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  .John  C.  Fremont.  AVilh  the 
exception  of  an  interval  of  two  years,  he  has  made 
his  home  in  Ford  County  since  coming  here  forty 
j-ears  ago,  and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  integrity 
of  character  and  the  upright  and  manly  spirit  that 
has  always  marked  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


■^ 


^^- 


-h 


SHO.MAS  M<  NEISII.  who  was  one  of  the 
most  (irorainent  citizens  of  Roberts,  was 
born  in  Dumbartonshire,  Scotland,  March  2i 
184.S.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and  Jean  (Dun- 
can) McNeish.  His  father  was  a  boot  and  shoe- 
)naker  by  trade  and  was  an  excellent  workman. 
He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1832,  and,  after  three 
years  spent  in  Penusj'lvania,  came  to  Ford  County, 
where  he  [lurchased  eighty  acres  of  raw  laud  and 
made  a  farm.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Scotland,  and  joined  the 
United  Brethren  in  Ford  County.  They  were  up- 
right citizens,  who  had  the  respect  of  all.  Mr. 
McNeish  was  laid  to  rest  in  Benton  Harbor,  IMich., 
and  his  wife  was  buried  in  Roberts.  They  had  two 
sons  and  three  daughters:  Margaret,  wife  of  Mr. 
Watt,  a  retired  boot  and  shoe  merchant,  of  Scot- 
land; Marian,  wife  of  John  Mason,  of  Pennsylva- 
nia; and  Thomas,  of  this  sketch. 

Our  subject  was  twent^'-one  jears  of  age  wlien 
he  came  to  Ford  County.  He  followed  farming 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  when  Roberts  was  laid 
out,  purchased  a  lot  in  the  village  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes.  He  afterward 
engaged  in  the  harness  business.  He  commenced 
life  for  himself  empty-handed,  and,  by  his  persis- 
tent efforts,  acquired  a  comfortable  competence. 
His  example  is  well  worthy  of  emulation. 

Mr.  McNeish  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Isabella  Burnett,  a  native  of   Dumfriesshire,  Scot- 


land. Their  union  was  celebrated  September  1, 
1873,  .and  unto  them  have  been  born  nine  children, 
three  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  three  are 
now  deceased:  Jeanne  carries  on  the  harness  and 
shoe  store,  with  the  aid  of  Frank  L.  Hanson.  She 
was  educated  in  the  graded  schools  of  Benton 
Harbor,  Mich.,  and  of  Roberts.  With  her  father, 
she  took  a  trip  to  England  and  Scotland,  in  June, 
1890.  They  sailed  from  New  York  to  (ilasgow, 
and  went  to  Cumbernauld,  the  old  homestead  of 
Mr.  McNeish.  They  remained  in  Europe  until  the 
following  September,  and  visited  Edinburg,  (il.as- 
gow,  the  Trossachs,  Dumbarton  Castle,  Sterling, 
Perth,  Rothesay,  Inverness,  Ben  Nevis,  Loch  Lo- 
mond, Ellen's  Isle,  Ayr,  Greenock,  and  Paisley. 
Over  many  miles  of  thLs  delightful  country  they 
journeyed  on  foot,  feasting  on  the  beautiful  Scotch 
scenery.  They  also  visited  the  home  of  Robert 
Burns,  and  the  great  exposition  in  Edinburg,  and 
spent  eight  days  in  the  city  of  London,  where  they 
saw  the  Cr3'Stal  Palace,  Hampton  Court  Palace,  the 
London  Docks,  Tower  of  London,  Westminster 
Abbey,  Houses  of  Parliament,  Cleopatra's  Needle, 
the  Sphinxes,  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  and  Prince  Al- 
bert's monument  in  Hyde  Park,  which  cost  £1,- 
000,000.  They  also  visited  the  Zoological  Gar- 
den, the  British  Museum,  and  Regent's  Park.  In 
September  they  returned  from  Glasgow  as  passen- 
gers on  board  the  "State  of  Indiana."  On  the 
return  trip  they  encountered  a  severe  storm,  but 
at  length  reached  New  York  in  safety.  The  other 
members  of  the  family  are  Mary,  Harris,  Agnes, 
John  Wilson,  and  Ellen  Isabella,  all  of  whom  are 
at  school,  except  the  latter,  who  completes  the 
family. 

Mr.  McNeish  was  a  Democrat  and  took  quite  an 
interest  in  political  affairs.  He  was  one  of  the 
honored  members  of  the  Town  Council  in  Roberts, 
and  socially,  he  was  a  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor.  He  was  accidentally  killed  by 
a  sk}' rocket,  July  4,  1891,  and  his  loss  was  de- 
plored by  all  who  knew  him,  lor  he  w.as  not  onl\  a 
valued  citizen,  Ijut  was  an  entertaining  companion 
and  faithful  friend,  lie  was  one  of  the  kindest 
and  best  of  iiusbands  and  his  place  in  the  family 
circle  can  never  be  filled.  We  here  ipiote  the 
words  which  were  often  upon  his  lips: 


248 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


"Again,  the  band  of  commerce  was  designed 

To  associate  all  the  branches  of  mankind; 
And  if  a  boundless  plenty  be  the  robe, 
Trade  is  the  golden  girdle  of  the  globe. 
Wise  to  promote  whatever  end  He  means, 
God  opens  fruitful  Nature's  various  scenes; 
Each  climate  needs  what  other  climes  produce, 
And  offers  something  to  the  general  use; 
Nj  land  but  listens  to  the  common  call 
And  in  return  receives  supply  from  all. 
This  general  intcrcoui-se  and  mutual  aid 
Cheer  what  were  else  a  universal  shade. 
Calls  Nature  from  her  ivy-mantled  den. 
And  softens  human  rock-work  into  men." 

Mrs.  McNeish  still  carries  on  the  business  in 
company  with  her  daughter.  .She  has  a  pleasant 
home  in  Roberts  and  is  one  of  its  most  estimable 
ladies,  being  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who  know 
her. 


M.  THOMPSON,  a  prominent  merchant 
of  Piper  City,  deals  in  dry  goods,  grocer- 
l  '  ies,  boots  and  shoes,  and  has  one  of  the 
neatest  and  best-appointed  stores  of  the 
place.  He  was  born  in  Juniata  Countj-,  Pa.,  and  Is 
a  son  of  R.  N.  and  Rebecca  (Thompson)  Thomp- 
son, the  former  born  in  Juniata  County,  and  the 
latter  in  Chillicotlie.  Ohio.  The  Thompson  family 
was  founded  in  America  by  a  native  of  Scotland, 
in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  served  in  the  Re- 
volutionary War.  R.  N.  Thompson  was  a  farmer, 
and,  in.  1851,  emigrated  to  Hlinois,  locating  in 
Warren  County.  He  came  to  Piper  City  in  1866, 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  this  localitj'  until  his 
death.  He  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-third  Illinois  In- 
fantry for  the  late  war,  but  was  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  disal)ility.  In  connection  with  Mr.  Lewis, 
he  served  as  land-agent  for  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  was 
among  the  first  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  Repub- 
lican part}-.  He  held  membership  with  the  United 
Presbjterian  Church.  His  wife  is  still  living,  and 
makes  her  home  in  Colorado  with  her  son. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  the  following 
children:  A.  M.,  of  this  sketch;  Mary  E.,  who  died 
iu  Piper  City;  Rebecca  J.,  wife  of  J.  J.  Greenlee,  of 


Kansas;  Mrs.  Sarah  I.  Williamson,  also   living  in 

Kansas;  Thomas  S.,  who  served  for  a  short  time  in 
the  Sevent>' -seventh  Illinois  Regiment  during  the 
late  war;  Mrs.  Florence  A.  Shotwell.  who  makes 
her  home  in  Kansas;  Julia  A.,  who  went  with  her 
mother  to  Colorado  for  her  health;  David  S.,  who 
is  engaged  in  business  in  Greeley,  Col.;  and  Ida, 
a  teacher  of  Kansas. 

AVe  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  AV'arren 
County,  111.,  and  acquired  a  good  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  Monmouth  College.  In  1861, 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  left  school  to  enlist  in 
his  country's  service  as  a  member  of  Company  I, 
Fiftieth  Illinois  Infantry.  The  regiment  assembled 
at  (juinc}',  and  was  sent  into  Missouri.  The  lirst 
engagement  in  which  Mr.  Thompson  participated 
was  at  Ft.  Henry.  This  was  followed  by  the 
battles  of  Ft.  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Corinth,  Chattanooga,  Rome,  Resaca,  and  Altoona 
Pass.  He  saw  the  signals  which  Gen.  Sherman 
made  to  "Hold  the  Fort,"  and  with  him  made  the 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  The  last  engage- 
ment in  which  he  took  part  was  the  battle  of  Ben- 
tonville,  N.  C.  He  then  marched  through  Peteis- 
burg  and  Richmond  to  Washington,  where  he 
participated  in  the  Grand  Review.  His  term  of 
service  having  expired,  he  then  re-enlisted  and 
served  for  four  years  as  Corporal  and  Sergeant. 
He  was  honoral)ly  discharged  in  Springlield,  in 
1865. 

Immediately  upon  the  close  of  tlie  war.  Mr. 
Thompson  returned  home,  and,  in  1866,  came  to 
Ford  County,  where  he  embarkeil  in  farming  in 
Brcnton  Township,  one  mile  south  of  l'ii>er  Cily. 
He  secured  an  unimproved  tract  of  laud  and  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation  until  1869,  when  he  began 
business  with  his  brother-in-law,  Jasper  J.  Greenlee, 
in  a  restaurant.  A  few  years  later,  he  bought  out 
his  partner's  interest,  and  continued  alone.  For 
the  past  ten  years  he  has  been  proprietor  of  a  dry- 
goods  and  grocery  store.  In  the  meantime,  he  has 
spent  three  years  in  Dakota,  but  the  business  was 
carried  on  by  his  brother.  In  Dakota,  he  took  up 
aGovernn  ent  claim  in  the  Red  River  Valley,  which 
he  still  holds.  He  began  business  with  the  small 
capital  which   he  had  saved  iu  the  army  and  has 


(CC/tO^^nf 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


249 


steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until  he  is  now  a 
prosijerous  merchant  doing  a  thriving  business. 

In  1876,  Mr.  Thompson  married  Miss  Lizzie 
.Johnson,  their  union  lieing  celebrated  in  lilooni- 
ington,  Tnd.,  her  native  city.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
David  and  Jlary  Johnson.  Her  father  is  now  de- 
ceased, but  her  mother  is  .<tlll  living.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  are  ))otii  members  of, the  United  Pres- 
byterian Church,  with  which  he  has  been  connected 
since  its  organization,  and  has  held  the  office  of 
Trustee.  He  cast  his  first  Prcsiden  tial  vote  for  U.  S. 
Grant  in  1868,  and  was  a  Republican  until  1884, 
since  whicli  time  he  has  exercised  his  right  of 
fi-anehise  in  support  of  the  Prohibition  party.  He 
is  as  ready  to  support  all  causes  of  reform  as  he 
was  in  the  days  of  the  Rebellion.  He  made  a  good 
record  as  a  soldier,  which  is  e(iualled  liy  his  record 
as  a  citizen  and  business  man. 


>jij=^' 1)(;AR  NORMAN  .STEVENS,  the  efficient 
fe  and  popular  Postmaster  of  Paxton  since 
JL  jj^  January  18,  1890,  is  a  son  and  partner  of 
Hon.  N.  E.  Stevens,  publisher,  editor  and  propri- 
etor of  the  Paxton  Record,  the  leading  Republican 
paper  of  Ford  County.  (See  the  sketch  of  Hon. 
N.  E.  Stevens,  elsewhere  in  this  work.) 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  claims  IMinnesota  as 
the  Stale  of  his  nativity,  having  been  born  in 
Wabasha  County,  on  the  25th  of  July,  1858.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Adah  Hulda  Clark. 
t]dgar  N.  received  his  rudimentary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Paxton,  during  the  years  1866 
to  1874,  inclusive.  From  that  time,  he  was  a  student 
of  the  Paxton  Higii  School  and  graduated  with  hon- 
ors, after  a  three-years'  course,  in  the  Cla.ss  of  '77, 
being  elected  valedictorian  of  his  class.  This  was 
the  lirst  class  to  graduate  from  the  High  School,  the 
Principal  at  that  time  being  Prof.  T.  L.  Evans,  and 
the  Trustees,  Col.  Charles  Bogardus,  George  W. 
Cruzen  and  W.  15.  Travis.  On  leaving  the  High 
School,  Mr.  Stevens  entered  Knox  Academy, 
where  he  remained  to  complete  the  classical  fresh- 
man year  of  Knox  College,  in  the  spring  of  1879, 


after  which  he  took  one  term  at  the  Illinois  State 
University  at  Champaign,  when  he  was  forced  by 
failing  health  to  discontinue  his  studies. 

Mr.  Stevens  then  entered  his  father's  employ' 
in  the  office  of  the  Paxton  Record,  having  previ- 
ously served  his  apprenticeship  while  attending 
school,  and,  after  a  year  and  three  months'  service, 
was  admitted  to  partnership  in  the  business,  on 
the  30th  of  March,  1881.  He  still  maintains  his 
connection  with  the  paper.  While  in  the  Record 
olHce,  Mr.  Stevens  edited  the  exchange  column, 
was  local  editor  several  3'ears  and  obtained  a  fair 
knowledge  of  journalistic  work.  At  the  same  time, 
he  waited  on  customers,  read  proofs,  kept  the  ollice 
books,  made  contracts  and,  in  the  absence  of  the 
senior  partner,  had  the  management  of  the  ollice. 
Soon  after  becoming  a  partner,  he  joined  the  Illi- 
nois State  Press  Association,  of  which  body  he  is 
yet  a  member.  During  the  session  of  the  Thirty- 
fifth  General  Assembly,  Mr.  Stevens  was  chosen 
Clerk  of  the  House  Committees  of  Public  Charities 
and  Libraries,  by  recommendation  of  Representa- 
tive Charles  Bogardus.  He  was  elected  Clerk  of 
the  Senate  Committee  on  Judiciaiy,  of  which  Sen- 
ator Hadley  was  Chairman,  and  of  Agriculture, 
Horticulture  and  Farm  Drainage,  Senator  Charles 
Bogardus,  Chairman,  during  the  Thirty-sixth  Gen- 
eral Assembly. 

Since  his  appointment  as  Postmaster,  Mr.  Stev- 
ens has  refitted  and  remodeled  the  post-office  fix- 
tures and  facilities  and  has  furnished  a  good  bur- 
glar-proof safe,  the  whole  improvements  costing 
about  $850.  The  business  of  the  office  has  steadily 
increased  since  the  present  incumbent  took  posses- 
sion. The  business  for  the  fiscal  year  of  1889,  ex- 
clusive of  the  money  order  department,  was  84,188; 
for  1890,  it  was  $4,536  and  for  1891,  $5,404,  the 
increase  the  first  year  being  $347  and  the  second 
year,  $868.  During  the  fall  of  1891,  Mr.  Stevens 
inspected  the  various  post-offices  in  the  county, 
by  virtue  of  his  position  as  Postmaster  at  the 
county  seat. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  since  fourteen  years  of  age,  was 
for  a  short  time  a  member  of  the  First  Church  of 
Christ  in  Galesburg,  and  has  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  church  and   Suiidaj-scliool   work,      lie  is 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  present  »Secretary  of  the  Ford  County  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  Union  and  was  substitute  Delegate 
to  tlie  International  Christian  Endeavor  Conven- 
tion in  Minneapolis  in  the  summer  of  1891.  Mr. 
Stevens  is  a  member  of  Paxton  Lodge  No.  416, 
A.  F.  &.  A.  M.,  of  which  he  has  served  as  Secretarj' 
for  two  terms.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  Paxton 
Camp  No.  259,  M.  W.  A.,  and  has  held  the  ofllce 
of  Clerk  in  that  order  two  terms. 

Since  the  fall  of  18U5,  Mr.  Stevens  has  been  a 
resident  of  Paxton  and  enjoys  an  extended  ac- 
quaintance in  tliat  city  and  the  county  at  large. 
His  course  at  school  and  college  was  distinguished 
by  studious  habits,  success  in  examination  and 
general  good  scholarsliip.  He  is  a  fine  penman,  and 
a  methodical,  exact  and  neat  book-keeper.  His 
books  at  tiie  [)ost-olHce  are  fine  specimens  of  cor- 
rect, plain  and  tasty  book-keeping,  and  his  admin- 
istration of  the  ottice  has  been  most  satisfactory  to 
the  postal  authorities  and  the  patrons  of  the  office. 


j  AMES  WARREN,  who  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Pii)er  City,  successfully  engaged 
in  farmi^ig  for  a  number  of  years  in  this 
county.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  England  has  furnished  to  this  community.  He 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Munden,  Norfolk,  on  the 
7tli  of  March,  1829,  and  w.as  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of 
that  community  and  were  members  of  the  English 
Church.  His  father,  Richard  AVarren,  who  followed 
farming  for  a  livelihood,  died  April  1,  1889,  at  the 
age  of  eight^'-four  ^uars.  Of  the  family,  Samuel 
and  Annie  are  now  deceased;  .lames  is  the  next 
younger;  Harriet  and  George  are  also  deceased; 
and  Eliza  is  living  in  England. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  boyhood  of  our  subject,  lie  had  no  special 
privileges;  indeed,  his  educational  advantages  were 
very  limited.  He  worked  upon  the  farm  until 
about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  then  enlisted  in 
the  Royal  Artillery  service  of  his  native  land  as  a 
private.  The  troops  were  first  stationed  at  Wool- 
wich,  p;ngland,    where    they    remained    eighteen 


months,  and  the  next  three  years  were  passed  in 
Birmingham.  Another  year  was  then  spent  in 
Woolwich,  after  which  they,  were  at  Gibraltar  for 
five  years.  Returning  then  to  Woolwich,  Mr. 
Warren  joined  the  Royal  Horse  Artillery,  and 
went  to  the  Crimea  in  the  spring  of  1854.  The 
first  battle  in  which  he  particii)ated  was  at  Alma, 
and  he  witnessed  the  famous  charge  of  the  Light 
Brigade  at  Balaklava,  made  immortal  by  Tenni- 
son's  poem.  He  next  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Inkermau  and  the  siege  of  Seb.asto[)ol,  where  he 
served  as  a  gunner.  His  batterj-  lost  fifty  men,  and 
our  subject  had  his  coat-sleeve  shot  away  by  a  ritle 
ball.  At  the  close  of  the  Crimean  War,  he  re- 
turned to  England,  and  then  went  to  Gibraltar, 
where  he  remained  for  three  3'ears.  He  was  for 
thirteen  years  in  the  service,  and  received  his  dis- 
charge in  July,  1858.  By  the  Governor  of  Gib- 
raltar he  was  presented  with  a  silver  medal  in  com- 
memoration of  his  services,  and  this  memento  is 
by  him  highly  cherished. 

The  year  1858  also  witnessed  the  emigration  of 
Mr.  Warren  to  the  United  States.  He  sailed  from 
Gibraltar,  and  a  month  later  reached  New  York. 
He  then  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  employed  in  marble  works  of  that  city. 
He  went  to  Ohio  in  1860,  and,  after  two  years  spent 
in  farming  in  the  Buckeye  State,  came  by  team  to 
Ford  County,  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  wild 
land  in  Brenton  Township,  upon  which  not  a  fur- 
row had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made. 

On  the  8th  of  .lanuary,  1849,  in  his  native  land, 
Mr.  Warren  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Snook,  who  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Eng- 
land, and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
Snook.  She  was  with  him  all  through  his  army 
life  after  their  marriage.  They  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  have  reared  an  adopted  son.  His 
name  was  Albert  Finley,  but  he  now  bears  the 
name  of  John  Albert  Warren.  He  was  a  soldier's 
orphan,  and,  at  the  age  of  four,  came  to  live  with 
our  subject  and  his  wife.  Upon  the  farm  he  was 
reared  to  manhood,  and  acquired  his  education  in 
the  public  schools.  He  is  now  engaged  in  black- 
smithing  in  Chicago.  He  married  Delia  Munson, 
whose  father  is  a  farmer  of  Brenton  Township,  and 
they  have  two  little  daughters. 


-4^^^ 


K 
'S 


^^, 


^  W^  m 


r 


^T^C^U^O^  ^JL  C^, 


OuC, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPPnCAL  RECORD. 


255 


For  a.  number  of  years,  Mr.  Warren  gave  his  en- 
tire time  and  attention  to  tlie  development  of  his 
land  and  transformed  it  into  a  rich  and  fertile 
farm,  whicli  yielded  him  a  golden  tribute  for  the 
care  and  labor  he  bestowed  upon  it.  lie  came 
here  with  only  S50  and  his  team  and  wagon,  but 
now  has  a  handsome  competence,  and  owes  no  man 
a  cent.  Since  1881,  he  has  resided  in  Piper  City, 
where  he  has  a  comfortable  home,  the  hospitable 
doors  of  which  are  ever  open  for  the  reception  of 
the  many  friends  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren.  In 
politics,  be  has  been  a  Republican  since  he  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and 
has  frequently  served  as  delegate  to  the  conven- 
tions of  his  party.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare 
aud  upbuilding  of  the  comnuuiity  and  in  all  i)OS- 
sible  ways  has  aided  in  the  advancement  of  the 
county's  interests. 


"^^ 


z^ 


ROF.  KOSCIE  CL1ISE15ELL  m.-ikes  his 
home  in  Melvin.  J.  G.  Holland  truthfully 
says  tbat  the  teacher's  professi(jn  is  one  of 
the  most  ennobling.  In  presenting  tiie 
life  records  of  those  who  have  been  conspicuous  in 
the  educational  circles  of  Little  Ford,  that  of  Kos- 
cie  Clinebcll  should  not  be  omitted,  for  he  is  well 
and  favorably  known  as  one  of  Ford  County's 
most  successful  teachers,  having  followed  that  pro- 
fession in  Ford  County  from  the  year  1875  until 
1889,  inclusive. 

Mr.  Clinebell  is  a  native  of  West  Virginia.  He 
was  born  in  Monroe  Count}',  Ma}'  24,  1856,  and  is 
the  eldest  of  a  family  of  three  children,  born  unto 
John  and  Minerva  C.  (Alford)  Clinebell,  natives  of 
Virginia.  His  lirother,  De  Witt  Clinton,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Bloomington,  111.,  living  with  his  mother. 
He  IS  now  one  of  the  head  salesmen  in  the  firm  of 
Pixley  ik  Co.,  the  largest  clothing  firm  in  the  cilj' 
of  Bloomington.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  McLean  County,  and  the  graded 
schools  of  Noiinal,  111.  He  is  a  sterling  young  man 
11 


of  business  tact  and  ability.  He  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pytliias  of  Bloomington,  and  is  a  stanch 
Democrat  in  politics.  The  only  daughter  in  the 
Clinebell  family,  Laura  Josephine,  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  for  a  teacher,  and  resides  in 
Danvers  Township,  McLean  County. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  one  of  the  men 
who  died  in  the  service  of  the  South  during  the 
great  Rebellion.  The  motlier  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven  years.  She  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Virginia,  having  been  a  student  in  Staun- 
ton Seminary,  of  Staunton,  Va. 

The  first  eight  years  of  Mr.  Clinel)eirs  life  were 
spent  in  the  State  of  his  nativity.  While  a  small 
boy,  he  was  stricken  with  typhoid  fever  and  white 
swelling,  which  cri])pled  him  for  life,  but  the  All- 
Wise  Being  gave  him  a  fertile  brain  and  an  in- 
domitable will-power,  which  has  made  him  the 
successful  man  he  is  to-daj'.  His  education  was 
commenced  in  the  typical  log  school-house  so  fa- 
miliar to  many  of  the  Southerners.  It  was  a  sub- 
scription school,  for  the  free-school  s^'stem  was  not 
then  known  in  the  South.  During  the  war,  the 
family  lost  all  of  their  property  as  well  as  the  fa- 
ther. The  mother  and  grandmother,  with  the  three 
little  children,  came  to  Illinois  in  1866,  aud  resided 
for  a  year  in  Fairbury,  where  our  subject  had  a 
chance  of  attending  the  first  graded  free  school  he 
ever  saw.  Thence  the}'  removed  to  Sac  City,  Iowa, 
and  after  two  years  returned  to  McLean  County, 
111.,  where  they  were  almost  penniless.  The  chil- 
dren were  scattered  among  entire  strangers,  and 
our  subject  found  in  William  Paul,  of  Stanford, 
111.,  a  true  friend.  He  made  his  home  at  the  house 
of  that  gentleman  for  about  two  years,  aud  at- 
tended the  district  schools.  He  then  obtained  a 
second-grade  certificate  and  secured  a  summer 
school  in  Mackinaw  Township,  Tazewell  County, 
at  125  per  month,  the  first  money  he  ever  earned. 
He  made  a  success  of  his  first  school,  and  was  re- 
engaged for  the  fall  and  winter  terms  at  $33.33^ 
per  month. 

Mr.  Clinebell  saved  his  money,  and  the  spring 
of  1872  found  him  in  Normal,  111.,  where  he  rented 
a  little  liouse,  and  his  mother,  brother  and  himself 
went  to  house-keeping,  and  Koscie  entered  the 
State  Normal  I'nivcrsity.     His  resources  afterward 


256 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


gave  out,  and  he  was  compelled  to  quit  school  and 
go  to  teaching.  He  then  attended  school  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching  alternately  until  1875,  when  he 
came  to  Ford  County,  where  he  engaged  as  a 
teacher  near  Melvin.  After  two  years'  successful 
teaching,  he  assumed  the  Principalship  of  the  Mel- 
vin public  schools,  and  retained  that  position  until 
1881.  During  his  career  as  teacher  in  Melvin,  his 
school  took  fourteen  premiums,  and  the  sweep- 
stake premium  in  the  County  Educational  Exhibit 
at  the  Ford  County  Fair. 

On  August  16,  1881,  Mr.  Clinebell  celct)ratcd  his 
marriage  with  ]\Iiss  Ida  Mae  Marsh,  a  native  of  La- 
conia,  Harrison  County,  Ind.,  born  August  16, 
1862,  and  a  daughter  of  Jesse  P.  and  Margaret 
(Fowler)  Marsh,  natives  of  Indiana.  The  lady  was 
educated  in  the  graded  schools,  and  is  well  read. 
She  has  decided  skill  and  talent  in  painting  and 
artistic  needle- work.  She  has  been  one  of  Ford 
County's  brightest  primary  teachers,  and  was  her 
husband's  assistant  for  four  years  in  the  Sibley  pub- 
lic schools.  By  their  union  were  born  two  chil- 
dren, both  daughters.  The  eldest  is  Edith  Maud, 
a  bright,  winning  little  miss  of  nine  summers,  who 
is  now  a  pupil  in  the  Melvin  schools.  She  has  pro- 
nounced talent  in  music,  and  is  bright  in  her  schol- 
astic work.  Ethel  Inez  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
months  and  twentj'-two  days. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clinebell  assumed  charge  of  the 
Sibley  public  schools  September  5,  1881,  and  he 
was  for  eight  years  Principal  of  this  excellent 
school,  under  the  efficient  Board  of  Directors,  con- 
sisting of  W.  A.  Picket,  Eli  Harvey  and  Swen  An- 
derson. On  the  4th  of  December,  1882,  the  beau- 
tiful and  imposing  Sibley  school  building,  erected 
at  a  cost  of  14,500,  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  E.  C. 
Hewitt,  President  of  the  State  Normal  University, 
of  Normal,  111.  In  this  school  is  where  Mr.  Cline- 
bell made  his  mark  as  a  teacher  and  manager  of 
schools.  While  Principal  of  these  schools,  he  es- 
tablished a  system  of  practical  business  education, 
which  was  a  factor  of  great  importance  to  the  pu- 
pils as  well  as  the  parents.  His  school  competed 
six  years  out  of  the  eight  in  the  State  Educational 
Exhibit  at  the  Illinois  State  Fair,  and  the  school 
was  awarded  second  sweep-stakes  of  the  State  Fair 
Educational    Exhibit,    besides     152    as    premium 


money,  fourteen  ribbons  and  tvvo  first  diplomas  of 
the  State  Exhibit.  Between  1886  and  188;),  with 
the  aid  of  his  teachers,  pupils  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Sib- 
ley, Mr.  Clinebell  founded  a  school  library,  con- 
taining five  hundred  and  seven  volumes  of  the 
choicest  literature.  Hon.  Hiram  Sibley  was  a  par- 
ticular friend  of  Prof.  Clinebell,  and  when  visiting 
in  Great  Britiau  and  Europe,  he  secured  a  valuable 
collection  of  engravings  of  historical  scenes,  which 
he  presented  framed  to  the  school.  Tiiisis  said  to 
be  the  finest  collection  of  the  kind  in  Central  Illi- 
nois. Through  Mr.  Sibley's  influence,  Mr.  Lamb, 
of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  presented  the  school  with  a  J 
$125  outfit  in  microscopy.  ■ 

After  Mr.  Clinebell  had  decided  to  quit  teach- 
ing, his  friends  advised  him  to  try  for  a  position 
as  .Superintendent  of  some  of  the  Governmental 
schools.  This  he  did,  and  his  friends  in  Central  Illi- 
nois, and  the  press  of  Bloomington  and  Ford 
County,  strongly'  endorsed  him  for  the  position. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  sent  to  United 
States  Senator  S.  M.  Cullom,  and  Congressman  L. 
E.  Payson,froin  the  prominent  citizens  of  Faxton: 

To  the  Hon.  S.  M.  Cullom  and  Hon.  L.  E.  Pay- 
son: 

Gentlemen: — Prof.  Koscie  Clinebell,  of  Sibley, 
Ford  Count\',  111.,  is  an  applicant  for  the  position 
of  Superintendent  of  a  Governmental  School.  We 
have  personally  known  Prof.  Clinebell  for  many 
years,  and  know  him  to  be  a  thorough  and  success- 
ful teacher,  a  gentleman  of  high  character  and  in- 
tegrity, a  thorough  Republican,  a  most  desirable  ^ 
citizen,  and  one  in  whom  we  have  entire  confi-  ? 
dence.  IMr.  Clinebell  will,  in  the  position  to  which 
he  has  aspired,  do  credit  to  himself,  his  friends  and 
his  party.  (Signed  by  fifteen  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Paxton,  111.) 

To  the  above,  Judge  AValter  Q.  Gresham,  a  friend 
of  the  family,  added  these  words: 

Believing  Prof.  Clinebell  to  be  cai)able,  honest 
and  deserving,  I  take  pleasure  in  joining  in  the 
above  recommendations.  W.  Q.  Gkeshaji, 

Circuit   Judge  of    the  United    States  Circuit 
Court  of  Northern  Illinois. 

Prof.  Clinebell  also  received  recommendations 
from  W.  O.  Davis,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Bloomington  Pantagraph,  of  Bloomington,  111.; 
also  from  Dr.  Richard  Edwards,  State  Superinten- 
dent of  public  schools,  Dr.  Seliin  H.  Peabody,  Re- 
gent of    the  University  of  Illinois,  and  a  strong 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


257 


endorsement  from  Gov.  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  beside  a 
letter  from  the  faculty  of  the  State  Xonnal  Uni- 
versity, and  Prof.  Clinebell's  IJoard  of  Education 
in  Sibley.  His  appointment  was  duly  recognized, 
and  he  was  tendered  by  the  Commissioner  of  In- 
dian Atfairs,  lion.  John  Oberly,  the  .Superinten- 
dency  of  the  San  Carlos  schools  in  Arizona,  but  he 
preferred  to  wait  until  the  next  appointment, 
which  woidd  include  his  wife,  and  in  the  mean- 
time he  entered  the  biographical  field  with  the 
Goodspeed  Building  Company,  and  was  upon  the 
staff  of  its  writers  in  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Iowa, 
Louisiana.  Mississippi  and  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of 
1891,  he  entered  the  field  with  the  Lake  City  Pub- 
lishing Company,  by  which  he  is  now  employed. 

Mr.  Clinebell  is  known  by  his  friends  to  be  an 
indefatigable  worker,  and  is  ever  ready  to  aid  those 
in  distress  and  need  as  far  as  he  is  able.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Re^)ublican,  but  in  local  affairs  aims  to  cast 
his  vote  for  the  man,  rather  than  the  party.  lie 
is  an  honored  member  of  Lodge  No.  17i),  K.  of  P., 
of  Melvin,  and  also  a  member  of  Camp  No.  1,512, 
M.  W.  A.,  of  Buckingham,  111.  Himself  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  E|nscopal  Church, 
and  for  many  years  have  been  connected  with  the 
Sundaj'-school  interests  of  Ford  County.  Prof. 
Clinebell  was  Superintendent  of  the  Methodist 
Sunday-school  in  Sibley  for  several  years,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Teachers'  Associa- 
tion, the  Central  Illinois  Teachers'  Association  and 
the  Teachers'  Association,  of  Ford  County.  Him- 
self and  wife  are  honored  citizens  of  Melvin,  where 
they  have  a  neat  and  pretty  home,  and  this  sketch 
of  these  worthy  people  will  be  read  by  many  who 
know  them  well  and  favorably.  Their  |)ortraits 
appear  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 


^  NOCH  S.  HUNT,  the  original  owner  of  the 
,  ^  town  site  of  Melvin,  and  one  of  the  most 
ij^!^/  successful  farmers  of  Ford  County,  claims 
Illinois  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Marshall  County,  on  the  15tli  of 
October,  1H3.3.  He  is  a  son  of  Cornelius  and  Ann 
(Sidle)  Hunt,  who  were  pioneer  settlers  of  his  na- 


tive county,  and  a  sketch  of  this  worthy  c(iu|ile  is 
given  on  another  (lage  of  this  work.  Our  subject 
was  reared  to  manhood  upon  a  farm,  and  enjoyed 
but  limited  educational  advantages,  as  schools  were 
not  only  few  Init  poor  in  Marshall  County  in  his 
3'outh,  and  his  services  were  reipiired  on  the  farm 
in  assisting  his  father.  When  fourteen  \ears  of 
age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  La  Salle 
County,  where  he  made  his  home  until  coming  to 
Ford  County. 

On  the  21st  of  December,  1854,  in  Lacon,  111., 
Mr.  Hunt  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  jNIary 
Gnffln,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  ^Marshall 
County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Ruth 
Grillin,  who  were  pioneers  of  that  count\-  of  1830, 
having  come  there  from  Pennsylvania.  LTnto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  have  been  born  three  children 
who  are  yet  living  and  they  lost  one.  Esther,  the 
eldest,  is  the  wife  of  C.  B.  Ellis,  a  resident  of  In- 
dependence, Iowa;  Jessie  is  the  widow  of  S.  A. 
Bookwater  and  resides  in  Melvin;  Mary  is  the  wife 
of  W.  P.  Sreve,  a  farmer  of  Peach  Orchard,  and 
William  Wallace  died  in  18G2,  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen mouths. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
in  La  Salle  County  until  1867,  when  he  lemoved 
to  Peach  Orchard  Township,  Ford  County,  and 
purchased  a  large  farm,  one  half  section  of  which 
is  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Melvin.  He 
made  the  original  plat  of  that  village  and  subse- 
quently platted  two  additions  to  the  town.  His  farm 
house  was  situated  near  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  village  plat  and  one  hundied  rods  from  the 
post-office.  There  he  made  his  home  until  1800, 
when  he  purchased  and  removed  to  his  present 
line  residence  to  the  southeast  of  the  depot.  He 
still  has  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  his  orig- 
inal farm  which  he  leases,  besides  fourteen  lots  in 
the  village  of  Melvin,  and  his  wife  owns  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  so  their  aggregate 
possessions  amount  to  six  Inmdred  acres,  all  in 
Peach  Orchard  Township. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Hunt  is  an  out-and-out  Republi- 
can, a  stalwart  supporter  of  that  party's  principles, 
and  has  served  as  Assessor  and  Road  Commissioner 
for  Peach  Orchard  Township,  and  held  the  office  of 
Collector  for  many  years  in  La  Salle  County.     His 


258 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


wife  and  daughters  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  For  a  quarter  of  a  century',  Mr. 
Hunt  has  been  a  resident  of  Ford  County,  and  of 
Peacli  Orchard  Township;  in  fact,  he  was  on  the 
ground  when  the  township  was  set  off  and  organ- 
ized and  is  properly  the  founder  of  tlie  village  of 
Melvin.  His  life  has  been  a  busj'  and  useful  one, 
and  by  untiring  industry,  the  exercise  of  good 
judgment  and  by  strict  integrity  has  succeeded 
in  acquiring  a  valuable  property.  His  success  is 
certainly  well  deserved.  He  has  recently  retired 
from  active  farming  and  is  living  comfortably 
with  his  family  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well-earned 
competence  and  the  kind  regard  of  his  old  neigh- 
bors and  friends. 


-^r 


^.,  BRAM  L.  PHILLIPS,  a  laomiueut  member 
(@i01  of  the  Ford  County  Bar,  and  a  resident  of 
Gibson  City  since  1884,  was  born  in  Put- 
nam County,  111.,  Jul}'  2,  1862,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  and  Martha  A.  (Light)  Phillips. 
His  father  was  born  in  England  in  1820,  and  came 
to  America  when  thirty  years  of  age.  At  first,  he 
made  his  home  near  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Martha  A.  Light,  a  native  of  that  State. 
In  1857,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Putnam  County,  where  he  built  the  first 
steam  sawmill  erected  in  that  county.  He  engaged  in 
milling  until  his  removal  to  Ford  County  in  1867. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  Justices  of  the  Peace  of 
Peach  Orchard  Township,  which  olHce  he  held  un- 
til the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  fall 
of  1874,  his  wife,  the  mother  of  Abram  L..  dying 
about  two  years  previous.  They  were  highl}'  re- 
spected citizens  and  made  many  ft  lends  in  the 
community  where  they  made  their  home. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  covmty  in  childhood,  there 
receiving  his  primary  education.  This  was  supple- 
mented by  a  course  in  the  Wesleyan  University  of 
Bloomington,  111.  He  began  the  study  of  law  un- 
der Gen.  Bloomfleld  and  was  graduated  from  the 
Bloomington  Law  School  in  the  Class  of  '84.  On 
taking  his  degree,  he  at  once    entered  upon  the 


practice  of  his  profession  at  Gibson  City,  and  has 
succeeded  in  building  up  a  prosperous  business. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  able  lawyers  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Ford  County. 

On  the  17th  of  November,  1885,  Mr.  Phillips 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Vermilion  County,  111., 
to  Miss  Zadie  Stevely.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of 
George  and  Hannah  Stevely,  and  is  a  native  of 
Illinois,  born  in  Vermilion  County.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born  one  child,  a  son, 
Wendell,  born  in  Gibson  City  on  the  3d  of  October, 
1891. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Phillips  is  a  Repub- 
lican, being  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  principles  of 
that  party.  He  served  one  term  as  City  Attorney 
of  Gibson  to  the  credit  of  himself  and  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  his  constituents.  Socially,  he  holds 
membership  with  Gibson  Lodge  No.  733,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.;  is  a  member  of  Hesperon  Lodge  No.  123, 
K.  of  P.,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  being  a  member  of  Gibson  Camp 
No.  235.  Mr.  Phillips  and  his  wife  stand  high  in 
social  circles  and  receive  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
their  many  friends  and  acquaintances.  In  April,  m 
1892,  Sir.  Phillips  was  nominated  by  the  Repub- 
lican party  for  the  position  of  States  Attorney, 
and  the  strength  of  his  party,  as  well  as  his  per- 
sonal popularity,  assures  his  election  in  November. 


jENJAMIN  H.  McCLURE,  familiarly  known 
as  '-Uncle  Ben,"  is  one  of  the  well-known 
f(^') .)]  pioneers  of  Illinois  of  1824.  He  is  a  na- 
^^^^  tive  of  Indiana,  born  in  Posey  County, 
June  8,  1818,  and  his  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Susan  (Hines)  McClure.  The  father  was  a  native 
of  Rockingham  County,  Va.,  born  on  the  loth  of 
July,  1765,  and  the  mother  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
December  23,  1774.  Thomas  McClure  went  to 
Kentucky  in  1782,  in  the  pioneer  days  of  that 
region,  when  the  Indians  were  far  more  numerous 
than  the  white  settlers  and  still  had  most  of  the 
land  in  their  possession.  In  that  State  he  was 
married,  and  moved  to  Indiana  in  1815,  but  in 
1824,  still  seeking  the   frontier  of  civilization,  he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


259 


came  to  Central  Illinois  and  laid  a  claim  eight 
miles  east  of  Springlield.  Three  j'cars  later,  he 
removed  to  McLean  County,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred January  3,  1847,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years. 

Our  subject,  Benjamin  H.  McClure,  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  McLean  County  in  1827, 
being  then  nine  years  of  age.  He  was  reared  to 
manhood  on  his  father's  farm,  receiving  little  or 
no  educational  advantages,  on  account  of  the  new- 
ness of  the  settlements.  One  of  the  important 
events  in  his  life  was  his  marriage,  October  13, 
1835,  in  McLean  Count}-,  at  Stout's  Grove, 
with  Miss  Frances  Killiani,  a  daughter  of  Jolm 
and  Sarah  (Shackelford)  Killiam.  Mrs.  McClure 
was  born  in  Casey  County,  Ky.,  May  1,  1811,  and 
in  1824  came  with  her  parents  to  Illinois. 

Mr.  McClure  and  his  estimalile  wife  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  nine  children:  John  T.  mar- 
ried Jane  Deal  and  makes  his  home  in  Drummer 
Township,  Ford  County;  William  F.,  a  resident  of 
Pearl  County,  Miss.,  wedded  Augusta  McClure; 
Sarah  J.  died  in  childhood,  at  the  age  of  eight 
j'ears;  Sus.an  Elizabetli  is  the  wife  of  Milton  Bai- 
ley, of  Gibson  City;  Mar^-  Ellen  died  when  eight 
yeai's  old;  James  Marion  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Josephine  Hall  and  resides  in  Plaquomine, 
La.;  Harriet  Newell  is  the  wife  of  the  Hon.  John 
H.  Collier,  of  Gibson  City,  of  whom  see  a  sketch 
elsewliere  in  this  work;  Frances  P.  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years;  and  one  child  died   in  infancj'. 

Mr.  McClure  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits  in  McLean  County  until  1868,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Ford  Count}',  settling  in  Drummer 
Township,  some  four  miles  northwest  of  Gibson 
City,  where  he  made  his  liome  until  1876,  when 
he  went  to  Gibson  without  disposing  of  his  land. 
The  farm  contains  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres 
of  good  arable  land  and  is  still  the  propertj'  of 
our  subject. 

In  early  life,  Mr.  McClure  was  an  old-line  Whig 
and  cast  liis  first  vote  for  William  Henry  Harri- 
son for  President  in  1840.  He  joined  the  Repub- 
lican party  on  its  organization,  and  still  supports 
it  with  his  ballot.  He  has  held  a  number  of  town- 
ship otlices,  among  which  are  those  of  Sui)ervisor 
and  Road  Commissioner.     He   was  reared    under 


the  auspices  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Cliurch,  and  united  with  that  denomination  in 
1845.  His  wife  joined  at  the  same  time,  and  they 
have  now  for  nearly  fifty  years  been  devoted 
members  of  tiiat  church  and  active  workers  in 
their  Master's  vine^'ard.  Mr.  McClure  has  been  a 
Deacon  since  1847,  and  w.as  made  an  Elder  in 
1869,  when  he  helped  to  organize  the  church  in 
Ford  County.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  pioneers 
of  Illinois  and  early  settlers  of  this  county,  and 
this  work  would  be  incomplete  without  his  his- 
tory. He  has  led  a  bus}'  and  useful  life,  and  is 
highly  esteemed  for  his  sterling  worth  and  in- 
tegrity. 


Pt'RANK  E.  SHARP,  proprietor  of  a  livery, 
S)^  feed  and  sale  stable  in  Gibson  City,  first 
^  "  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in 
Geauga  County,  Ohio,  on  the  20tli  of  November, 
1857,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Sarah  (Austin) 
Sharp.  His  parents  were  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York.  About  1858,  the  family  removed  to 
Rock  County,  Wis.,  and  the  following  year  came 
to  Ford  County,  III.,  spent  a  year  and  returned  to 
Rock  County,  where  they  made  their  home  till 
1864,  when  they  again  came  to  Ford  County. 
They  settled  in  Wall  Township,  but  returned  to 
Wisconsin,  locating  in  Walworth  County  in  1890. 
Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  from  Ohio 
to  AVisconsin,  and  from  there  to  this  county,  ar- 
riving in  1864.  He  received  his  educational 
training  in  the  common  schools  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  under  the  parental  roof.  In  1877,  he 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account  in  AVall 
Township,  and  continued  there  until  1882,  when 
he  removed  to  Elliott.  There  he  learned  the 
harness-maker's  trade  and  was  engaged  in  that 
vocation  for  three  years.  He  then  bought  a  farm, 
which  he  operated  one  year,  and  then  came  to 
(iibson  City,  buying  into  the  livery  business, 
which  he  continued  for  only  a  few  months,  when 
he  engaged  in  harness-making,  which  he  carried 
on  until  he  established  his  present  business  in 
March,  1892.     In  nddition  to  his    livery  stable,  he 


2C0 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


also  owns  and  operates  a  dray  line,  which  he  is 
carr3'ing  on  very  successfully,  doing  a  good  l)usi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Sh.ari)  led  to  the  marriage  altar,  on  tlie  30th 
of  June,  1887,  in  Elliott,  Miss  Lou  Miller.  Mr.s. 
Sharf)  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and  is  a  dauglitcr  of 
.lames  Miller.  She  is  a  consistent  ineniber  of  the 
Methodist  Church  and  by  lier  union  with  our  sub- 
ject has  become  the  mother  of  one  child,  Shirley, 
aged  four  years. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Sliarp  is  a  stalwart 
supporter  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  its  advancement.  lie  belongs 
to  tlio  Kniulits  (if  Pythias  fraternity,  holding  nieni- 
bcrsliip  with  llespcron  Lodge  No.  123.  He  and 
his  wife  are  leading  members  of  the  .social  circle 
in  which  tliey  move,  and  arc  jn'ominent  citizens 
of  (tilison.  He  is  public-spirited  and  progressive, 
and  is  one  of  the  enterprising  business  men  of  tlie 
community. 

;^® '■  ^=^^.  -g.^ii 


"ilJONATHAN    DIXON    WYl.IK,   M.    I).,  was 

born  in  Chester  District,  >S.  C,  in  1825,  and 
was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Agnes  Wylie.  His 
parents  were  natives  (>f  Chester  Count}-, 
S.  C,  and  were  descended  from  old  families  of  tlie 
Palmetto  State.  The  Doctor's  ancestors  were  orig- 
in.ally  from  Scotland  and  the  first  to  come  to 
America  were  Associate  Reform  Presbyterians,  who 
came  from  Scotland  .and  settled  in  South  Carolina. 
Samuel  Wylie  was  strongly  opposed  to  slavery,  al- 
though reared  in  its  midst  and  served  by  slaves, 
the  property  of  his  father.  When  he  had  attained 
to  man's  estate,  he  made  his  home  in  the  abolition 
State  of  Indiana,  where  he  reared  his  childicn  to  a 
love  of  freedom  for  all  the  human  family.  Many 
of  the  family  descended  from  the  original  South 
Carolina  stock  have  achieved  a  prominence  in  the 
learned  jirofessions  and  in  statesmanship,  and  espcc- 
iall}^  in  the  medical  profession. 

Dr.  AVylie  received  his  literary  education  in  the 
.State  University  of  Indiana,  and  w.ns  graduated  in 
1850  from  the  Oliio  INIedical  College  of  Cincinnati. 
He  came  at  once  to  Illinois  and  established  himself 


in  practice  in  Oakland,  Coles  County,  then  almost 
a  wilderness.  He  was  married  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pa., 
in  1851,  to  Miss  Agnes  Crawford.  The  ladj'  is  a 
native  of  Beaver  Falls  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Crawford  of  that  place.  Dr.  Wylie  and  his  wife 
reared  three  sons:  Samuel  M.,  the  eldest,  is  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  Paxton  and  his  sketch  is  given 
elsewhere  in  this  work;  Allen  1).  is  in  railway  em- 
ploy in  the  West,  and  t)scar  H.,  tlie  youngest,  is 
the  present  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Court  of  Ford 
County  and  is  in  discharge  of  the  whole  duties  of 
that  oHice. 

In  18G2,  Dr.  AV3iie  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  .States  for  the  late  war  as  Assistant  Surgeon 
of  the  Thirty-fifth  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry, 
was  promoted  to  be  Surgeon  of  the  regiment  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  doing  good  and 
faithful  service.  On  his  return  from  the  army,  lie 
resumed  practice  in  Oakland,  where  he  continued 
to  reside  until  1868,  when  he  canie  to  Paxton 
and  w.as  in  active  pr.actice  in  this  cit}'  until  his 
fatal  illness.  His  death  occurred  on  the  5th  of 
March,  1876. 

Dr.  Wylie  was  a  member  of  the  .State  Medical 
Societ}'  of  Illinois  and  of  the  American  Society  of 
the  United  States.  He  also  held  membership  with 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Paxton,  as  does 
his  wife,  and  was  an  earnest  Repulilican  in  politics. 
As  a  pliysician,  he  was  talented  and  skillful  anil 
throughout  his  days  of  activity  maintained  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice. 


-^^z 


El*^^^ 


eOL.  HARRY  D.  COOK.  Among  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Illinois  who  were  .actively 
identified  with  the  war  history  of  the  State 
and  soldier  interest  sul3sequent  to  the  return  of 
peace,  few,  if  any,  are  deserving  of  more  favor.able 
mention  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch. 

Col.  Cook  was  Ijorn  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  in 
1818,  and  was  a  son  of  .Joliii  Cook.  His  father 
was  a  close  friend  of  Gai'rett  Smith,  and  was  de- 
scended from  an  old  New  York  family,  the  grand- 
father of  the  Colonel  being  a  soldier  in  the  Revo- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOaRAPHlCAL   RECORD. 


261 


lutionary  War.  H.  D.  Cook  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation, and  in  liis  youth  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade.  In  1K41,  he  was  married  in  New  York  to 
Miss  .loanna  Hall,  daughter  of  AVilliam  and  Sally 
Hall.  The  lad3'  was  born  in  New  York  and  comes 
of  an  old  family  of  that  State. 

In  1850,  Col.  Cook  emigrated  from  the  East  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Fulton  Count}',  but  after  a 
year  removed  to  McLean  Country,  locating  on  a 
farm  near  Bloomington.  He  was  emplo3'ed  on  tlie 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  as  a  bridge-builder,  and 
in  18.53  removed  to  Woodford  County.  In  1860, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  on  the 
Republican  ticket,  and  in  Maj'  of  the  following 
year  entered  the  volunteer  service  for  the  late 
war  as  Captain  of  Company  G,  Fourth  Illinois 
Cavalry.  He  participated  in  the  active  service  of 
the  war,  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  and 
commanded  his  regiment.  When  mustered  out 
after  three  years  of  service,  he  held  the  rank  of 
Colonel. 

On  his  return  to  the  North,  Col.  Cook  was  re- 
elected to  the  Legislature  and  after  the  close  of 
the  war  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Oglesb}-  as 
military  financial  agent  for  Illinois  and  ordered  to 
Washington  to  secure  the  payment  of  State  claims 
against  the  general  Government,  growing  out  of 
the  late  war.  So  well  did  he  discharge  his  duty, 
that  he  secured  the  payment  of  nearly  all  the 
claims  due  the  State,  manifesting  superior  busi- 
ness ability  and  tact.  When  the  railroad  and  ware- 
house commission  was  organized  by  act  of  Legis- 
lature, Col.  Cook  was  a[)pointed  by  Gov.  Bever- 
idge  a  member  of  that  boar<],  and  at  its  organi- 
zation was  chosen  Chairman.  This  position  he 
filled  with  honor  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
the  people  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  No- 
vember, 1873,  at  his  home  in  Normal.  111. 

The  Colonel  was  an  original  Abolitionist  and  a 
warm  friend  of  Owen  Lovejoy.  He  was  a  man  of 
positive  views  and  was  a  popular  speaker,  widely 
and  favorably  known.  The  war  afforded  a  field 
for  distinction  for  men  of  nerve  and  strength  of 
character,  and  Col.  Cook's  career  developed  the 
latent  talent  in  his  character  for  leadership,  he  be- 
coming prominent  and  inlluential  in  State  and 
National  affairs.     For    several  years    prior    to  his 


death,  he  had  made  his  home  in  Normal,  111.,  where 
his  wife,  who  survives  her  husband,  still  resides, 
though  well  advanced  in  years. 

Seven  children  were  born  to  Colonel  and  Mrs. 
Cook,  of  whom  four  are  living,  three  having  died  in 
childhood:  Fiance  L.,  the  eldest,  who  married  Miss 
Kate  Anderson,  is  the  present  State  Attorney  of 
Ford  Count}-,  and  resides  in  Paxton.  .John  W. 
married  Lydia  Spofford  and  is  President  of  the 
State  Normal  University  at  Normal;  Florence  A. 
is  the  wife  of  Judge  Alfred  S.aniplc,  of  Paxton, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work;  and 
Ida  is  the  wife  of  F.  W.  Gove,  a  resident  of  Den- 
ver, Col. 


Al  felLLIAM  HAMU/rON  THOMPSON  is 
WjJ//  P'"'^"iii"ciitly  connected  with  the  busi- 
W^  less  interests  of  Melvin,  being  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  W.  II.  &-  W.  E.  Thompson, 
dealers  in  lumber  and  farm  machinery.  He  has 
been  a  resident  of  Peach  Orchard  Township,  Ford 
County,  since  1872,  and  has  made  his  home  in 
Illinois  since  1865. 

Mr.  Thompson  claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his 
nativit}',  his  birth  occurring  in  Belmont  County, 
on  the  1th  of  December,  1851.  With  his  parents, 
he  came  to  Illinois,  the  family  settling  in  Marshall 
County,  near  New  Rutland,  La  Salle  County,  where 
he  attended  the  public  schools.  On  attaining  to 
man's  estate,  in  the  fall  of  1872,  he  came  to  Ford 
County,  and,  locating  in  Peach  Orchard  Township, 
engaged  in  farming.  He  still  owns  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  on  section  36,  but  in  later  \'ears  he 
has  given  no  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
but  has  devoted  his  energies  to  the  lumber  business. 
An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Thompson 
occurred  on  the  23d  of  September,  1875,  when  in 
Paxton  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ruth 
Hunt, a  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Jane  Hunt.  The 
lady  was  born  in  La  Salle  County,  111.,  February  20, 
1856,  and  came  to  this  county  with  her  |)arents  in 
1867.  Three  children  grace  the  union  of  this 
worthy  couple,  a  son  and  two  daughters:  Zella 
Aim,  Delmer  B.  and  Delia. 

Mr.  Thonii)son   continued  to  engage  in  a"-ricul- 


•262 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


tural  pursuits  until  1876,  when  he  left  the  farm 
and  embarked  in  his  present  business  as  a  dealer  in 
lumber  and  farm  machinery  in  Melvin,  where  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  He  is  a  straightforward, 
upright  business  man  and  is  held  in  high  regard 
by  all  who  know  him.  He  and  bis  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  in 
his  |)olitieal  alliliations  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
warmly  advocating  the  principles  of  that  party  and 
laboring  for  its  success  and  upbuilding.  During 
his  residence  in  Peacli  Orchard  Township,  he  has 
held  various  official  ijositions  of  honor  and  trust, 
having  served  for  one  year  as  Collector,  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Village  of  Melvin  for  two  years,  and 
as  United  States  Census  Enumerator  for  his  home 
di.'st  ict  in  1890.  Mr.  Thompson  and  his  partner 
have  built  up  an  extensive  trade  in  their  line,  as 
the  result  of  good  management  and  an  earnest  de- 
sire to  please  their  patrons,  and  are  esteemed  among 
the  worthy  and  relial)le  luisiness  men  of  Ford 
County,  llis  entire  life  since  attaining  to  years  of 
matuiity  our  subject  has  passed  in  this  community 
and  h.Ts  thus  formed  a  wide  and  extensive  acquaint- 
ance. 

— ^ ^g -^' 

'  OHN  WOOLSTONCROFT,  one  of  the  ex- 
tensive land-owners  of  Lyman  Township, 
residing  on  section  18,  claims  England  as 
the  land  of  his  nativity  and  also  has  some 
Scotch  l>lood  in  his  veins.  He  was  born  in  Lan- 
cashire, in  1810,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  two  sons  and  six  daughters,  whose 
parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Woods)  Woolston- 
ci''oft.  His  father  was  a  weaver  of  cotton  cloth. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  sixt3'-four  and  his  wife  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  fifty.  The  only  members  of 
the  famil}'  yet  living  are  three  sisters  of  our  sub- 
ject: Mary  and  Janet,  both  of  whom  are  widows 
and  reside  in  Lancashire,  England,  and  Sarah,  who 
resides  in  Philadelphia. 

Our  subject  began  to  earn  his  own  livelihood  at 
the  age  of  eight  j'ears,  working  at  the  weaver's 
trade  from  that  time  until  twelve  years  of  age, 
when  he  learned  the  trade  of  brick-making  and 
also  laid  brick.     Wlien  about  twenty  years  of  age. 


he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  America  and, 
in  1831,  sailed  from  Liverpool  to  New  York.  He 
was  almost  penniless  when  he  arrived  in  this  coun- 
try, a  stranger  in  a  strange  land.  He  first  secured 
work  as  a  weaver  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  re- 
mained for  six  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1837, 
he  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  spent  about  five 
months.  He  next  located  in  Putnam  County,  III., 
and,  making  his  home  in  Magnolia,  engaged  in 
weaving  in  the  winter  season  and  in  brick-hying 
in  the  summer. 

While  residing  in  Putnam  County,  Mr.  Wool- 
stoncroft  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth 
Phillips,  a  native  of  England.  Tlicir  union  was 
celebrated  in  April,  1838,  and  unto  them  were 
born  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  eight  of  whom 
are  now  living:  David,  tiie  eldest,  wedded  Mary 
Warner,  a  native  of  this  .State,  by  whom  he  has 
three  children.  He  is  a  plasterer  and  brick  mason 
and  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Roberts,  and  , 
in  politics,  is  a  stanch  Republican.  .John  married 
Miss  Hannom  and  follows  farming  in  Kansas;  he, 
too,  is  a  Republican.  Abraham  married  Miss  Pettit 
and  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Kansas;  Wilber  was 
joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Hawthorne,  and  follows 
farming  in  Kans.as;  Alice  is  the  wife  of  George 
Dykes,  an  agriculturist  of  Illinois;  F^lizabeth  is 
the  wife  of  John  Warner,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  Ed- 
ward Owens,  a  farmer  of  AVall  Township;  Maria, 
who  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in  Onarga 
and  in  F'ord  County,  is  now  the  wife  of  Nelson 
Buzick,  farmer,  by  whom  she  has  six  children, 
namely:  Earl,  who  aids  his  father  in  tiie  farm  work; 
Flora,  a  student  in  Onarga  Seminary;  Maiy,  Jessie, 
John  AV.  and  James.  Mrs.  Woolstoncroft  died 
May  7,  1864,  and  was  interred  in  Magnolia  Ceme- 
tery, where  a  beautiful  monument  marks  her  last 
resting  place. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Woolstoncroft  came  to  this  county 
with  John  Hunt,  and  purchased  four  hundred 
acres  of  raw  land.  The  towns  of  Melvin  and  Rob- 
erts were  not  then  laid  out,  wild  game  ot  all  kinds 
was  plentiful  and  at  that  day  one  could  not  have 
realized  that  such  a  rapid  change  was  so  st)on  to 
take  place.  Our  subject  bought  land  at  ^9  per  acre 
and  began  the    development  of  a  fine  farm.     His 


■t^^  ^^ 


I 


t 


* 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


265 


labors  were  successful  and  he  has  become  one  of 
the  well-to-do  citizens  of  the  community.  In  early 
life,  he  was  a  Whig  and  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  William  Henr}'  Harrison,  but  since  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  been 
one  of  its  stanch  supporters.  Througliout  the  com- 
munity, he  is  held  in  the  highest  regard  and  the 
word  of  John  Woolstoncroft  is  as  good  as  his 
bond,  for  his  upright  life  and  sterling  worth  have 
won  him  the  the  confidence  of  all.  He  is  now 
eighty-two  years  of  age  but  is  still  enjoying  good 
health. 


^^  HARLES  SPELLMEYER,  who  carries  on 
(li  tr  S^'ieral  farming  on  section  16,  Wall  Town- 
^^;^  ship,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Mahnan,  in 
the  Province  of  Westphalia,  in  Meinden  County, 
Germany,  September  17,  1831.  His  father  was 
also  a  native  of  that  localit3'  and  in  later  life  emi- 
grated to  America.  Further  mention  is  made  of 
him  in  the  sketch  of  George  H.  Spellme}'er  on 
another  page  of  this  work. 

In  accordance  with  the  laws  of  his  native  land, 
our  subject  attended  school  between  the  ages  of 
seven  and  fourteen  years.  When  about  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  he  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  America  and  sailed  for  New  York  in  1853, 
landing  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks.  Four  3ears 
later,  he  was  followed  by  the  family.  Charles 
came  on  at  once  to  Illinois,  making  bis  first  loca- 
tion in  Putnam  Count}',  where  he  worked  by  the 
day  or  month  as  a  farm  hand  for  some  time.  Five 
j'ear.s  later,  he  went  to  La  Salle  County,  where  he 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  himself. 
He  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  for  he  started  in  life 
empty-h.anded.  and  the  success  wliicli  has  crowned 
his  efforts  is  due  entirely  to  Ins  industry  and  per- 
severance. After  renting  land  for  about  eight 
years,  during  which  time  he  saved  some  capital, 
he  purchased  eighty  acres  in  La  Salle  County  in 
1876,  and  settled  upon  that  land.  A  small  shanty 
constituted  the  improvements,  but  onlj-  a  short 
time  liad  elapsed  ere  a  great  change  was  wrought 
in   that   place,  and  wliat  was  once  a  barren   tract 


He  now  engages  in  gen- 


became  a  valuable  farm, 
eral  fanning  and  stock-raising  and  owns  five  hun- 
dred and  twenty-eight  acres  of  land,  all  in  Wall 
Township. 

A  marriage  ceremony  performed  in  La  Salle 
County  on  the  17th  of  Ma}-,  1858,  united  the  des- 
tinies of  Mr.  Spellmej-er  and  Miss  Louisa  Kotl- 
kamp,  who  was  born  in  the  same  town  as  her  hus- 
band and  came  to  America  in  the  year  1857. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna  Marie  Kott- 
camp,  who  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Germany. 
Both  parents  passed  away  when  about  sixty-one 
years  of  age.  They  were  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church  and  the  father  was  a  tanner  by 
trade.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  six  sons 
and  four  daughters,  but  only  two  are  now  living: 
Lottie  is  the  widow  of  F'red  .Schwartze,  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  and  iSIrs.  Spellmeyer,  who  is  the  elder.  She  was 
educated  in  the  German  schools,  and  at  about  the 
age  of  twenty  emigrated  to  America.  The  other 
members  of  the  famil}-  all  died  in  infancy  except 
Henrietta,  whose  death  occurred  in  Germany  when 
about  eighteen  years  of  age. 

By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
been  bom  nine  children,  five  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  George  W.,  a  farmer  of  Wall 
Township,  who  wedded  Mary  Carson;  Mary,  wife 
of  Charles  Kenney,  of  the  same  township;  Henry 
C,  a  hardware  merchant  of  Melvin,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Frank,  who  makes 
his  home  in  Vermilion  County,  111.;  Amelia, 
Charles  and  Lillie  Louisa,  all  yet  at  home.  The 
children  have  been  afforded  good  educational 
privileges  and  reared  to  habits  of  industiy,  thus 
fitting  them  to  become  useful  citizens.  Two  other 
children  are  now  deceased:  Mina,  who  died  in  La 
Salle  County  when  only  six  weeks  old,  and  a  son 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spellmeyer  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  of  Melvin  and  are  worthy  Ger- 
man people  whose  many  excellencies  of  character 
have  won  them  high  regard.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
stalwart  Democrat,  having  supported  that  party 
since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Stephen 
A.  Douglas.  He  is  also  a  good  business  man  and 
a  successful  fanner,  and  his  prosperity  is  but  the 
just  reward  of   his  own  efforts.     He  came  to  this 


266 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


country  a  penniless  young  man.  A  stranger  in  a 
strange  land,  he  commenced  life  here  120  in  debt, 
but  lias  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until  he  has 
acquired  a  handsome  competence.  This  record 
will  be  cherished  and  held  sacred  by  their  children 
when  father  and  motlier  have  passed  away. 


ON.  DAVID  PATTON,  in  whose  honor  the 
township  of  Patton  was  named,  is  the  old- 
est surviving  member  of  the  Ford  County 
Bar  and  was  in  practice  in  tiie  territory' 
which  is  now  Ford  County,  which  was  then  a  part  of 
Vermilion  County.  Judge  Patton  located  at  what 
is  known  as  Ten  Mile  Grove,  situated  about  three 
miles  southwest  of  Paxton,in  October,  1849.  He  was 
born  in  Clark  County,  Ky.,  in  1806.  and  accom- 
panied his  family  to  Butler  County,  that  State,  in 
1810. 

When  eighteen  j-ears  of  age,  Mr.  Patton  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Oliver  H.  Smitii, 
at  Connersville,  Ind.,  and  while  so  engaged  taught 
the  district  school  to  earn  money  to  defray  his 
current  expenses.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
1828  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion at  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  where  he  secured  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice.  Frank,  upright  and  gen- 
erous in  disposition,  he  was  held  in  high  esteem 
by  the  people  and  regarded  as  a  leading  lawyer  by 
his  brethren  at  the  Bar.  His  unguarded  liberality, 
however,  proved  a  snare  to  him  financially,  and 
his  earnings  for  ten  years  were  soon  swept  away  in 
the  payment  of  debts  for  his  friends,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  start  anew  in  life.  With  this  object 
in  view,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  at  Ten  Jlile  Grove,  then  in  Ver- 
milion, now  Ford  County.  The  country  was  but 
sparsely  settled,  affording  little,  if  any,  field  for 
business  in  the  line  of  his  profession,  hence  he 
turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock-raising, 
occasionally  practicing  in  justice  courts,  not  a  few 
of  the  leading  lawyers  of  Vermilion  County  ex- 
pressing surprise  at  being  outgeneraled  and  beaten 
by  the  farm  lawyer.     To  his  efforts  the  passage  of 


the  act  of  the  Legislature  creating  Ford  County 
was  largely  due.  At  a  special  election  held  in  1859, 
he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  by  a 
large  majority  over  his  opponent,  Gideon  Camp, 
and  he  was  re-elected  at  the  succeeding  elections 
of  1860-64-68.  Before  the  close  of  his  fourth  of- 
ficial term,  the  weight  of  years  and  his  extensive 
personal  interests  decided  him  to  decline  further 
public  service.  The  monetary  panic  of  1873  and 
1875,  in  connection  with  his  losses  as  surety  for 
some  of  his  friends,  again  stripped  him  of  nearly 
all  his  worldly  possessions,  but  notwithstanding  his 
misfortune  in  this  i>articular,  he  lias  the  liigher  and 
better  consolation  of  having  merited  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens  by  an  active 
and  useful  life  in  their  midst  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  He  was  a  good  lawyer,  a  quaint,  entertain- 
ing speaker,  and  at  all  times  a  kind  and  indulgent 
parent;  a  friend  to  the  poor  and  needy,  and  an  en- 
terprising and  public-spirited  citizen,  and  above  all, 
a  steadfast  lover  of  justice  and  hum.anity.  .Judge 
Patton  still  makes  his  home  in  Paxton,  where  he 
settled  in  1865,  but  is  in  feeble  health,  and  his  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-six  years  admonishes  his 
friends  that  his  end  is  not  far  distant.  The  writer 
is  under  oliligations  to  the  publishers  of  the  late 
Coiintij  Alias  for  the  facts  above  stated.    ■ 


-^1= 


crULm 

^  ACOB  BLESCH,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners and  leading  citizens  of  Lyman 
Township,  residing  on  section  11,  was  born 
in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Germany,  April  9, 
1839,  and  is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren born  unto  George  and  Elizabeth  (Obennauer) 
Blesch.  His  father  was  a  German  farmer,  and,  in 
the  spring  of  1853,  bade  adieu  to  his  old  home  and 
with  his  family  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to 
America,  sailing  from  Havre  to  New  York,  where 
he  arrived  after  a  pleasant  voyage  of  forty-two 
Aoiys,.  The  parents  located  in  Du  Page  County, 
111.,  whence  they  removed  to  Cook  County,  where 
the  death  of  Mr.  Blesch  occurred  in  1870.  He 
came  to  thiscountr3'  in  very  limited  circumstances, 
but  by  his  industry  and  good  management,  at  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


267 


time  of  his  death  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Cook  County. 
His  wife,  who  was  horn  April  1),  1811,  is  still  liv- 
ing at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years.  She 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  lier 
husband  also  belonged. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  fourteen  years  when, 
with  his  parents,  he  came  to  this  country.  He  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  his  marriage, 
which  was  celebrated  on  Christmas  Day  of  1867, 
Miss  Rosalie  Gurard,  who  was  born  September 
20,  1845,  in  IJyron,  (Germany,  becoming  liis  wife. 
She  was  only  three  months  old  when  brought  to 
America  by  her  parents,  who  located  in  Cook 
Count}'.  Her  father  was  a  manufacturer  in  (ier- 
man3'aud  was  quite  wealthy  when  he  come  to  the 
United  States.  Both  he  aud  his  wife  are  now  de- 
ceased, and  a  beautiful  monument  marks  their 
last  resting  place  in   a  cemetery  of  Cook  County. 

The  maiden  days  of  Mrs.  Blesch  were  spent  in 
Cook  County,  where  she  acquired  her  education. 
She  became  the  mother  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Anna,  who  was  educated  in  both  Ger- 
man and  English,  is  now  the  wife  of  A.  jNIcDon- 
ald,  who  was  one  of  the  successful  teachers  of  Ford 
County,  and  is  now  engaged  in  merchandising  in 
Odell,  III.;  Reynold,  who  pursued  a  commeicial 
course  of  study  in  Valparaiso  College,  of  Indiana, 
now  aids  his  father  in  the  laliors  of  the  farm; 
George  died  at  the  age  of  three  jears;  Clara  is 
taking  a  teacher's  course  in  the  Valparaiso  Nor- 
mal School;  Eddie  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years; 
and  Lydia  comi)letes  the  family. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blescli  have  resided  in  Ford  County- 
since  Fel)ruarj%  188.3,  at  which  time  our  subject 
purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
conveniently'  and  pleasantly-  located  within  three 
miles  of  Roberts.  Since  that  time  he  has  made 
many  good  improvements  and  the  farm  has  be- 
come one  of  tlie  beautiful  and  desirable  places  in 
L_yman  Township.  In  addition  to  the  fine  resi- 
dence, there  are  outbuildings  which  are  models  of 
convenience,  and  many  other  improvements,  both 
useful  and  ornamental.  Mr.  Blesch  has  served  as 
School  Director  during  almost  his  entire  residence 
here,  and  the  cause  of  education  has  found  in  him 
a  warm  friend.      In  politics,    he  has  been   a  stanch 


Republican  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  he  nnd  his  wife  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They 
are  justly  classed  among  the  licstand  most  promi- 
nent citizens  of  Lyman  Township  and  well  de- 
serve the  high  regard  in  which  tliev  are  held. 


''   '  ^3- 


E^^ 


ENRY    ATWOOD    has    longer    resided    in 
I  Pella  Township  than   any  other  of  its  citi- 


zens. He  has  here  made  his  home  for 
thirty-five  years,  and  is  now  living  on  sec- 
tion 22.  With  the  history  of  Ford  County,  he 
has  been  prominently  identified  and  has  ever 
borne  his  part  in  the  work  of  upbuilding  and  ad- 
vancement. As  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  community,  wc  feel  assured  tliat 
this  sketch  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our 
readers. 

Mr.  Atwood  was  born  in  Chelsea,  Mass.,  February 
6,  1832.  His  grandfather,  Stephen  Atwood,  was 
born  at  Cape  Cod,  spent  his  early  life  as  a  sailor  and 
afterward  became  a  farmer.  Ills  son,  William  II.  At- 
wood, father  of  Henry,  was  Iiorn  on  Cape  Cod, 
and  when  about  eight  years  old  went  to  Boston 
with  his  father,  who  bought  a  farm  at  Chelsea. 
William  went  into  a  store  and  was  ever  afterward 
connected  with  mercantile  interests.  He  learned 
to  read  by  poring  over  newspapers,  and  w.as  en- 
tirely self-educated,  but  through  his  own  efforts 
became  a  well-informed  man.  With  his  brother, 
he  did  a  large  business  as  a  wholesale  and  retail 
dealer  in  oysters.  He  was  married  in  Chelsea,  to 
Miss  Lenora  Atkins,  a  native  of  Cape  Cod,  who 
died  when  our  subject  was  about  twelve  years  old. 
He  then  married  Ruth  Newcome,  and,  after  her 
death,  was  a  third  time  married.  He  served  .as  Cap- 
tain of  a  military  company  and  throughout  his 
life  was  a  Democrat.  He  died  in  the  old  home  at 
Chelsea,  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
The  children  of  the  Atwood  family  were  Frank- 
lin, who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  Henry,  of 
this  sketcii;  Lenora,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twentj-- 
one;  Cordelia,  who  is  living  in  Newton,  M.a.ss.; 
Daniel,  who  served  in   the  Twentv-seventh  Massa- 


268 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOaRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


chusetts  Regiment  throughout  the  late  war;  Thomas 
H.,  who  was  in  the  Fourth  Iowa  Cavalry;  and 
Otis,  of  Massachusetts.  By  the  second  marriage 
were  born  five  children  and  of  the  fourteen,  ten 
are  now  living. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  twelve  years  of  his 
life  in  Chelsea  and  then  went  to  Boston,  where  he 
attended  the  public  schools  for  two  years.  He 
afterward  went  to  night  school  for  two  j^ears  and 
was  a  student  in  the  Brocton  School,  but  ill  health 
forced  him  to  abandon  his  studies.  He  was  after- 
ward engaged  for  nine  years  in  the  wholesale  drug 
business.  In  1857,  he  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  the  West.  He  spent  a  short  time  in  Minn- 
esota for  his  health,  and  was  at  Minneapolis  when 
the  first  building  was  erected  in  that  city.  Later  in 
the  year,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Pella  Township,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  It  was  not  long  before  he  had 
his  entire  farm  under  a  iiigh  state  of  cultivation. 
A  home  was  built,  trees  were  planted  and  many 
other  improvements  made,  which  add  both  to  the 
value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the  place.  Mr. 
Atwood  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
county  and  has  been  prominentl3^  identified  with 
its  growth  and  progress  during  all  these  years. 
He  served  on  the  first  jury  of  Ford  County,  in 
Paxton,  and  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  many 
position  of  honor  and  trust,  the  duties  of  which 
he  has  ever  discharged  with  promptness  and  fidel- 
ity. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1859,  in  Onarga, 
Iroquois  County,  Mr.  Atwood  wedded  Miss  Mary 
Wyllie,  who  was  born  in  Warren,  Me.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Harriet  Wyllie.  She 
taught  the  first  school  in  Pella  Township  in  her 
own  home.  Three  children  have  been  born  of 
their  union:  Lillie  A.,  who  was  born  and  reared 
on  the  old  home  farm  and  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  Onarga  Seminary,  is  the  wife  of  David 
E.  Tufts,  a  farmer  of  Steele  County,  N.  Dak.; 
Wyllie  is  a  successful  teacher  of  North  Dakota, 
and  Flora  B.  is  a  teacher  of  recognized  ability  in 
Pella  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atwood  are  charter  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Piper  City,  to  which 
their  children   also  belong,  and  he  is  now  serving 


as  one  of  its  Elders.  He  cast  iiis  first  Presidential 
vote  for  John  C.  Fremont  and  has  since  been  a 
Republican,  stanch  and  true.  The  cause  of  educa- 
tion has  found  in  him  a  warm  friend  and  he  has 
done  much  for  the  advancement  of  the  schools 
in  this  neighborhood.  During  the  thirty-five 
years  of  his  residence  in  Ford  County,  he  has  won 
the  confidence  and  regard  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact  and  this  work  would 
be  incomplete  without  the  sketch  of  Henry  At- 
wood. 


EBEN  AVAIT,  is   a  representative  farmer  and 
leading  citizen  of  this  county,  residing  on 
"'  section    17,    Button    Township.       His    life 

record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  Schuyler 
County,  N.Y.,  February  26,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of 
Abijah  Wait.  The  father  was  born  in  Jlassachu- 
sctts,  February  2,  17'.t(l,  and  when  a  .young  man 
went  to  New  York,  settling  in  Schuyler  County, 
where  he  married  Hannah  Calvert,  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State.  Upon  their  farm,  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives  and  were  buried  in  the 
family  cemetery.  They  had  a  famil3-  of  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
j-ears,  namely:  Phcebe,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Aaron  I'arish,  of  Schuyler  County;  both  are  now 
deceased.  Nancy,  wife  of  Frederick  Stamp,  a  res- 
ident of  Paxton;  Henry,  lately  a  farmer  of  Schuy- 
ler County,  N.  Y.;  Eben  of  this  sketch;  Margaret, 
who  is  residing  on  the  old  homestead,  and  Sarah 
Ann,  who  is  also  living  on  the  old  home  farm  in 
New  York. 

The  educational  advantages  which  our  subject 
received  were  only  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools,  and  his  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads.  With  his  parents 
he  remained  until  after  he  had  attained  his  major- 
it}-,  when,  on  the  26th  of  Februar}-,  1845,  in  Tomp- 
kins Cojinty,  N.  Y.,  he  married  Louisa  Stamp,  who 
was  born  and  reaied  in  Schuyler  County,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  Stamp,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  locality  Unto  them  have  been  born  two  sons: 
Elbert  A.,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Button  Town- 
ship,  and    Adrian   D.,  a   j'Oiing    man    of    sterling 


/\ 


(^/(T^^c^   L^^^T-iyViil 


^Cic^f^^^^^L-C^i^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


271 


wt)rtli  and  good  business  ability,  who  iiiiis  his  fa- 
ther in  carrying  on  the  liome  farm. 

After  liis  marriage,  Mr.  Wait  engaged  in  fann- 
ing in  Lis  native  county  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  in  1855  emigrated  Westward,  taking  up  bis 
residence  in  what  is  now  Ford  County,  111.  There 
was  no  town  where  the  city  of  Paxton  now  stands, 
the  land  was  all  in  its  primitive  condition, and  the 
work  of  progress  and  development  seemed  scarcely 
begun.  He  bore  all  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  pioneer  life  but  his  efforts  were  afterward 
crowned  with  success.  He  developed  and  im- 
proved a  farm  of  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land, 
which  is  his  present  home.  It  is  an  excellent  farm, 
supplied  with  substantial  improvements,  and  its 
neat  appearance  indicates  the  thrift  and  enleri)rise 
of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Wait  has  helped  to  make  Ford  Count}'  what 
it  is  to-day,  one  of  the  best  counties  in  the  State, 
and  is  numbered  among  its  honored  pioneers.  He 
was  originally  a  Jackson  Democrat,  but  on  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Republican  party  joined  its 
ranks  and  is  one  of  its  stanch  supporters.  He  has 
held  several  offices  of  honor  and  trust,  including 
that  of  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  has  also 
been  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and 
are  highly  respected  members  of  this  community, 
well  deserving  representation  in  the  history  of  their 
adopted  county. 


OL.  CHARLES  BOGARDUS.  To  apiilaud 
worthy  achievements  is  an  instinct  of  hu- 
man nature,  and  when  noble  results  have 
lieen  accomplished  by  one's  own  efforts,  thrice  de- 
serving is  he  of  praise.  All  delight  to  pay  tribute 
to  a  self-made  man,  one  who,  despite  great  disad- 
vantages, has  achieved  distinction.  Such  a  one  is 
the  well-known  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
memoir. 

The  progenitor  of  the  different  branches  of  the 
Bogardus  family  in  America  was  Everardus  Bo- 
gardus,  a  Dutch  Reform  clergyman,  who  emigrated 
from  Holland  to  New  Amsterdam  (now  New  York 


City)  in  1633  and  was  the  second  minister  in  that 
citj'.  residing  on  what  is  now  Broad  Street.  In 
1638,  he  married  Annetje,  widow  of  Roelof  Jan- 
sen,  who  had  obtained  a  grant  of  sixty-two  acres  of 
land  in  what  is  now  the  center  of  New  York  City. 
This  farm,  long  known  as  "Dominie's  Bowery,"  in 

time    became  vested  in  Trinity  Church  by  unfair 

means  and  has  caused  continuous  litigation  sLaceii.'vL'.c 
He  is  the  only  one  of  the  name  that  has  come  to'J^'" 
this  country. 

Col.  Bogardus  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  above 
gentleman  and  is  a  son  of  James  H.  and  Louisa 
Bogardus.  He  was  born  in  Cayuga  County,  N.Y., 
March  28,  1841,  and  when  only  six  years  of  age 
was  left  an  orphan,  both  parents  being  taken  away 
b}^  an  epidemic.  He  was  taken  by  an  uncle,  W.  H. 
Bogardus,  who  gave  him  common-school  advanta- 
ges until  he  was  some  twelve  years  of  age,  at  which 
time  young  Charles  entered  a  grocery  store  as  clerk, 
at  a  salary  of  $1.50  per  week,  his  kind  uncle  fur- 
nishing him  both  board  and  clothes.  This  position 
he  held  for  four  years,  receiving  increase  in  salary 
from  time  to  time.  His  earnings  were  paid  every 
Saturday  night  to  the  uncle,  who,  without  the  boy 's 
knowledge,  invested  the  same  for  him,  and  subse- 
quently offered  to  turn  all  over  to  him,  notwith- 
standing his  uncle  was  a  poor  man.  But  the  boy, 
although  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  declined  the 
offer  and  the  mone^'  with  thanks. 

Borrowing  means,  he  went  to  Ridgeway,  N.  Y., 
to  accept  a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  another  uncle 
at  $S  per  month.  In  this  position,  he  served  until 
1862,  getting  a  yearly  increase  of  salary.  On  the 
13th  of  August,  1862,  Col.  Bogardus,  having  just 
attained  his  majority,  enlisted  for  the  war  in  Com- 
pany A,  One  Hundred  and  Fift^'-first  New  York 
Infantry.  But  before  going  to  the  field,  as  was 
not  uncommon  with  the  boys  who  feared  some 
others  might  woo  and  win  their  sweethearts  (hir- 
ing their  absence,  he  married,  August  17,  1862. 
Miss  Hannah  W.,  daughter  of  William  H.  Pells, 
whose  sketch  is  found  on  another  page  of  this 
work.  It  is  difficult  to  comprehend  just  how  much 
sacrifice  and  courage  is  necessary  to  leave  a  3'ouug 
wife  and  face  an  armed  foe.  On  the  organization 
of  the  company.  Col.  Bogardus  was  elected  First 
Lieutenant;  was  promoted  U>  be  Caiitain  of  Com- 


272 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


panyl,  Decem))er  12,  1862;  to  Lieutenant-Colonel 
December  10,  1864;  and  was  breveted  Colonel  by 
order  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  "'for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  charge  in 
front  uf  Petersliurg,  Va.,  April  2,  1865."  The 
letter  from  the  Governor  of  New  York  accompa- 
nying the  commission  states  the  reason  for  grant- 
ing the  commission,  and  is  here  given: 

"Colonel,  1  liave  tlu'  i)leasure  to  transmit  here- 
with a  brevet  commission  conferred  by  the  Presi- 
dent, in  recognition  of  your  faithful  and  distin- 
guished services  in  the  war.  I  feel  a  just  pride  in 
this  acknowledgment  of  the  gallantry  and  devo- 
tion of  an  oUicer  of  this  State,  which  serves  to 
heighten  the  re|)utation  won  l)y  the  valor  and  con- 
stancy of  the  soldieis  of  New  York. 

"Veiy  truly  yours, 
"R.  E.  Fenton." 

The  principal  battles  in  which  Col.  Bogardus 
took  part  were  the  following:  Mouocacy,  Md.,  an 
engagement  comparatively  insignificant  in  itself, 
was  important  in  its  results.  Three  thousand 
Union  trooiis,  by  the  skillful  management  of  Gen. 
Lew  AVallacc,  held  in  check  nearly  six  times  their 
number  for  twenty-four  hours,  thus  giving  Gen. 
Grant  barely  time  to  bring  up  the  First  and  Second 
Divisions  of  the  Sixth  Armj'  Corps,  as  the  Confed- 
erate Gen.  Early  appeared  in  front  of  the  outer 
defenses  of  Washington.  Had  that  heroic  little 
band  of  boys  in  blue  given  way,  the  Capitol  City 
must  have  fallen  a  i)rey  to  the  enemy.  In  the  bat- 
tle of  the  AVilderness,  the  corps  to  which  Col.  Bo- 
gardus belonged  was  on  the  extreme  right,  and  all 
well  remember  what  a  desperate  effort  Lee  made  to 
crush  that  part  of  Grant's  army.  The  battle  of 
Spottsylvania;  Tolopotomoy;  Cold  Harbor,  in 
which  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-first  lost  five 
captains;  Petersburg,  Sailor  Creek,  and  Lee  s  sur- 
render will  ever  be  remembered  as  experiences  in 
our  subject's  army  life.  At  the  battle  of  Monoc- 
acy,  July  9,  1864,  Col.  Bogardus  was  so  severely 
wounded  that  he  could  iKjt  endure  to  be  transferred 
by  ambulance,  hence  was  carried  three  miles  on  a 
stretcher  to  the  Confederate  hosintal  at  Frederick 
City,  Md.  Had  his  injuries  been  less,  he  would 
have  been  sent  to  Richmond  or  to  Libby  Prison. 
Frederick    City    soon   fell   into  the  hands  of  the 


Union  troops,  and  he  was  transferred,  about  three 
months  after,  when  able  to  travel,  to  the  olliccrs' 
hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  where  he  regained  his 
strength  sufliciontly  to  come  home  on  crutches  and 
cast  his  tirst  Presidential  vote  for  Lincoln.  As 
soon  as  he  could  get  about  liy  the  use  <if  a  cane, 
he  returned  to  his  command  and  served  until  he 
was  mustered  out,  June  26,  1865. 

The  wonderful  transforming  power  of  ideas  on 
the  lives  and  actions  of  men  is  strikingly  illus- 
trated in  the  case  of  Col.  Bogardus  and  his  piiter- 
nal  grandfather.  The  latter  owned  and  worked 
slaves  in  New  York  State  before  they  were  manu- 
mitted— the  former  risked  his  own  life  iov  llieir 
freedom,  and  to-day  the  negro  accounts  the  Col- 
onel one  of  his  wannest  friends. 

Unlike  some  old  soldiers,  when  the  war  was 
over  Col.  Bogardus  laid  aside  his  trusted  blade  to 
rust  under  the  gently  distilled  dews  of  [teace. 
Returning  to  Ridgeway,  N.  Y.,he  became  a  partner 
of  his  old  employer  in  the  mercantile  business. 
continuing  until  failing  health,  the  effect  of  iiis 
wound,  comiielled  him  to  retire  from  trade.  In 
March,  1872,  he  became  a  resident  of  Paxlon,  and 
with  its  l)est  interests,  as  well  as  those  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  has  been  prominently  identified 
since.  The  varied  and  extensive  business  interests 
he  successfully  conducts  prove  him  to  be  a  man  of 
broad  comprehension  and  of  fine  executive  ability. 
Besides  doing  a  large  real-estate  and  loan  business, 
he  is  extensively  interested  in  stock-raising  and 
fanning,  owning  several  thousand  acres  of  line 
farming  land  in  Illinois.  Of  tlie  Ninth  Congres- 
sional District  Farmers'  Institute,  he  has  been 
President  since  its  organization,  it  having  grown 
to  he  one  of  the  largest  in  the  State.  To  home 
industries,  he  also  gives  his  time  and  encourage- 
ment. He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Paxton 
Brick  and  Tile  Com|)any,  of  which  he  is  a  director 
and  part  owner;  is  a  partner  in  the  Paxton  Can- 
ning Com|)any,  one  of  the  most  substantial  con- 
cerns of  the  kind  in  the  State;  one  of  the  incor- 
i  porators  cif  the  Paxton  Building,  Loan  and  Savings 
Association,  of  which  he  has  been  President  since 
its  inception,  or  for  a  period  of  ten  years. 

In  political  affairs.  Col.  Bogardus  has  taken  no 
inconsiderable    part.     He    has   served    two  terms. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


273 


1884  to  1888,  in  the  Ivower  House  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature, and  at  the  close  of  his  second  term  as  Repre- 
sentative, he  was  elected,  in  1888,  State  Senator 
from  the  Eighteenth  Senatorial  District,  making 
eight  consecutive  years  that  lie  has  been  a  member 
of  the  Legislature,  and  has  been  unanimously  en- 
dorsed by  the  counties  of  his  District  for  renomi- 
nation  by  the  Republican  part\'  as  their  candidate 
for  the  State  Senate.  Among  the  important  bills 
lie  was  instrumental  in  passing,  two  should  be  men- 
tioned: one  compelling  instruction,  in  the  public 
schools,  in  pliysiology  and  hygiene,  with  reference 
to  the  effects  of  alcoholic  beverages,  stimulants 
and  narcotics  on  the  human  system;  and  the  otiier 
regulating  the  weight  of  Hour  and  corn  meal,  com- 
pelling full  weights  under  severe  penalties.  In  the 
Thirty-fourth  General  Assembly,  he  was  one  of 
the  Republican  members  who  in  that  memorable 
Senatorial  contest,  wliich  lasted  four  months,  suc- 
ceeded in  electing  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  to  the  Sen- 
ate of  the  United  States.  Subsequently,  the  one 
hundred  and  three  Republicans  who  stood  so  firmly 
by  the  General  organized  themselves  into  a  society 
called  the  "Logan  103,"  of  which  Col.  Bogardus 
was  Secretary  and  Treasurer  from  its  organization 
until  the  last  meeting,  when  he  declined  to  serve 
longer.  In  the  Thirty-fifth  General  Assembly,  he 
was  unanimously  chosen  Chairman  of  the  Repub- 
lican House  caucus  for  the  session.  At  each  ses- 
sion, he  was  appointed  on  some  of  the  most  im- 
portant committees,  and  held  several  important 
chairmanships. 

Eor  years,  Col.  Bogardus  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  State  militia  with  a  desire  to  put 
the  four  thousand  Illinois  troops  in  the  highest 
state  of  efficiency.  For  four  years,  be  held  the  po- 
sition of  Colonel  and  A.  D.  C,  on  the  staff  of  Gov. 
Oglesby,  and  is  now  holding  the  same  position 
under  Gov.  Fifer. 

To  the  affairs  of  Paxton  he  has  given  attention, 
having  been  six  years  a  member  of  the  Council, 
and  eight  years  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  of 
which  he  was  President  a  part  of  that  time,  and  a 
Trustee  of  Paxton  Collegiate  Institute  since  its 
organization. 

Socially, he  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason  and  Past 
Commander  of  Paxton  Post  No.  .'587,  G.  A.  R. 


Col.  Bogardus  has  but  one  living  child,  MariaMj 
wife  of  Oscar  R.  Zip,  an  attorney  of  Salt  Lake  City. 

In  the  support  of  church  and  charities.  Col.  Bo- 
gardus is  liberal,  giving  where  it  is  most  needed, 
rather  than  where  it  would  bring  popularity. 

Mrs.  Bogardus,  who  also  owns  extensive  real- 
estate  interests,  is  a  woman  of  broad  charity  and 
is  a  zealous  church  worker,  as  is  also  the  daughter, 
who  is  gratefully  remembered  by  the  people  of 
Paxton  for  her  devout  life  and  for  her  excei)ti(inal 
business  ability. 

Col.  Bogardus  is  thoroughly  American  and  has 
always  been  in  syin[)ath(!tic  touch  with  the  labor- 
ing man.  It  is  dillicult  to  estimate  the  true  worth 
of  a  man  like  Col.  Bogardus  to  any  community. 
Possessed  of  superior  mental  powers,  trained  to 
think  and  and  act  with  coolness  in  the  heat  of  bat- 
tle and  in  the  perplexities  of  business  affairs,  able 
and  willing  to  assist  in  every  public  lienefaction 
or  private  charity,  just  and  honorable  in  his  <leal- 
ings  with  his  fellow-raen,  he  stands  without  a  peer 
in  this  part  of  the  State. 


/^^  HARLES  A.  FELLWOCK,  who  is  engaged 
(|[  _  in  farming  and  also  deals  in  fine  horses,  is 
^^^  a  resident  of  Lyman  Township,  located  on 
section  35.  He  was  born  near  the  city  of  Dresden, 
Germany,  and  is  a  son  of  August  and  Wilhelmina 
(Schneider)  Fellwock.  The  father  served  for  eight 
years  in  the  German  army.  He  was  a  blacksmith 
by  trade,  and,  with  his  family,  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  about  eight 
years.  They  landed  at  New  Orleans,  which  Charles 
remembers  as  a  little  Creole  Cit3',  not  larger  than 
Roberts  at  the  present  time.  The  family  went  up 
the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  Rivers  to  Cincinnati,  and 
thence  to  Ripley  County,  Ind.,  where  tlie  father 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  began  farming. 
When  the  war  broke  out  in  18G1,  he  came  to  Liv- 
ingston Count}',  111.,  and  purchased  a  half-section 
of  partially  improved  land,  upon  which  he  made 
his  home  until  1882.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  Ford  County,  and  is  a  highly  re- 
spected   citizen.     He    has  always   been  a  stalwart 


274 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Republican,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  of  Lyman  Townshi|).  Although  seventy- 
seven  years  of  age,  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty.  His 
wife  died  March  7,  1876,  and  her  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Livingston  County. 

The  eight  children  of  the  Fell  wock  family  are  all 
living  at  this  writing:  Augusta,  the  eldest,  is  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Lomarsh,  a  farmer  of  Livingston 
County;  Charles  is  the  next  younger;  Mollie  is 
the  wife  of  Adam  Gihrish,  a  butcher  of  Chenoa, 
111.;  Herman  is  married,  and  is  a  butcher  of  Beat- 
rice, Neb.;  Linda  is  the  wife  of  Chris.  Gehrish,  of 
Chenoa,  111.;  Louis  is  a  stock-raiser  of  Beatrice, 
Neb.;  Linnie  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Alden,  who  suc- 
cessfully carries  on  a  meat  market  in  Beatrice,  Neb.; 
and  Emile  follows  farming  in  Kankakee,  111. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  our  subject 
was  reared  to  manhood,  .lud  was  educated  both  in 
English  and  German.  He  has  inherited  the  in- 
dustrious disposition  of  his  German  ancestors,  and 
has  made  of  his  life  a  success.  He  now  owns  and 
operates  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  arable 
land,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  well  improved  with  all  the  conveniences  of  a 
model  farm.  There  are  large  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings and  the  beautiful  residence  is  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  township.  This  is  a  most  desirable 
and  valuable  place.  In  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing, Mr.  Fellwock  also  makes  a  specialty  of  the 
breeding  of  fine  horses,  and  now  has  a  fine  im- 
|)orted  English  shire  horse  about  ten  years  old. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  1867,  our  sulgect  wedded 
Miss  Katie  Barrick,  a  native  of  Wayne  County, 
N.  Y.,  born  April  3,  1839.  Her  education  was 
acquired  in  the  common  schools,  and  she  is  a  lady 
of  gentle  manner  and  kind  and  benevolent  dispo- 
sition. Her  parents  are  both  deceased.  Her  father 
died  in  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
three  years,  and  his  wife  died  in  Ford  Count3',  at 
the  age  of  sixty.  INIrs.  Fellwock  has  one  sister, 
Lydia,  who  is  living  in  Lyman  Township,  and  a 
half  brother,  Levi  J.  Pfaat,  a  resident  of  Fair- 
bury,  111. 

Three  children  were  born  unto  our  subject  and 
his  wife,  but  Laura  and  Lewis  both  died  in  infancy. 
Lydia  M.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  A.  Miiicli,  a  resi- 
dent of  Lyman  Township.     She  is  the  only  living 


child  and  the  comfort  of  her  parents.  She  belongs 
to  the  Evangelical  Church,  and  was  married  No- 
vember 19,  1891.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fellwock  are  both 
members  of  the  German  Evangelical  Church,  are 
earnest  workers  in  the  Master's  vineyard  and  for 
many  years  have  been  identified  with  the  Sunday- 
school  work.  In  politics,  he  is  a  warm  advocate 
of  Republican  principles  and  east  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  -for  Abraham  Lincoln.  His  upright 
life  and  sterling  worth  have  won  him  high  regard, 
and  he  well  deserves  representation  in  this  volume. 


RANK  OREN  CULTER,  M.  D.,  the  only 
homeopathic  phj'sician  of  Ciibson  City  and 
a  most  successful  practitioner,  is  a  native 
of  Brown  Countj',  Ohio,  and  was  born  in  Russell- 
ville,of  that  count}',  on  the  8th  of  May,  1861.  His 
parents,  Allen  M.  and  Mary  (Geeslin)  Culler,  were 
also  natives  of  Ohio.  The  mother  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  in  the  fall  of  1891,  but  her  husband 
still  survives  and  resides  in  Russellville,  Ohio. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  literary 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town,  clos- 
ing in  the  High  School.  On  leaving  school,  he 
entered  upon  the  stud}'  of  medicine  in  the  Pulte 
Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  whence  he 
was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '87.  Or.  receiving 
his  diploma,  he  began  the  practice  of  his  professi(m 
m  Dover,  Kj'. 

Dr.  Culter  continued  in  that  place  until  ho  w.as 
united  in  marriage,  which  important  event  oc- 
curred on  the  28th  of  May,  1889.  The  lady  was 
in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Lucy  J.  Aminer,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  S.  and  Margaret  Ammer,  of  Augusta, 
Ky.  Mrs.  Culter  was  born  and  reared  in  that  place 
and  there  received  her  education.  Immediately 
after  their  marriage,  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  came 
to  Gibson  City,  1 11.,  where  they  have  since  resided. 

Dr.  Culter  is  one  of  the  practicing  physicians  of 
his  school  in  Ford  County  and  has  already  achieved 
prominence  in  his  profession  in  consequence  of  his 
skill,  ability  and  uniform  success  in  practice.  He  is 
one  of  the  prominent  young  business  men  of  the 
place  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of 


i 


V 


C(—-p'^ 


V-iJ]AJ\jU4j       (LoAdiovu 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


279 


the  community.  In  |Hilitical  sentiment,  the  Doc- 
tor is  a  stalwart  Hepubliean,  and  is  a  Piesbyterian 
in  religious  affiliations.  Mis.  Culter  was  reared 
under  the  auspiws  of  the  Bai)tist  Churcli  and  be- 
lonsi:s  to  that  denomination.  This  couple  rank 
high  in  social  circles  and  he  is  a  member  of 
(libson  Lodge  No.  733,  A.  F.  it  A.  M.  He  is  now 
erecting  a  line  dwelling  house  in  (iibson  City  and 
designs  niuking  that  town  his  permanent  place  of 
residence. 


T/  NDREW  JORDAN,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Ford  County  and  one  of  her 
(li  most  successful  farmers,  now  owns  and 
operates  eight  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  very  fine  land,  his  home  being  situated  on  sec- 
tion 13,  Drummer  Township.  In  accordance  with 
his  enteri)rising  and  progressive  spirit,  his  farm  is 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  supplied 
with  excellent  buildings  and  good  improvements, 
both  useful  and  ornamental,  which  add  to  its 
value  and  attractive  ap|)earance. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  born  near  Louisville,  Ky., 
August  28,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Lovica  (Brooks)  Jordan,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia  and  located  in  Kentucky  about 
1818.  A  few  years  later,  they  removed  to  Monroe 
County,  near  Gosport,  Ind.,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  The  father  died  about 
185.")  and  the  nioLher  about  1849.  By  occupation, 
he  was  a  farmer  and  ever  followed  that  business 
for  a  livelihood.  Himself  and  wife  were  both  ad- 
herents of  the  I}a[)tist  Churcli  and,  in  i)olitics,  he 
was  a  supporter  of  Democratic  [irinciples. 

Our  subject  was  fifth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children.  He  received  but  a  limited 
education  and  remained  with  his  paients  until  he 
had  attained  his  majurity,  when  he  started  out  in 
life  for  himself.  With  a  horse  and  *15  in 
money,  he  located  near  Virginia,  Cass  County, 
III.,  and  began  work  as  a  farm  hand,  receiving  ^13 
per  month.  In  the  fall  of  I  s oil.  he  returned  to 
Indiana,  and  after  a  short  time  went  to  Bloom- 
ington.  111.,  where  he  worked  for  about  six  months. 
12 


lie  then  became  a  resident  of  Cass  County,  III., 
where  he  was  engaged  as  a  farm  hand.  Once  more, 
he  returned  to  Indiana  and  subsequently  located 
in  Champaign  County,  having  jiurchased  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  land.  A  year  later,  however,  he  ex- 
changed farms  with  his  father-iii-lavv,  receiving 
eighty  acres,  which  INIr.  Devore  had  entered  from 
the  Government. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  married,  on  the  30th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1852,  to  INIiss  Amanda  Devore,  who  w.as  born 
near  Gosport,  Owen  County,  Ind.,  March  16,  1835, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Polly  (Hartzog) 
Devore,  who  were  of  German  lineage.     They  were 
also  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and,  in  pol- 
itics, Mr.  Devore  was  a  stalwart  Rei)ublican.     Im- 
mediately after  their  marriage,  our  subject  and  his 
wife  settled  on  their  farm  in  Champaign  County, 
but  in  March,   1854,  came  to  their  present  home. 
From   time   to   time,  he  added  to  his  possessions 
until  he  became    the    owner  of    eleven    hundred 
acres,    but  has    since    sold  a    portion    of    it    and 
now  owns  eight  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  val- 
uable land.     He  also  owns  and  operates  one  of  the 
largest  brick  and  tile  works  in  the  county  and,  in 
counecliou  with  his  farming,  raises  a  fine  grade  of 
horses  and  cattle.     He  has  been  very  successful  in 
his  business  career  and  his  success  is  well  deserved. 
He  bore  all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  frontier  life, 
however.     The  first  home  of  himself  and  wife  was 
a  log  cabin.     They  did    their   first   corn  planting 
under    trying  circumstances.     Mr.  Jordan   would 
take  the  baby  (their  son  William)  in  his  arms  and 
plow  for  a  time,  while  his   wife    would    drop  the 
corn.     At    length,  he   fixed  a   box  on    top  of   the 
plow  and,  placing  the  little  fellow  in  that,  resumed 
his  work.     There  were  no  near   markets.     Paxton, 
Loda,  Elliott,  Gibson,  Melvin  and  Sibley,  all    now 
thriving  towns,  were  not  then  laid  out.    They  saw 
the  introduction  of  all  the  railroads  in  this  part  of 
the  county  and   have  been   eye-witnesses  of  much 
of  the  growth  and  development  of  this  community. 
Five  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jordan:     AVilliam,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Sibley;  James,  a  resident  farmer  of  Kansas;  John, 
who  operates  the  old   homestead;  Lizzie,  wife  of 
Dr.  CamiJiell,  a  physician  of  Ft.  Recovery,  Ohio; 
and    Charlie,   who   is  engaged  in  agricultural  i)ur- 


280 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


suits  iri  Dix  Township.  The  parents  are  people  of 
benevolent  disposition,  hold  raerahership  witli  the 
Cliristian  Church  in  Gibson,  and  take  an  active 
interest  in  its  work.  Church  and  Sunday-scliool 
were  held  in  their  home  and  that  of  their  neigh- 
bors in  the  early  days.  In  the  fall  of  1890,  Mr. 
Jordan  donated  two  hundred  and  tvvent_y  tliousand 
brick  for  the  beautiful  church  edifice  in  wliich  he 
now  worships,  and  which  stands  as  a  monument 
to  his  benevolence.  The  first  Township  and  tlie 
first  Presidential  elections  in  Drummer  Township 
were  held  in  his  home,  in  1861. 

Mr.  Jordan  was  the  lirst  .Supervisor  of  Drummer 
Township,  which  otiice  he  filled  for  two  years, 
and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  honored  and 
prominent  citizens  of  the  county.  His  life  has 
been  well  and  worthily  sijent,  and  in  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duties  and  every  trust  reposed 
in  liim,  iic  has  won  the  confidence  and  high  regard 
of  all. 


J'  OHN  McKINNEY,  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
J.  McKinuey  &  Son,  has  been  engaged  in 
business  in  Piper  City  since  1869,  and  is 
one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  the  county. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  He  was  born 
in  Cookstown,  near  Belfast,  November  28,  1834, 
and  is  a  son  of  Archibald  McKinney,  wlio  was  horn 
and  reared  in  the  same  localit3',and  was  a  merchant 
in  the  linen  trade.  He  married  Elizabeth  McKin- 
ney, who  bore  the  same  name  but  was  no  relative, 
and  ail  of  the  cliildren  who  are  yet  living  were 
born  in  Ireland.  Tlie  family  left  their  native  land 
in  1847,  sailing  from  Liverpool,  and  after  six 
weeks  arrived  at  Pliiladelphia.  In  1857,  the  father 
came  West  and  settled  upon  a  tract  of  wild  prairie 
land  in  Brenton  Township,  where  lie  resided  until 
eight  years  ago,  since  which  time  he  has  made  his 
home  in  Piper  City.  He  is  now  ninety  years  of 
age,  but  his  wife  died  June  1,  1892,  within  three 
days  of  her  ciglitieth  birtliday.  He  and  his  familj^ 
are  all  members  of  the  Presbj'terian  Church,  and, 
in  politics,  lie  is  a  Republican.  Three  children  are 
yet  living:  John,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Perry,  who 


is  now  a  widow  and    resides  with   her  father,  and 
Mrs.  McLauglilin,  of  Piper  City. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  fourteen  years  of  his 
life  in  liis  native  land  and  tlien  accompanied  his 
parents  to  this  country.  He  attended  a  niglit 
school  in  Philadelphia,  and  acquired  a  good  Eng- 
lish education.  After  serving  a  five-3'cars'  ap- 
prenticeship to  the  carpenter's  trade,  he  worked  in 
a  brick  yard,  and,  in  18.56,  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
and  w.is  employed  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
before  the  city  of  Paxton  was  established.  In  1859, 
he  came  to  Piper  Citj',  before  it  was  laid  out,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home,  and,  in  1866,  took 
charge  of  the  lumber  department  of  the  business  of 
J.  A.  Montelius.  Three  years  later,  he  went  into 
business  for  himself  .as  a  lumber-dealer,  and  in 
1871  admitted  liis  brother  William  into  partner- 
ship. They  opened  a  furniture  and  hardware 
store  and  the  connection  was  continued  until  1880, 
when  the  brother  died,  and  Mr.  McKinuey  was 
again  alone  in  business  until  1888,  when  he  ad- 
mitted his  son  Will  to  partnership.  They  deal 
in  lumber,  carry  a  large  stock  of  hardware  and  fur-  1 
niture,  and  do  an  undertaking  business,  their  sales 
the  i)ast  year  amounting  to  $37,000.  From  the 
beginning,  their  trade  has  constantly  increased  and 
they  are  well  deserving  the  liberal  patronage  which 
they  receive. 

April  23,  1865,  in  this  county,  Mr.  McKinney 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Fredericka  Walrich, 
who  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  and,  when  a 
child,  was  brought  to  this  countr3'.  They  have 
five  children  living  and  have  lost  one:  Lizzie  R. 
w.as  married  June  16,  1892,  to  Rev.  Amery  S.  Has- 
kins;  Will  O.,  who  attended  Bryant  &  .Stratton's 
Business  College  of  Chicago,  has  for  four  years 
been  a  partner  of  his  father  and  is  an  enterprising 
young  business  man;  Kate  M.  graduated  from  the 
Onarga  Academy  in  .June,  1892;  Jennie  M.  and 
Emily  F.  are  at  home;  and  Maggie  died  at  the  age 
of  nine  years. 

Mr.  McKinnej'  cast  his  first  I'residential  vote 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  has  since  been  a  stalwart 
supjiorter  of  Republican  principles.  He  has  served 
as  a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions  and  is  in- 
fluential in  its  councils.  He  has  held  a  number  of 
local  offices,  including  that  of  Township  Collector, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


281 


and  was  a  inemlier  of  the  Village  TJoard.  ITeandliis 
family  belong  to  the  Presbyterian  Cliuich  of  IMper 
City,  of  whieli  he  was  a  charter  member,  and  of 
wliieli  lie  is  now  Tiustee.  He  takes  an  active  part 
in  its  growth  and  upbuilding,  and  has  been  lil)eral 
with  his  jneans  in  its  support.  l\Ir.  IMcKinney 
came  to  b'ord  County  l)efore  it  was  organized  and 
lias  been  iirominently  connected  witli  its  history. 
lie  deserves  great  credit  for  what  he  has  dime  for 
the  coinmnnity  .and  his  name  shoidd  be  enrolled 
anK)ng  the  founders  of  Pijjcr  t'ity.  In  his  Inisiness 
career  he  has  met  with  signal  success,  for  wliieh  he 
has  no  one  to  thank  but  himself,  as  his  prosperity 
has  come  as  the  reward  of  his  own  efforts. 

T  KTHUR  SWANICK  is  now  living  a 
retired  life  in  Roberts.  He  is  a  self-made 
man  and  one  of  the  lu'ominent  citizens  of 
the  county.  He  started  out  in  life  empty- 
handed,  with  no  capital  save  a  young  man's  bright 
hope  of  the  future,  but  through  industry,  enter- 
prise and  good  management,  he  has  steadily  worked 
his  way  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence,  and  the  uiJ- 
right  life  that  he  has  lived  is  well  worthy  of 
emulation. 

He  was  born  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  Septem- 
ber 16,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  .John  and  Frances 
(Kirkpatrick)  Swanick,  also  natives  of  the  same 
county.  The  father  vvas  a  farmer  and  died  on  the 
Emerald  Isle  when  in  the  prime  of  life.  His  wife 
afterward  came  to  America  and  died  in  Roberts 
in  1873.  Of  their  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
five  are  yet  living:  Arthur,  of  tiiis  sketch;  Mary, 
wife  of  Peter  Welsli,  a  contractor  of  Saratoga 
.Springs,  N.  Y.;  Sarah,  wife  of  Abraham  Code,  a 
boot  and  shoe  merchant  of  La  Salle  County,  111.; 
.John,  an  agriculturist  of  Lj-raan  Townsiiip;  and 
Alexander,  who  makes  his  home  in  Mendota  and  is 
an  employe  on  the  Chicago,  Lurlington  A-  tiuincy 
Railroad. 

Our  subject  siient  the  dajs  of  his  boyiiood  and 
youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  on 
attaining  his  majority  decided  to  try  his  fortune 
in  America.     He  sailed  from  Liverpool,  and,  after 


a  voyage  of  six  weeks  and  two  days,  landed  at 
New  York,  from  whence  he  went  to  Saratoga,  that 
State,  where  he  had  friends  living.  After  seven 
years  spent  in  that  locality,  he  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  lirst  in  La  Salle  County,  and  afterward 
residing  in  Kane  County,  where  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  and  married  ISIiss  Rose  Layden,  a 
nativeof  County  Leitrim,  I  rcland.  Their  union  was 
celebrated  .luly  13,  18t;2,  and  unto  them  were  born 
three  daughters  and  a  son.  Their  daughter  Alice, 
who  became  the  wife  of  David  Smith,  of  Lyman 
Township,  died  January  19,  1892.  She  was  a  noble- 
minded  woman  who  had  a  host  of  friends  through- 
out this  community.  She  left  a  husband  and  two 
little  daughters  to  mourn  her  loss. 

"We  shall  miss  her,  we  shall  miss  her. 
Mother,  sister,  friend  so  dear. 

For  the  face  tliat  smiled  so  sweetly' 
Ne'er  again  shall  greet  us  here. 

"But  the  Glod  of  truth  and  justice, 
On  whose  bosom  now  she  leans. 

Tells  us  that  unto  the  faithful 

Soon  there'll  be  no  parting  scenes." 

Sarah,  the  second  child  of  the  family,  resides  in 
Roberts;  Susan  is  a  successful  teacher  in  the  public 
schools;  and  .John  is  an  enterprising  agriculturist 
of  this  county'. 

The  mother  came  to  America  when  a  child  of 
seven  summers,  and  resided  in  New  Y'ork  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  when  she  came  to  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  .Swanick's  first  purchase  of  land  con- 
sisted of  eighty  acres  of  raw  prairie,  for  which  he 
paid  SlO  per  acre.  It  had  no  improvements 
upon  it,  but  he  built  a  small  frame  house,  16x24 
feet.  As  the  result  of  his  persistent  efforts  and 
industry,  his  possessions  have  constantly  in- 
creased and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  twenty  acres  of 
which  are  within  the  village.  He  has  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  as  his  chief  pursuit,  but  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  his  pleasant  home  on 
Main  Street,  where  he  owns  a  comfortable  home  and 
commodious  residence,  which  is  the  abode  of  hos- 
pitality. He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  but  since  that  time  has  voted 
with  the  Democratic  party,  except  at  local 
elections,  when  he  supports  the  man,  regardless  of 


282 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAl'mCAL  RECORD. 


party  atlili:iti(/ns.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  tlie 
Catholic  Cliurcli.  He  is  a  public-spirited  gentle- 
man, of  benevolent  disposition,  and  the  poor  and 
needy  never  leave  his  door  empty-handed. 


'F ^  ENRY  BROCK,  a  retired  farmer  who  makes 

'^  his  home  in  Piper  City,  was  born  in  Tomji- 
kins  County,  N.  Y.,  May  8,  1824,  and  is  of 
I,  Scotch  descent.  The  great-grandfather,  ac- 
companied by  two  brothers,  came  from  Scotland  to 
America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  the 
former  served  in  the  struggle  for  indepeiidence. 
He  was  with  AVashington  during  the  hard  winter 
at  Valley  Forge,  where  the  bleeding  feet  of  the  sol- 
diers made  tracks  upon  the  snow. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Thom.as  Brock,  w.is 
born  and  reared  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  upon 
a  farm,  and  in  an  early  day  removed  to  Tompkins 
County.  After  his  father's  death,  he  and  his  broth- 
ers took  care  of,  and  supported,  the  family.  He 
was  married,  in  that  county,  to  PhoBbe  Woodruff,  a 
native  of  Connecticut.  In  i)olitics,  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat for  some  j'ears,  and  afterward  became  a  Whig. 
In  religious  belief,  he  was  a  Congregationalist.  He 
died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  His 
wife  survived  him  several  j'ears,  and  passed  away 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four.  During  the  last 
years  of  her  life  she  was  lilind.  The  family  numbered 
the  following  children:  Maria,  deceased;  Henry, 
of  this  sketch;  John,  who  is  living  near  the  old 
homestead;  Lavina,  wife  of  Abel  Baker,  who  was  a 
teacher  in  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  As3ium  of  Illinois 
for  a  time;  Alfred,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
in  New  York;  Chester,  who  died  in  childhood; 
Alecta,  now  Mrs.  Holister,  of  New  York,  and 
Phcebe;   one  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
and  at  a  select  school.  His  school  life  was  ended 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  after  which  he  devoted 
his  entire  time  and  attention  to  farm  work.  On 
attaining  his  majority,  he  began  working  for  him- 
self, and  four  years  later  came  to  Illinois,  in  1849, 
locating  near  Ottawa,  where  he  engaged  in  .agricul- 
tural pursuits  for  twenty  years.    During  that  time, 


he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  ,1.  Wood- 
ruff, who  died  in  La  Salle  Couut3'.  Mr.  Brock  was 
again  married  in  1882,  in  tliis  county,  his  second 
union  being  with  Mrs.  INIariette  Thomas,  widow  (jf 
Francis  Thom.as.  She  has  one  son  by  her  first  mar- 
riage, John,  who  resides  at  home  and  operates 
eighty  acres  of  land. 

In  18(39,  Mr.  Brock  came  to  Ford  County,  and 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  .acres  of  unim- 
proved i)rairie  land  in  IVlla  Township.  This  he 
drained,  transforming  the  wild  land  into  rich  and 
fertile  fields,  and  making  it  a  valuable  farm,  upon 
which  he  resided  until  18H."),  although  he  continued 
to  operate  his  land  until  two  years  ago.  His  health 
having  failed,  he  has  since  lived  a  retired  life  in 
Piper  City.  He  is  a  man  of  good  business  aliility, 
enterprising  and  progressive,  and  by  his  own  efforts 
has  accumulated  his  property. 

Mr.  Brock  is  a  member  of  the  M.asonic  lodge,  of 
Piper  City.  In  early  life,  he  w.as  a  sujiporter  of 
the  Whig  party,  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Gen.  T.aylor.  In  1860,  he  supported  Lincoln, 
and  since  that  time  has  voted  with  the  Republican 
party,  except  in  1872,  when  he  cast  his  ballot  for 
Horace  Greeley.  AVliile  in  La  Salle  Count}',  he 
served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways,  has  been 
School  Trustee  for  a  number  of  3'ears,  and  has 
served  as  Trustee  of  Piper  City,  but  has  never  been 
an  office-seeker.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  community,  and  is  both 
well  and  favorably  known  throughout  his  adoiited 
county. 


OBERr  SHAMBROOK  is  numbered  among 
if  the  representative  and  enterprising  farm- 
ers of  Lyman  Township.  His  home  is  on 
^^  section  .5,  where  he  owns  eighty  acres  of 
arable  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  The  well-tilled  fields  and  neat  ap- 
pearance of  the  place  indicate  his  thrift  and  enter- 
prise and  his  is  one  of  tlie  model  farms  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Shambrook  was  liorn    in   Devonshire,   near 
Barnstable,  England,  June    19,   1825,   and  was  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


283 


second  in  order  of  hiitli  in  a  family  of  five  cliil- 
dren,  four  sons  and  one  dangliler,  but  he  lias  only 
one  brother  now  liviiiij,  John,  a  successful  fanner, 
who  is  married  and  resides  in  Lyman  Township. 
The  parents  were  Henry  and  Frances  (Braley) 
.Shambrook,  both  natives  of  Devcnisliire.  Tiie 
father  was  a  fanier  and  died  at  the  ago  of  sixty 
years.  He  and  his  wife  were  both  members  of  the 
Episcopal  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  but  limited 
educational  advantages,  but  by  reading  and  observ- 
atit)n  in  after  life,  he  has  made  himself  a  well-in- 
formed man.  In  1853,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Prudence  Ridge,  also  a  native  of  Devonshire, 
and  with  his  bride  sailed  for  America.  Coming  to 
this  country,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Ford 
County,  111.,  in  1874,  where  he  has  since  carried 
on  farming.  Four  children  were  born  unto  Mr. 
and  l\Irs.  Shamlirook,  and  the  family  circle  j^et  re- 
mains unbroken:  Sarah,  wife  of  Martin  Beer,  an 
agriculturist, by  whom  she  had  five  children;  Fan- 
nie Jane,  wife  of  Henry  Forney,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Lyman  Township;  John  Henry,  who  married 
Miss  Jane  Huxtable  and  is  living  in  Lyman  Town- 
ship; and  Elizabeth,  who  also  makes  lier  home  in  Ly- 
man Township.  The  mother  of  this  family  died 
October 24,  1875,  and  lier  remains  were  interred  in 
Roberts  Cemeterj'.  Mr.  Shambrook  was  again 
piarried,  September  24,  1876,  at  the  Methodist 
Chapel  in  Barnstable,  KInglaiid,  his  second  union 
being  with  Miss  Grace  Braund,  a  native  of  Barn- 
stable, born  March  13,  1831,  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Green)  Braund. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shambrook 
set  sail  for  America  at  Liverjiool  and  at  lengtli  ar- 
rived at  Quebec,  whence  they  came  to  Ford 
County.  Since  that  time,  they  have  been  resi- 
dents of  L3'man  Township,  and  are  among  its 
highly  respected  citizens.  They  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  have  taken  much  interest 
in  the  Sunday-school  work.  In  politics,  INIr.  Sham- 
brook has  been  a  stanch  Republican  since  tlic  or- 
ganization of  the  party.  He  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  Winfield  Scott.  He  has 
served  as  School  Director  but  has  never  been  an 
office-seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  his  business    interests,    which  he 


has  followed  with  good  success.  He  commenced 
life  in  this  country  as  a  farm  hand,  workingat  ^12 
per  month,  and,  in  addition  to  his  home  farm,  he 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
White  County,  Ind.  His  success  has  all  been  due 
to  his  own  efforts  and  for  it  he  certainly  deserves 
niueh  credit.  He  and  his  wife  are  kind-hearted, 
generous  peoi)le  and  arc  lield  in  the  highest  regard 
by  all  who  know  them  for  their  sterling  worth. 


i>«  >i  »•  I  1 1  I 


"il/  ( )HN  H.  HOIiMES  is  the  resident  and  manag- 
ing partner  of  the  firm  of  Keiser,  Holmes 
cfe  AVhite,  Elevator  Company,  of  Gibson 
City.  This  coinpan3'  was  organized  in  De- 
cember. 188().  and  does  a  general  grain  and  lumber 
business.  They  have  an  elevator  at  Gibson  which 
has  a  storage  capacity  of  forty-five  tliou.sand  liush- 
els;  one  at  East  Lynn,  of  twenty-five  thousand 
bushels,  and  handle  grain  at  Switch  D.  They 
handle  during  the  shipping  season  a  total  of  three 
hundred  thousand  bushels  of  grain.  Their  lumber 
business,  which  is  extensive,  is  limited  to  the  Gibson 
City  yard. 

Mr.  Holmes  was  born  in  Pike  County,  111.,  on 
the  22(1  of  May,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Cyrus  and 
Calista  (Bennett)  Holmes.  His  father  was  l)orn  in 
Walthani,  Mass.,  in  1817,  and  his  mother  was  a 
native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  iMr.  Holmes, 
Sr.,  came  to  Illinois  when  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  and  the  mother  of  our  subject  removed  to 
this  State  in  girlhood.  They  were  married  in 
Princeton,  III.,  and  made  their  home  in  Pike 
County,  where  Mr.  Holmes  engaged  in  farming. 
He  continued  that  occu|iation  in  Pike  County 
until  LSO'.l.  then  moved  on  a  farm  near  Ludlow, 
Champaign  County,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death,  in  1886.  Mrs.  Holmes  survived  her  hus- 
band five  years,  being  called  to  her  final  rest  in 
February,  1891.  They  were  highly  respected 
people  and  received  the  confidence  of  the  entire 
community  where  tiiey  made  their  home. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm 
until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  country-  schools  of  Pike  Count3-. 


284 


i'ORTRAlT  AND  JilOGRAPHIC AL  RECORD. 


On  tlic  31st  of  Decemlier,  1873.  he  was  married  in 
Ludlow,  III.,  to  Miss  Maiy  Clo^d,  a  daughter  of 
Archie  C'lo^^d,  and  a  native  of  Mercer  County,  K3^ 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  Iiave  been  born  four 
children,  but  throe  are  now  deceased.  Belva,  their 
eldest,  died  at  the  .ige  of  six  years;  Bertha,  de- 
ceased, was  of  the  same  age  .as  lier  sister;  F.ay  died 
when  eleven  months  old,  and  Stella,  their  only 
living  child,  is  the  youngest. 

In  1877,  Mr.  Holmes  removed  witli  his  family  to 
what  is  now  known  as  Fall  River,  Kan.,  and  there 
made  his  home  until  1880,  when  he  returned  to 
Illinois  and  eng.aged  in  .agricultural  pursuits  for 
two  years.  Tie  came  to  Gibson  City  in  August, 
lH,s-2,  and  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  hay 
until  188<I,  since  which  time  lie  has  been  buying 
and  shipping  grain.  He  has  been  very  successful 
in  his  present  business,  and  is  one  of  the  industri- 
oiis  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Gibson. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mv.  Holmes  is  a  st.anch 
Republican,  and  while  in  Kansas  was  Township 
Treasurer,  .and  since  coming  to  Gibson  Cit}-  has 
served  one  term  as  Vill.age  Trustee.  Our  subject 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Christian  Church,  and  have  been  identified 
with  that  body  for  the  past  twenty-four  years.  As 
a  business  man  and  citizen,  Mr.  Holmes  takes  rank 
among  the  enterprising  and  public-spirited  citizens 
of  Gibson,  and  has,  b\'  strict  integrity  and  correct 
business  and  social  habits,  won  the  esteem  and  re- 
spect of  those  who  know  him  best. 


^^l 


^  OIIN  E.  BUNKER,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  3,  Lyman  Town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  the  Pine  Tree  State.  He 
was  born  in  Somerset  Countj-,  May  25, 
1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Jc)hn  (i.  .and  Sylvira  (Rollins) 
Bunker.  His  father  was  a  Maine  farmer  and  his 
death  occurred  mauj-  years  ago.  His  wife,  who  is 
also  a  native  of  Maine,  is  yet  living  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
son  .John.  They  had  a  family  of  five  sons  and 
one  daughter,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Henry, 
W.,  who  is  married  and    is  a  barber  of    Canada; 


John,  of  this  sketch;  Stephen  F.,  who  is  married 
and  follows  farming  in  Howard,  Minn.;  and  Mar- 
tin L.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  East  Wil- 
ton, Me. 

Mr.  Bunker,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  has 
been  dependent  upon  his  own  exertions  since  the 
age  of  sixteen  years,  wlien  he  shipped  from  Port- 
land, Me.,  on  a  coaster  and  did  not  .again  see  liis 
native  land  for  four  and  a  half  years.  The  vessel, 
"Desdemona,"  was  under  command  of  Cajit.  .Smith, 
and  during  the  long  V03'.age  encountered  some  se- 
vere storms.  Mr.  Bunker  next  went  to  Australia 
on  a  merchantman,  visiting  the  ?3ast  Indies,  Cal- 
cutta and  the  most  important  cities  of  China;  he  al.so 
went  uji  the  Ganges  and  Hoogl^-  Rivers.  He  then 
went  to  London,  England,  .and  after  a  short  time 
returned  to  New  York,  having  been  aw-ay  for  two 
years  and  eight  months.  This  w.as  in  1861,  and  he 
afterward  joined  the  United  States  nav^-  under 
Capt.  Smith,  serving  as  Quartermaster  of  the  vessel, 
which  was  stationed  near  Fortress  Monroe  to  pro- 
tect the  co.ast.  He  w.as  in  the  service  for  one  3'car, 
and  was  then  in  the  lighthouse  service  for  a  time, 
after  which  he  returned  home  and  began  rigging 
sailing-ships  for  use  during  the  war. 

On  the  21th  of  November,  1864,  Mr.  Bunker 
wedded  IMiss  Hannah  M.  Bigelow,  a  native  of 
Somerset  County,  Me.,  born  June  16,  1842,  and  a 
daughter  of  Sawyer  and  Elizabeth  Bigelow.  Her 
father  was  a  farmer  of  Maine  and  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty  years.  Her  mother  is  still  living  in  the 
Pine  Tree  State  and  is  about  sixty-five  years  of 
age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bunker  have  had  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  four  of  whom  are 
yet  living:  Luella,  who  was  educated  in  Roberts, 
and  was  a  successful  teacher,  is  the  wife  of  Harry 
E.  Fairley,  a  farmer;  Irvin  G.  wedded  Mai\y  Ar- 
nold and  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Iroquois  County; 
Everett  aids  his  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm; 
and  Irene  is  vet  attending  school. 

In  1867.  Mr.  Bunker  and  his  wife  liade  good- 
b^-e  to  their  home  in  the  East  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois.  They  spent  a  short  time  in  Chicago  and 
then  removed  to  Grundy  County,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1870.  when  they  came  to 
Lj^man  Township  and  have  since  been  numbered 
among    its    higlil3-respected   citizens.       They    are 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


285 


members  of  the  Congreoatioiial  Clnirch  and  their 
upright  lives  liave  won  them  the  liigli  regard  of 
all.  Tlieir  pleasant  home,  which  is  the  nl)ode  of 
hospitality,  is  located  on  an  eiglity-aere  farm, 
whose  rich  and  fertile  fields  yield  a  golden  tribute 
to  the  care  and  cultivation  of  the  owner.  Mr. 
Bunker  east  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen. 
Grant,  and  tlie  Republican  party  has  ever  found 
in  him  a  stanch  advocate  of  its  principles.  He  has 
been  olficially  connected  with  the  school  of  Lyman 
Township  for  a  number  of  years,  and  while  in  Rob- 
erts was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army. 


_V 


/ 


*^*s 


PREDERICK  E.  STEININIANN,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing on  section  6,  Wall  Townsliip,  is  a 
native  of  Prussia.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Blossheira,  on  the  26th  of  August,  18.32,  and  is  a 
son  of  Gerhardt  and  Mar}'  (Becker)  Steinmann, 
both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  the  same  | 
locality,  and  the  father  served  in  the  German 
army.  Seven  children  were  born  of  their  union  in 
Germany,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  Frederick;  Louisa 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Spellmeyer;  William  and 
Ernest  died  in  Germany;  Henry,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work,  is  a  farmer  of  Wall 
Township;  Katherina  is  the  widow  of  Joe  Feldhus, 
and  resides  in  St.  Louis;  and  Cliarlotte  is  the  wife 
of  George  Spellmeyer. 

Our  subject  spent  his  childhood  days  in  his  na- 
tive land,  crossing  the  Atlantic  to  America  when 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  This  was  in  1857,  and 
in  1866  the  other  members  of  the  family  emi- 
grated to  America.  The  father,  who  was  born  in 
September,  1802,  died  at  the  home  of  Henry  Spell- 
meyer, in  Ford  County,  in  1875.  His  wife  died 
in  her  native  land  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  fifty-flve 
years.  Frederick  acquired  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Germany,  which  he  attended  for  eight 
years,  and  later  worked  in  the  coal  mines  for  four 
years.  He  also  served  for  two  years  in  the  Ger- 
man armj'  as  a  member  of  the  Fifteenth  Infantry, 


and  in  1857  he  sailed  from  Bremen,  landing  at 
New  Orleans  after  a  voyage  of  nine  weeks.  He 
then  made  his  way  up  the  river  to  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  where  he  lived  seven  and  one-half  years,  and 
for  two  years  and  a  half  w.as  cmi)loyed  in  a  foun- 
dry, and  three  years  in  a  shot  tower  and  brick- 
j-ard.  Sul)sequently,  he  joined  Company  A,  of  the 
Second  Missouri  Regiment,  and  for  two  years  did 
service  with  that  command,  being  principally  en- 
gaged in  border  warfare. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  time,  Mr.  Steinmann 
was  advised  l)y  his  physician  to  leave  the  city  on 
account  of  poor  health,  and  he  determined  to 
come  to  Illinois,  and  after  four  years  spent  in  La 
Salle  County,  where  he  followed  farming,  came  to 
Ford  County  in  1870.  He  here  iiurchased  eighty 
acres  of  wild  prairie  land,  upon  which  he  }'et 
makes  his  home,  but  now  owns  six  hundred  and 
forty-seven  acres.  Besides  the  home  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  6,  Wall  Town- 
ship, he  has  two  eighty-acre  tracts  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 16,  L3'inan  Township;  two  on  section  2,  .and 
one  eighty-acre  tract  on  section  2.3,  L)'man  Town- 
ship, and  one  eighty-seven  acre  tract  of  land  on 
section  12,  Peach  Orchard  Township.  The  home 
farm  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
buildings  and  other  improvements  indicate  the 
progressive  spirit  of  the  owner,  who  is  now  doing 
a  successful  business  as  a  general  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  His  life  has  been  a  busy  one,  yet  he  has 
found  time  to  aid  in  the  advancement  of  those 
enterprises  calculated  to  promote  the  best  interests 
of  the  community.  In  politics,  Mr.  Steinmann  is 
a  Republican.  He  has  served  as  School  Director 
for  fifteen  years  and  the  cause  of  education  has 
found  in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  and  his  wife  and 
children  are  members  of  the  German  Methodist 
Church,  of  Melvin. 

Mr.  Steinmann  was  married  in  Germany,  on  the 
25th  of  May,  1857,  just  prior  to  emigrating  to 
America,  his  union  being  with  Miss  Louisa  Spell- 
meyer. Her  father,  Gotlieb  Spellmeyer,  who  was 
born  in  Germany,  April  y,  1806,  and  died  in  April, 
1888,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  when  about 
eighty-one  years  of  age,  had  seven  children,  of 
whom  five  are  living.  Mr.  Spellmeyer  came  to 
America  in  the  year  1857.     He  was  a   member  of 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  Lutheran  Church,  and,  in  politics,  was  a  Demo- 
crat. His  wife,  wlio  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Carolina  Kustcr,  was  born  in  Germany,  January 
1,  1807,  and  died  in  1880.  She  also  was  a  mem- 
ber of  tiic  Lutheran  Cliurch.  Mrs.  Steinmann  was 
educated  in  the  German  schools.  She  was  a  kind 
and  loving  wife  and  mother,  and  has  been  a  valu- 
able helpmate  to  her  husband,  with  whom  she  has 
traveled  life's  journey  for  thirty-five  years. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  have  been  born  ten 
children,  seven  of  whom  arc  yet  living,  as  follows: 
Carrie  wa.>  married,  May  28,  1884,  to  Adam  Schafer, 
a  merchant  of  Melvin;  Henry,  who  was  educated 
in  Xapi'rvillo  College,  of  Naperville,  111.,  and  is 
Mr.  Silialcr's  [lartner  in  business,  married  Susanna 
Scliafcr  October  6,  188(),and  their  home  is  in  Mel- 
vin; Louisa  .1.,  Frederick  W.;  Mary  W.,  Emma  jM. 
and  Johnnie  L.  are  still  at  home.  The  four  eldest 
children  were  born  in  St.  Louis,  the  others  are 
natives  of  Illinois.  The  family  is  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known  in  this  (■ommuiiity  and  ranks  high 
in  social  circles.  Mr.  Stcmmann  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  farmers  of  Wall  Township,  and 
is  an  influential  and  valued  citizen. 


C.  MAXSON,  a  practical  and  progressive 
farmer  of  Lyman  Township,  residing  on 
section  14,  claims  Connecticut  as  the  State 
of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  February 
8,  1821,  and  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  the  days 
when  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  landed  on  the  shores  of 
Massachusetts.  His  parents  were  Amos  Champaign 
and  Elizabeth  (Tinker)  Maxson.  His  father  was 
born  in  Connecticut,  and  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religious  be- 
lief was  a  Baptist.  He  died  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three  years.  His  family  numbered  four  sons  and 
two  daughters,  but,  with  the  exception  of  our 
subject,  only  one  is  now  living,  Nancy,  who  re- 
sides in  Connecticut,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two.  The 
early  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent  un- 
der the  parental  roof,  where  he  remained  until 
fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  shipjied  aboard  a 
sailing-vessel  on  the  high  seas,  leaving  New  York 


on  a  packet  bound  for  London.  He  followed  this  -? 
life  for  seven  years,  and  became  mate  of  a  vessel. 
He  has  sailed  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  Havre, 
Rotterdam,  Ital}',  Sicily,  Antwerp,  and  .around  Cape 
Horn.  He  made  fifteen  voyages  on  the  "Welling- 
ton" to  London,  one  on  the  "Hector"  to  Mobile, 
one  each  to  Liverpool  on  the  "Metoka,"  the  "Si- 
dons"  and  the  "Cornelia,"  one  each  to  London  on  •  ■ 
the  "Toronto"  and  the  "Montreal;"  was  second 
mate  on  the  brig  "Republic"  during  three  voy- 
ages, and  the  brig  "Mettamora"  on  two  voj-ages 
to  Aitpalachicola,  was  boatswain  on  two  voyages  to 
Liverpool,  was  first  mate  on  the  "Sampson"  on 
three  voyages,  on  the  barque  "Curtis"  from  New 
Orleans  to  Philadcliihia,  on  the  brig  "Emeline,"  on 
the  brig  "Ocilla,  which  went  around  Cape  Horn  to 
California,  on  the  barrpie  "Mayflower,"  for  two 
years,  on  the  "Sir  Robert  Peel,"  during  two  V03'- 
ages,  and  the  "Lenore,"  and  the  "American  Con- 
gress" during  one  voyage.  He  was  Captain  of  tlic 
ships  "Tonera,"  and  "Edwina"  each  a  voyage. 
He  w.as  on  the  high  seas  for  about  a  quarter  of  a 
century,  during  which  time  they  encountei'cd  many 
severe  storms,  and  on  one  occasion  the  crew  were 
at  the  pumps  for  seven  days  and  seven  nights. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Maxson  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Phojhe  Elizaljeth  Pierson,  a  native  of 
Lime,  Conn.,  and  unto  them  were  born  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  all  yet  living,  namely:  Ettie 
Louise,  who  was  educated  in  Grand  Prairie  Semin- 
ary in  Onarga,  and  is  a  successful  teacher  of  this 
county;  Laura,  wife  of  Henry  Clay  Miner,  of  Gen- 
esee County,  N.  Y.;  Bertha,  wife  of  John  Dopps, 
of  Bloomington,  III.;  John  Arthur,  who  is  married 
and  resides  in  Brentou  Township;  Pierson  R.,  who 
is  married,  and  is  employed  in  the  shops  of  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  at  Bloomington,  111.; 
and  Wilber  R.,  who  completes  the  family.  The 
mother  dei)arted  this  life  .July  19,  187',),  and  her 
remains  were  interred  in  Roberts  Cemetery,  where 
a  beautiful  monument  marks  her  last  resting  place. 

In  18.59,  INIr.  Maxson  came  to  Ford  County,  then 
a  part  of  Vermilion  Count}',  and,  although  he  has 
resided  upon  the  same  farm,  h.as  lived  in  two  coun- 
ties and  three  different  township  organizations, 
Stockton,  Brentou  and  Lyman.  He  entered  one 
hundred    and  sixty  acres  of  raw   land  ui)on  which 


-i^.  ■   &■ 


^-^^K^> 


^. 


1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


28H 


not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  f>r  an  improvement 
made.  Gibson,  ]\lelvin,  Ui>l)crts  and  Piper  City 
were  not  then  laid  out,  and  wild  game  roamed 
over  the  prairies  upon  wliicli  those  towns  are  now 
loeated.  Mr.  INIaxson  now  owns  eighty  acres  of 
improved  land  and  his  valuable  farm  yields  to  him 
a  good  ineome.  In  his  political  allillations,  he  is  a 
Republican,  but  has  never  sought  or  desired  public 
otlice,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  bu.siness  interests.  His  career  has 
been  a  checkered  one,  \'et  one  of  honor,  and  he  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  valued  and  representative 
citizens  of  Ford  County.  He  is  also  numbered 
among  its  honoretl  pioneers,  having  been  an  eye- 
witness of  its  growth  and  npliuilding  for  a  third 
of  a  century. 


'  ARON  BROWN,  recently  dccea.sed,  was  a 

native  of  Piper  City.      In    presenting  to 

///  111    our  readers  a  sketch  of  this  gentleman, we 
^(1  give  the  record  of  a  self-made  man,  one 

who  by  his  own  efforts  worked  his  way  upward 
from  a  humble  position  in  life  to  one  of  affluence, 
and  his  example  in  many  respects  is  well  worthy 
of  emulation.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  IMarch  29,  1836,  and  was  a  son  of  Christian 
and  Elizabeth  (Hoover)  Brown,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They  removed  to 
the  West  about  185(1,  locating  in  Peoria  County, 
111.,  where  Mr.  Brown  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  nine  miles  from  Peoria,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  his  death  oc- 
curring December  2,  1879.  His  wife  passed  away 
March  6,  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years, 
eleven  months  and  twenty-nine  days.  Mr.  Brown 
was  a  successful  business  man  and  made  a  good 
home.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  The  family 
numbered  ten  children:  John,  deceased;  Jacob  and 
Samuel  (twins),  who  died  in  childhood;  Celinda, 
deceased;  Reuben,  who  was  killed  by  lightning; 
Henry,  deceased;  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Fisher,  of 
Woodford  County,  111.;  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Stoner,  of 
Taylor  Count}-,  Iowa;    Christian  II.,  who  is  em- 


ployed in  a  corn-planter  works  in  Peoria;  .and 
Aaron. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  wei-c  spent  in 
the  Keystone  State,  where  his  education  was 
acquired  in  the  primitive  log  schools  with  its 
slab  seats.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  before  attaining  his  majority  started  out 
in  life  for  himself.  From  1858  until  near  the  close 
of  his  life,  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing, but  in  1865,  he  laid  aside  all  business  cares 
and,  on  the  16tli  of  Februaiy,  joined  Company  G, 
of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry.  The  regi- 
ment marched  through  to  Raleigh  and  joined  Sher- 
man's Army.  After  the  surrender  of  Johnson, 
they  went  to  Richmond,  Va.  Tlu^y  were  under 
Gen.  Sherman  at  the  battles  of  Parkersburg,  Va., 
and  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  participated  in  the  grand 
review  in  Washington.  Mr.  Brown  was  in  the  ser- 
vice for  eight  months,  during  which  time  he  trav- 
eled many  hundreds  of  miles.  On  his  return 
home,  he  resumed  farming  in  Peoria  County, 
where  he  remained  for  two  or  three  3ears,  then 
went  to  Livingston  Count}-,  where  he  spent  four- 
teen years.  In  1883,  he  moved  to  Ford  Count}-, 
which  was  his  home  until  his  death,  and  in  Pella 
Township  the  family  still  owns  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  good  land,  although  they  now  make 
their  home  in  Piper  City. 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  in  Peoria  County,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1858,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Sarah  II.  Pierce,  a  native  of  that  county  and  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Wilbur)  Pierce,  who 
emigrated  from  Massachusetts  to  Illinois  in  1838, 
becoming  early  settlers  of  Peoria,  where  the  father 
followed  the  occupation  of  carpentering.  They 
had  a  family  of  eight  children:  Frank,  who  is  now 
living  retired  in  Oregon;  Mary,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; Mrs.  Mary  L.  Conover,  of  Peoria;  Henry  C, 
who  served  as  Fife  Major  during  the  late  war  in 
the  Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  is  now  de- 
ceased; Mrs.  Brown  is  the  next  younger;  Charles 
died  in  infancy;  and  Charles,  the  second  of  that 
name,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  is  a 
resident  of  Chicago;  Samuel  resides  in  Brenton 
Township. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children,  viz:   Mrs.  Anna  F.  Ives,  now  of 


290 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Forest,  Livingston  County;  Elizabeth,  deceased; 
Carrie  P.,  wife  of  Thomas  Claris,  of  Ciillom,  111.; 
Celinda,  deceased;  Ida,  wife  of  Edward  Hevener, 
a  farmer,  of  Pella  Township;  Sadie,  wife  of  Al- 
bert McKinney,  of  Piper  City;  Charles,  who  died 
in  cbildliood;  Lula,  Mabel,  Willie  and  Iva,  at 
home.  Tlie  children  have  all  received  good  edu- 
cational advantages  and  the  older  ones  are  now 
occupying  useful  and  responsible  positions  in  life. 
Mrs.  Brown  and  all  the  children,  save  the  young- 
est two,  are  Presb3'terians,  as  was  also  Mr.  Brown, 
who  served  as  a  Trustee.  They  are  worthy  citi- 
zens of  the  communit}',  and  have  the  warm  regard 
of  many  friends.  In  politics,  Mr.  Brown  was  a 
Republican,  having  supported  that  party  since  be 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln. On  the  evening  of  the  10th  of  May,  1892,  he 
with  his  family  attended  a  church  social,  returning 
home  at  lialf  past  ten  o'clock.  Within  a  few  min- 
utes, he  complained  of  not  feeling  well;  medical 
aid  was  called,  but  nothing  could  be  done  to  re- 
lieve him.  At  two  o'clock  the -next  morning,  bis 
spirit  took  its  flight.  IIis  loss  was  mourned  by  bis 
family  and  man 3-  friends,  for  lie  was  a  kind  fatlier, 
husliand  and  valued  citizen.  His  remains  were 
laid  to  rest  in  tiie  Cliatsworth  Cemetery. 


-^=^^>-^^<m= 


^^  H.  KIBLINGER  is  the  popular  proprietor 
and  host  of  the  City  Hotel,  of  Piper  City. 
He  began  business  in  this  line  on  the  1st 
of  September,  1891,  and  has  already 
worked  up  a  liberal  patronage,  of  which  he  is  well 
deserving.  He  has  the  house  supplied  with  all 
modern  conveniences.  It  is  neatly  and  tastefully 
kept  and  has  found  favor  with  the  traveling 
public. 

Mr.  Kiblinger  was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  on 
the  11th  of  January,  1856.  His  grandfather,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  descent, 
located  in  the  Buckeye  State  at  an  early  day,  and 
there  followed  farming  until  bis  death.  His  son 
Lemuel  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Springfield  in 
1833,  and  in  liis  youth  served  an  apprenticeship  to 
the   carpenter's    trade,    which  lie    followed   for  a 


number  of  years.  In  1854,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  Heller,  who  was  born 
in  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  was  of  German  descent. 
After  the  birth  of  our  subject,  they  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  in  1856,  locating  upon  a  farm  near  Bloom- 
ington,  where  the  family  circle  was  increased  by 
the  liirth  of  several  other  children.  In  the  spring 
of  1874,  they  came  to  Ford  County,  locating  upon 
a  farm  south  of  Piper  City.  The  death  of  the  fa- 
ther occurred  February  11,  1890,  in  Piper  City, 
where  iiis  widow  is  still  living.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  this  place,  and  an  earnest  worker  in 
both  church  and  Sunday-school,  as  is  Mrs.  Kib- 
linger. In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig  until  the  or- 
ganization of  tlie  Republican  party,  and  w.as  a 
highly  respected  citizen  of  the  community.  In 
the  family  are  six  children,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  eldest;  Frank  is  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business;  Alljert  is  a  carpenter;  Hester  Ann  is  the 
wife  of  James  W.  Jeffery;  Yale  is  a  carpenter  of 
Piper  City;  and  Elizabeth,  the  youngest,  makes 
her  home  with  her  mother. 

The  boj'hood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent 
upon  his  father's  farm  near  Bloomington,  and  in 
the  winter  season  he  attended  the  district  schools 
of  tlie  neighborhood  until  eighteen  3'ears  of  age. 
Two  j'ears  later,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
and  began  farming  in  Ford  County,  when  he 
turned  his  attention  to  carpentering,  which  trade 
he  had  previously  learned  with  bis  father.  He 
has  done  considerable  contracting  and  building, 
and  is  an  expert  workman.  He  worked  at  his 
trade  in  sixteen  different  States,  extending  from 
Dakota  to  Florida  north  and  south,  and  from 
Illinois  to  Colorado  east  and  west.  On  the  1st  of 
September,  1891,  he  took  charge  of  the  City 
Hotel,  as  before  stated,  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
the  house. 

On  the  20th  of  August,  1891,  in  Bloomington, 
111.,  l\Ir.  Kiblinger  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Jennie  Taylor,  who  was  born  in  Peoria  Countj',  111., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Taylor,of  Pella  Town- 
ship. This  worthy  couple  are  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  the  community.  In  his 
social  relations,  our  subject  is  a  M.ason  and  an 
Odd  Fellow,  and,  in    his  political  afliliations,   he 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


291 


is  n  Republican,  Imvinn;  supported  that  [larty  since 
he  attained  his  majority.  He  belongs  to  the  fire 
company  of  Pii)er  City  and  li<as  been  a  member 
of  the  Town  Board  for  two  years.  A  straight- 
forward and  uprijilit  business  man,  he  is  winning 
ills  way  upward  b^-  iiis  own  industrious  efforts,  and 
well  deserves  success.  He  has  gained  the  respect 
anil  confidence  of  all  with  whom  business  or  so- 
cial relations  have  brought  liim  in  contact  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this  record  f)f  his 
life  to  our  readers. 


ICHAEL  IMM  is  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  the  county,  having  since 
1862  made  his  home  on  section  35,  Peach 
Orchard  Township,  where  he  owns  a  good 
and  well-improved  farm  of  eighty  acres.  His  life 
record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  on  the  25tli  of 
February,  1834,  in  Prussia,  Germany,  and  is  a  son 
of  Michael  and  Mar3-  (Blising)  Imm.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Prussia,  and  his  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  following  that  business 
throughout  his  entire  life.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
namely:  Minnie,  Michael,  William,  Samuel,  God- 
frey, Catherine  and  Dolly. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  subject  were 
limited,  for  he  attended  school  only  until  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  but  since  arriving  at  3'cars  of 
maturity  reading  and  observation  have  largely 
counteracted  this  deficiency  of  his  youth,  and  he 
is  a  well-informed  man.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  until  1866,  when,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two  years,  he  liade  good-bye  to  his  old  home  and 
emigrated  to  America.  The  voyage  lasted  seven 
weeks,  but  at  length  the  vessel  reached  the  harbor 
of  New  York  in  safetj',  and  from  that  city  Mr. 
Imm  made  his  way  to  Chicago.  lie  finally  located 
in  Marshall  County,  111.,  where  he  began  working 
by  the  month  on  a  farm,  and  was  thus  emi)lo_yed 
for  four  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  period, 
he  came  to  Ford  County,  in  1871,  and,  having 
saved  some  capital  as    the  result  of  his    industry 


and  economy,  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
section  35,  Peach  Orchard  Township,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home. 

In  1873,  Mr.  Imm  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Tina  Gurkee,  and  unto  them  were  born  foiu'  chil- 
dren, but  two  of  the  number  died  in  infancy.  Two 
daughters,  Minnie  and  Tina,  still  reside  with  their 
father,  who,  in  1884,  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife. 

When  Mr.  Imm  located  upon  his  land  it  was  in 
its  primitive  condition,  hardly  an  improvement 
having  been  made,  but  he  plowed  and  jilanted  it 
and  continued  its  cultivation,  until  now  eighty 
acres  of  well-cultivated  land  yield  a  golden  trib- 
ute to  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon  it.  The 
place  presents  a  neat  and  attractive  appearance, 
and  the  owner  is  accounted  one  of  the  practical 
and  enterprising  farmers  of  the  community.  What- 
ever success  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  due  to  his 
own  efforts,  for  became  to  America  empty-handed, 
and  has  worked  his  way  upward  by  indomitable 
will  and  energj'.  He  has  met  with  some  reverses, 
but,  all  in  all,  his  prosperity  has  been  achieved 
without  aid.  He  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  Republican  party  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 


h  <"  f  ">l 


IS— w 


^J^/UGUST  BUCHHOLZ,  one  of  the  extensive 
im/Ul  land-owners  and  a  prominent  and  intlu- 
ifc  ential  citizen  of  Ford  County,  residing  on 
section  1,  Peach  Orchard  Township,  claims 
Prussia  as  the  land  of  his  nativity,  and  the  date  of 
his  birth  was  August  14,  1824.  His  parents  were 
Christopher  and  Elizabeth  Buchholz,  and  their  fam- 
ily numbered  four  sons  and  two  daughters:  Henry, 
Elizabeth,  William,  Rica,  August  and  Charles,  but 
our  subject  is  now  the  only  surviving  one.  His 
father  was  a  shoemaker  and  followed  that  trade 
in  pursuit  of  fortune.  Both  he  and  his  wife  have 
also  passed  away. 

August  Buchholz  attended  the  common  schools 
until  fourteen  years  of  age  and  then  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  with  his 
father  until  twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  enlisted 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAIHICAL   RECORD. 


1 


in  the  army  in  his  native  land,  serving  a  term  of 
three  years.  He  coutinucfl  to  reside  in  Prussia 
until  1852,  when  hebade  good-bye  to  home  and 
friends  and  embarked  for  America  upon  a  sailing- 
vessel  which  reached  New  York  about  a  month 
later.  He  then  continued  his  journey  across  the 
country  to  Chicago,  tlien  just  beginning  to  be  a 
town  of  some  importance,  and  there  commenced  to 
work  at  his  trade  for  14  per  month.  After  a  short 
time,  however,  he  began  work  on  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  which  was  then  in  process  of  build- 
ing, and  was  thus  employed  for  about  a  year,  after 
which  he  went  to  Magnolia,  Putnam  Countj%  and 
established  a  shoe  shop,  cavrj'ing  on  business  in 
that  line  until  1865.  In  that  year,  he  removed  to 
Marshall  County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
two  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Ford  Count3'and 
purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
located  on  section  1,  Peach  Orchard  Township. 
Here  he  has  made  his  home  continuously  since,  car- 
rying on  general  farming  and  stock-raising, and  in 
all  his  business  undertakings  he  has  met  with  that 
success  which  comes  as  the  result  of  industry,  en- 
terprise and  perseverance,  supplemented  by  good 
man.agement  and  close  attention  to  all  the  details 
of  l)usiness.  As  his  financial  resources  have  in- 
creased, he  has  added  to  his  possessions,  until  his 
lands  now  aggregate  al)out  fifteen  hundred  acres. 
Besides  his  liome  farm,  he  now  owns  eighty  acres 
on  section  35,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on 
section  10,  Peach  Orchard  Township;  one  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  acres  in  Lyman  Township;  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Oceola  County,  Iowa; 
and  six  hundred  acres  of  improved  land  m  .Jack- 
son County,  Minn. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1855,  Mr.  Buchholz  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caroline  Funte. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children, 
and  the  family  circle  is  still  unbroken  at  this  writ- 
ing, the  spring  of  1892.  The  three  eldest,  Charles, 
Albert  and  William,  are  all  business  men  of  Mel- 
vin;  Amanda  and  Emma  are  at  home;  Frank  and 
Laura  are  attending  the  Normal  College  of  Bloom- 
ington.  111.,  and  May  completes  the  number.  The 
Buchholz  household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and 
its  members  rank  high  in  social  circles. 

In  his  political  alliliations,  Mr.  Buchholz  is  a  Re- 


publican but  has  never  sought  or  desired  public 
offlce,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  attention  to 
his  business,  which  he  has  followed  with  signal 
success.  He  maj-  truly  be  called  a  self-made  man 
and  his  life  should  serve  to  encourage  others,  who, 
like  himself,  have  to  start  out  to  fight  life's  battle 
empty-handed.  He  is  now  one  of  the  wealthy  cit- 
izens of  the  count}'  as  well  as  one  of  the  leading 
men,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this 
sketch  to  our  readers. 


J****,* 


i,****!- 


=l***+^^''M"i-+" 


\t|O.SEPH  FARLIN,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Tazewell  County,  111.,  April  10,  1858,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Drummer  Township,  on 
the  9th  of  September,  1887,  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  parents  were  Jonas  and  Mar- 
tha (Lattimore)  Farlin,the  former  a  native  of  New 
York  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey,  although  both 
were  of  English  descent.  In  early  life,  they  emi- 
grated to  Ohio,  where  they  were  married,  and  unto 
them  were  born  six  children,  as  follows:  Samuel, 
Pernielia,  Charles,  Harriet,  Thomas,  John  and 
Joseph.  The  parents  were  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  the  father  w.as  a  Republican 
in  political  sentiment. 

Joseph  Farlin,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
the  neighborhood  during  the  winter  months,  while 
in  the  summer  season  he  aided  his  father  in  the 
farm  work.  At  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  himself  and  secured  as  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  Miss  Ellen 
Roberts,  their  union  being  celebrated  on  the  23d 
of  November,  1876.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Taze- 
well County,  111.,  born  January,  18,  1858,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Bosserman) 
Roberts,  who  reared  a  family  of  ten  children.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Roberts  came  to  Ford  County  in  1877, 
and  he  purchased  five  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
fine  land,  known  as  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this 
community.  Upon  it  he  made  his  home  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  but  sold  in  1886  and  removed  to  Jas- 
per County,  111.,  where  he  again  purchased  land, 
now    owning    some    thirteen    hundred    acres.     In 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


295 


politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  Rei)iil)Iican  principles. 
Hie  wife  died  February  28,  1891,  in  the  faith  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Farliu  embarked  in  farm- 
ing in  Tazewell  County,  111.,  where  he  remained 
for  three  years,  when,  in  1881,  he  came  to  Ford 
County  and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Drummer  Townshij).  He  afterward  added  to  it 
another  eighty-acre  tract  and  this  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  he  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  making  many  improvements  thereon 
which  added  greatly  to  its  value  and  attractive  ap- 
pearance. He  was  an  industrious  and  enterprising 
man  and  met  with  well-deserved  success  in  his  un- 
dertakings. He  continued  farming  up  to  the  time 
of  liis  death,  which  occurred  September  9,  1887. 

Since  the  death  of  her  Inisband,  Mrs.  Farlin  has 
left  the  farm  and  removed  to  the  village  of  Proc- 
tor, where  she  is  now  living,  but  the  management 
of  her  land  is  still  under  her  personal  supervision. 
She  is  a  most  estimable  lady  and  has  many  friends 
throughout  this  community'.  Her  two  children, 
Clementine  and  George  Bruce,  are  still  with  her. 


OHN  ROHRBACH,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
oral  farming  on  section  26,  Brenton  Town- 
ship,  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of 
l}}^/.  Illinois.  He  was  torn  in  Tazewell  County, 
September  22,  18.51,  and  is  a  son  of  Conrad  and 
Mary  (Dingledine)  Rohrbach,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  (iermany.  The  grandfather  was  a  Ger- 
man soldier  and  served  under  Napoleon  through 
tlie  Italian  campaign,  until  the  battle  of  Waterloo. 
Tiie  father  of  our  subject  came  to  America  in  1832, 
when  thirteen  years  of  age,  sailing  from  Havre  to 
New  Orleans  and  up  the  river  to  Havana,  111. 
After  one  vear  spent  at  that  place,  he  went  to 
Peoria,  111.,  which  was  then  called  Ft.  Clark.  He 
learned  the  cooper's  trade,  which  he  followed  some 
years  and  also  engaged  in  teaming  to  Chicago 
when  that  city  contained  onl}'  a  hotel,  a  fort  and 
a  few  cabins.  He  could  have  bought  a  quarter- 
section  of  laud  in  that  locality  for  a  yoke  of  oxen. 


Mr.  Rohrbacli  was  married,  in  Tazewell  County, 
to  Miss  Dingledine,  who  came  from  (iermany  to 
this  country  when  a  maiden  of  sixteen  summers. 
In  that  county  he  cleared  and  improved  a  farm 
and  also  followed  his  trade  until  the  winter  of 
1858,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County  and  purcliased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  the  farm 
upon  which  our  subject  now  resides,  to  which  he 
removed  his  family  in  1861.  The  land  was  all 
wild  and  uncultivated  and  much  of  it  was  still  in 
the  possession  of  the  Government.  His  nearest 
neighbor  was  two  miles  away,  and  wild  game  of 
all  kinds  was  plentiful.  Mr.  Rohrbach  resided 
upon  his  farm  until  1875,  when  he  removed  to 
Piper  City  where  his  death  occurred  July  12, 1884, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  His  wife  died  Au- 
gust 14,  1889.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  .ifterward  joined  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Rohrbach  held  memliershii)  with  the 
Reformed  Cliureii.  He  took  considerable  interest 
in  political  affairs  and  supported  the  Democratic 
party  until  1860,  after  which  he  voted  with  the 
Republican  party  until  1880,  when  he  again  su|)- 
ported  the  Democratic  party.  He  held  a  number  of 
local  offices  and  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity. From  the  .age  of  thirteen  years,  he  made 
his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  for  his  success  in 
life  deserved  much  credit. 

Four  children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rohrbach:  Henry,  now  deceased;  Kate,  wife  of 
B.  E.,  Laraborn,  a  resident  of  Thawville,  Iroquois 
County;  .John,  of  this  sketch;  and  Mary  Matilda, 
dece.ised,  who  was  the  wife  of  W.  W.  Post,  of  Piper 
Cit3'.  All  of  these  children  were  born  in  Tazewell 
County. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  resident  of  Ford  County 
since  nine  years  of  age.  His  early  education,  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools,  was  su|)plemented 
by  a  course  in  Onarga  Seminary,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  teaching  school  for  four  years,  and  at 
the  same  time  read  law  under  the  instruction  of 
Gilbert  Wyman,  of  Chatsworth,  and  then  engaged 
in  teaching  school  in  Indiana  for  three  terms.  He 
w.as  admitted  to  the  15ar  in  that  State  in  l«76,and 
engaged  in  practice  for  some  time  at  North  Man- 
chester, Wab,ash  County,  when  he  aliandcmod  that 
profession  and  returned  to  the  old  home  farm,  of 


296 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


which  he  assumed  the  management.  He  has  re- 
sided upon  the  farm  since  1877,  and  tlie  liighly 
cultivated  fields,  witli  tlieir  many  excellent  im- 
provements, tell  that  his  life  has  been  a  busy  and 
useful  one. 

On  the  17th  of  .June,  1884,  in  Piper  City,  Mr. 
Kolirbach  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Alice  Jef- 
fery,  daugliter  of  Thomas  .Jeffery,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.  .She  was  born  in 
Brenton  Townshi[).  By  their  union,  they  have 
three  children:  Marietta,  .John  Henry  and  Eva 
Isabel.  The  family  hold  a  high  position  in  social 
circles. 

Sir.  Rohrbach  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity and  the  Odd  Fellows'  society  of  Piper  City, 
and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Grant 
in  1872,  since  which  time  he  h.as  been  a  stalwart 
Republican.  He  aided  in  the  organization  of  the 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Brenton 
Township,  and  was  First  Lieutenant  of  the  com- 
pany of  militia  in  Piper  City  for  some  years.  He 
is  an  intelligent,  well-informed  man,  industrious, 
energetic,  public-spirited  and  progressive.  He  is 
numbered  among  the  representative  citizens  of  the 
community  where  he  has  so  long  made  his  home. 


>»i  1 1 1  p  I  ■  1    » 1 


>   I   <  .  I    -. 


ELIAS  B.  BEIGHLE  resides  on  section  3, 
Lyman  Townshii).  It  is  said  that  the  his- 
tory of  a  county  is  best  told  in  the  lives  of 
its  people,  so  we  here  record  the  sketch  of  one  of 
the  representative  citizens  of  this  community.  Mr. 
Beighle  was  born  in  Butler  Ccnuity,  Pa.,  February 
14,  1836.  His  parents,  Daniel  and  Catherine 
(Kifer)  Beighle.  had  a  family  of  si.x;  sons  and  six 
daughters,  of  whom  he  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth.  The  father  was  born  in  Penns3'lvania,  was 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  and  also  followed 
the  occupation  of  farming.  Bidding  good-bye  to 
his  old  home  in  1856,  he  emigrated  to  Adams 
County,  Ohio,  and,  in  1868,  removed  to  St.  Clair 
County,  Mo.,  where  he  purchased  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  In  politics,  he 
was  first  a  Whig,  and  then  a  member  of  the  Know- 


nothing  party,  and  afterward  became  a  Republican. 
Himself  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  early  life,  but  afterward  united  with  the 
Methodist  Church.  The  lady  w.as  l)orn  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1810,  and  died  in  .January,  1892,  at  the 
advanced  age,  of  eighty-two  years.  Si.x  of  their 
children  are  yet  living:  Elias,  of  this  sketch;  Caro- 
line, wife  of  Mr.  Baumgardner, a  farmer  of  Indiana; 
Sue  C,  wife  of  Mr.  Brooks,  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
of  St.  Clair  County,  Mo.;  Benjamin,  a  farmer  of 
Cowlitz  County,  Wash.;  Isaac  Newton,  who  is  mar- 
ried, and  is  a  lumberman  of  Cowlitz  County;  and 
Melissa,  wife  of  Mr.  Gardner,  a  farmer. 

Mr.  Beighle  of  this  sketch  remained  in  tlie  State 
of  his  nativitj''  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  and 
was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  At  the  .age  of 
twenty-two,  he  began  earning  his  own  livelihood, 
working  as  a  farm  hand  in  Pendleton  County,  Ky., 
at  $14  per  month.  After  a  short  time,  however,  he 
went  to  Adams  County,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  eight 
years,  and  during  that  time  led  to  the  marriage 
altar  Miss  Catherine  Wallace,  a  daughter  of  .Tosiah 
and  Eliza  (Smith)  Wall.ace.  They  were  married  on 
the  1st  of  January,  1862,  and  unto  them  have  been 
born  five  sons  and  four  daughters,  seven  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  INIary,  who  was  educated  in  the 
Normal  School  of  Danville,  Ind.,  has  successfully 
engaged  in  teaching  in  this  county  for  six  terms, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church; 
Roscoe  W.,  who  was  educated  in  Danville  and  the 
Valparaiso  State  Normal  of  Indiana,  is  one  of  the 
professors  in  Clark's  Universit^y;  Anna  Ketura,  who 
was  educated  in  Grand  Prairie  .Seminary,  of  Onarga, 
111.,  is  a  teacher  of  recognized  ability  in  this  county; 
Calvin  Spence,  who  was  educated  in  Onarga  Sem- 
inary, follows  farming;  Marcus  M.,  Leila  Louisa 
and  Ernest,  are  yet  at  home.  In  1884,  Mr.  Beighle 
was  called  upon  to  mourn  tlie  loss  of  his  wife,  wIk) 
died  on  the  6th  of  March  and  was  laid  to  lest  in 
the  cemetery  of  Roberts.  She  was  a  kind  and  lov- 
ing wife  and  mother,  and  was  a  devoted  member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Beighle  gave  evidence 
of  his  loyalty  to  the  Government  by  enlisting,  in 
.Tune,  1863,  .as  a  member  of  Company  A,  Second 
Ohio  Heavy  Artillery,  under  Capt.  George  F.  Son- 
ner.     The    troops    were    first   ordered    to  Rolling 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


297 


Fork.  Ky..  where  they  did  guard  duty,  and  were 
then  sent  to  Chattanooga,  and  to  Clevehiud  to 
guard  the  raihoad.  We  next  find  them  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tenn.,  after  whicli  they  went  to  Church  Gap. 
At  the  close  of  the  war,  our  subject  was  mustered 
out  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  August,  1865,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  on  the 
28th  of  August.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier  and  was 
never  off  duty,  except  when  sick  in  the  hospital 
for  about  six  weeks.  He  now  receives  a  good  pen- 
sion in  recognition  of  his  faithful  service. 

jSIr.  Beighle  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  is  an  inflexible  adherent  of 
Republican  principles.  He  has  been  officially  con- 
nected with  the  public  schools  of  this  community 
for  many  years  and  has  done  much  for  their  ad- 
vancement by  securing  good  teachers.  With  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  of  Piper  City  he  holds 
membership,  and  in  the  community  where  he  re- 
sides lie  is  recognized  as  a  gentleman  of  irreproach- 
able ciiaracter  whose  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond. 
He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
good  l.aud,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  the  community. 


ll@"©@l" 


W^\  EY.  EDWIN  vS.  McCLURE,  Pastor  of  the 
[Urr  Presbyterian  Church  of  Piper  City,  was  born 
i4i\\\  in  Des  IMoiues  County,  Iowa,  February  6, 
'^^1  1861,  and  is  of  Scotch  descent.  The 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  ,\moriea,  was  a  native  of  .Scotland. 
The  grandfather,  William  IMcClure,  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Iowa  in  1850,  and  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  his  death,  which  occurred  during  the 
war. 

John  McClure,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Illinois  but  reared  in  Iowa  as  a  farmer. 
He  graduated  from  the  Yellow  S|>rings  College,  of 
Kossuth,  Iowa.  In  1859,  near  Sparta,  111.,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Jane  Campbell,  a  lady  of  Scotch  descent. 
In  1861,  at  the  first  call  for  three-year  men,  he  en- 
listed in  October  as  a  member  of  the  Fourteenth 
Iowa  Infantry,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Ft.  Henry,  Ft.  Donelson  and    Shiloh.     He  was  in 


the  thickest  of  the  fight  on  that  memorable  Sunday 
afternoon  and  was  taken  prisoner  and  for  tliree 
months  confined  at  Macon,  (ia.,  where  the  prisoners 
were  almost  starved.  On  his  release,  he  rejoined 
his  regiment  at  St.  Louis  and  participated  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  Red  River  campaign  and 
the  campaigns  under  Gens.  Grant  and  Sherman. 
He  was  in  the  service  for  three  years  and  one 
month.  On  his  return  home,  he  continued  to  en- 
gage in  farming  in  Iowa  for  a  few  years,  and  then 
accepted  a  professorship  in  the  Deaf  and  Dumli 
Institute  of  Omaha,  Neb.,  where  he  remained  for 
fifteen  years.  He  then  resigned  on  account  of 
failing  eyesight,  resulting  from  his  army  experience. 
He  is  now  living  on  a  fine  farm  near  Sioux  City, 
Iowa.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post.  Hiin.sclf 
and  >vife  are  both  active  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  and  are  highly  respected  people. 

The  McClure  family  numbered  eight  children, 
two  of  whom  are  deceased.  Our  subject  is  the 
eldest;  Addie,  who  has  been  a  teacher  in  deaf  and 
dumb  institutes  both  in  Kansas  and  Minnesota,  is 
now  at  home;  William  is  engaged  in  merchandising 
in  Omaha,  Neb.;  D.  F.  is  a  professor  in  a  deaf  and 
dumb  asylum  in  Faribault,  Minn.;  Lillie  died  in 
1887,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years;  Bertha  and 
Grace  are  at  home. 

The  Rev.  Mr  McClure  was  educated  at  Parsons' 
College,  of  Fairlield,  Iowa,  Lake  Forest  University 
and  the  Seminary  of  the  Northwest,  now  called  the 
McCormick  Theological  .School.  He  siient  three 
years  in  that  school,  studying  for  the  ministry,  and 
after  his  graduation  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  he- 
came  Pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  in  Lenox, 
Iowa,  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  During 
that  time  he  was  united  in  marri.age,  on  the  27th 
of  June,  1888,  to  Sarah  M.  Gordon,  a  native  of 
the  Hawkeye  State.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  one  daughter,  Edna  Lucile,  who  was  born 
July  27,  1889,  and  died  March  20, 1892. 

On  leaving  Lenox,  ]\Ir.  McClure  accepted  a  call 
from  the  church  in  Red  Oak,  Iowa,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years,  when  he  engaged  in  mission 
work  in  Oinalia,  Neb.,  spending  one  year  in  that 
city.  On  the  1st  of  April,  1891,  he  came  to  Piper 
City,  and  has  since  been  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 


298 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Church  at  this  phice.  His  labors  have  been  very 
successful.  During  the  past  year  he  had  sixty-one 
additions.  He  is  held  iu  the  highest  regard,  not 
only  by  the  members  of  his  own  congregation  but 
by  all  who  know  him,  his  upright  life  and  court- 
eous manner  winning  him  high  esteem.  He  is  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  perseverance  and  his 
church  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition.  In  pol- 
itics, be  is  a  stanch  Republican,  having  supported 
that  party  since  he  attained  his  majority. 


AC015  DELLO  MELMXfJKR.  Prominent 
among  the  lai'ge  farm  owners  and  stock 
men  of  Drummer  Township  should  be 
mentioned  the  gentleman  whose  name 
beads  this  sketch,  and  who  has  been  a  resident 
of  Gibson  since  April,  1873.  He  was  born  in  Lan- 
caster Count}',  Pa.,  August  13,  1841,  and  is  a  .son 
of  Jacob  and  Martha  (Ilertzler)  Mellinger.  His 
parents  were  also  natives  of  Lancaster  County, 
and  his  father  was  descended  from  an  old  Penn- 
sjlvanian  family  of  German  origin,  whose  settle- 
ment in  the  Keystone  State  dates  prior  to  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  five  generations  remote. 

Jacob  Mellinger,  8r.,  was  born  Jul}'  28,  1802, 
and  on  the  30th  of  August,  1831,  married  Martha 
Ilertzler.  He  removed  to  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  in 
181!).  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life.  His 
death  occurred  April  23,  1888,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-five  years,  eight  months  and  twenty-six 
days.  His  wife  was  born  in  1812,  and  died  in 
Oiiio  in  1890.  They  have  two  daughters  and  two 
sons:  Mar}',  who  resides  in  Clarke  Count}-,  Ohio; 
John  II.,  who  wedded  Rachel  Rosser,  and  is  living 
in  Yellow  .Siirings,  Greene  County,  Ohio;  Martha, 
wife  of  Montgomery  Patton,  of  Clarke  County, 
Ohio:  and  Jacob  D.,  of  this  sketch. 

Our  subject  was  but  eight  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  removed  to  Clarke  County,  Ohio.  He  was 
there  reared  to  manhood,  attended  the  common 
schools  in  his  childhood  and  later  took  a  regular 
course  in  Antioch  College,  of  Yellow  Springs,  Ohio. 


On  reaching  man's  estate,  be  began  farming  and 
stock-raising  for  himself  and,  as  a  helpmate  on  life's 
journey,  chose  Miss  Martha  Ellen  Wheeler,  their 
marriage  being  celebrated  in  S|)ringHeld,  Oiiio, 
on  tlie  7th  of  December,  1871.  The  lady  .vas 
born  in  the  city  of  Springfield  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  Hon.  Stephen  and  Mary  (Thompi  )n) 
Wheeler,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  CI;  ike 
County,  Ohio,  and  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
Her  father,  who  was  a  man  of  fine  scholarly  at- 
tainments, was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Legislature. 
He  died  when  liis  daughter  was  nine  years  old, 
but  his  widow  still  survives  and  is  living  with 
our  subject. 

Two  children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  JIis. 
Mellinger,  the  elder  of  whom,  Dello,  was  born 
May  18,  1877,  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
mouths.  Frank  Ilertzler,  the  younger,  was  born 
December  5,  188G,  and  is  a  bright  and  |)roniising 
boy  of  nearly  six  years.  In  addition  to  their  own 
family,  Mr.  and  Mr.s.  Mellinger  took,  at  the  age 
of  seven  years,  Louie  J.  Mellinger,  whom  they 
educated  in  the  Gibson  City  schools  and  iu  Lake 
Forest  University,  where  she  pursued  a  musical 
course,  becoming  quite  noted  as  a  vocalist.  While 
in  the  university,  she  became  sick,  was  brought 
home  and  died  five  weeks  later,  February  27,  1887, 
aged  twenty  years. 

In  1871.  our  subject  and  his  father  bought  a 
half  interest  in  a  fine  tract  of  land,  C(jnsisting  of 
nine  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  in  Drummer  Town- 
ship, now  adjoining  (iibson  City,  the  land  at  that 
time  belonging  equally  to  J.  H.  Mellinger  and 
Jacolt  Ilertzler.  In  1875,  our  subject  purchased 
Mr.  Ilertzler's  remaining  interest  and  removed 
here  with  his  family.  He  at  once  erected  fine 
buildings  on  the  premises,  tiled,  fenced,  and  other- 
wise improved  the  land.  In  1883,  be  purchased 
his  father's  interest,  tlie  tract  now  being  owned 
by  J.  D.  and  J.  H.  Mellinger,  ecpially.  In  the  past 
nine  years  about  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
have  been  .sold  at  from  $75  to  $100  per  acre.  The 
remaining  land  is  considered  worth  not  less  than 
$125  per  acre.  JSIr.  Mellinger  has  lately  i>latted  a 
number  of  lots  and  is  putting  them  on  the  market. 

In  addition  to  the  half  interest  of  the  land  of 
J.  D.  and  J.  H.  Mellinger,  our  subject  owns  indi- 


\ 


I 


1 


PORTRAIT  AMD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


303 


viiUmlly  n  fine  lioine  .•irljoininij;  Gibson  City.  Fie 
luases  liis  f'ainiiiii,^  huid,  and  has  the  luniainder 
in  glass,  lie  deals  extensively  in  cattle  and  hogs, 
buying,  feeding  and  selling.  He  also  bieeds  stand- 
ard-l.u'ed  horses  ijuite  extensively. 

In  his  political  atliiiations,  Mr.  Mellinger  is  a 
stalwart  I\e|)ul)lican,  but  has  never  been  ambitious 
of  ofiicial  distinction.  He  attends  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  regularly  with  his  wife,  who  is 
a  consistent  member  of  that  congregation.  For 
many  3ears  he  has  been  a  Director  of  the  (iibson 
Building  ife  Loan  Association,  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Gibson  Land  Improvement  Company, 
recently  organized.  He  was  one  of  the  fust  to 
advocate  the  advisability  of  bnihting  pike  roads 
with  gravel  in  the  region  of  (iibson,  and,  while 
serving  as  Commissioner,  inaugurated  that  im- 
portant public  improvement,  which  has  since 
proved  a  grand  success  and  aided  materially  in  fa- 
cilitating travel  and  transportation.  There  are 
now  many  miles  of  road  leading  to  Gibson  City, 
that  through  the  piking  .system  have  made  good 
roads  even  in  the  wettest  weather. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life,  Mr.  Mellinger  has 
proved  himself  an  upright,  honorable  business 
man,  a  good  neighbor  and  worthy  citizen,  and 
enjoys,  as  he  merits,  the  respect  and  good-will  of 
all  who  know  him. 


"02" 


RTIIUK  S.  CATRON,  who  owns  one  of  the 
finest  farms  of  the  county,  located  on  sec- 
tion 3."),  Drummer  Township,  has  the 
honor  of  being  a  native  of  Illinois.  He 
was  born  in  Fulton  Count}',  August  24,  18.'5i),and 
is  a  son  of  Israel  M.  and  Savina  (Smith)  Catron. 
His  father  was  born  and  reared  in  Virginia  and 
throughout  life  followed  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
an  early  tlay,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  Fulton  County,  where  he  rejnained  fifteen  years. 
He  was  there  married,  in  1838,  to  l\Iiss  Smith,  who 
was  born  in  Fast  Tennessee,  and  with  her  parents 
came  to  Illinois  before  the  Black  Hawk  War.  On 
leaving  this  State,  the  parents  of  our  subject  went 
to  Polk  County,  Iowa,where  the  father  resided  until 
13 


1881,  when  he  went  to  Walla  Walla  Valley  in  the 
State  of  Washington  and  operated  the  farm  which 
he  yet  occupies.  His  wife  died  in  1844  and  was 
buried  in  Fulttm  County.  They  had  a  family  of 
three  children:  Arthur  S.,  of  this  sketch;  Nancy  E., 
now  deceased,  and  George  E  ,  an  engineer  in  Ari- 
zona. 

Our  subject  acquired  a  common-school  education, 
and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  Ijegan  teaching,  which 
I)rofession  he  followed  until  the  1 1th  of  October, 
1861.  Promi)ted  by  i)atriotic  impulses,  he  re- 
sponded to  the  call  for  troops,  and  enlisted  as  a 
member  of  Company  D,  Second  Iowa  Cavalry,  for 
three  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  he 
veteranized  and  was  in  the  service  until  the  7th 
of  October,  18()5,  when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Sel- 
ma,  Ala.,as  First  Sergeant  of  hiscomi)anv.  He  par- 
ticipated in  eighty-three  engagements,  including 
the  siege  of  Corinth  and  the  battles  of  luka,  Cor- 
inth, Tupelo,  Nashville,  Jackson  and  Moscow,  and 
many  others. 

On  his  return  home,  Mr.  Catron  embarked  in 
merchandising  in  Ipava,  Fulton  County,  111.,  fol- 
lowing that  business  for  a  year,  and  then  began 
fanning,  to  which  occupation  he  has  devoted  his 
energies  continuously  since.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
extensive  farmers  in  Drummer  Township.  He  has 
twenty-nine  head  of  horses  and  makes  a  specialty 
of  raising  an  excellent  grade  of  horses  of  the  Nor- 
man stock.  He  has  some  of  the  finest  mares  in 
this  section  of  the  country. 

Ere  leaving  Fulton  Count}',  Mr.  Catron  was 
united  in  marriage,  July  20,  1866,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Mary  S.  Lacey,  who  was  born  in  that 
county  April  25,  1849,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  C'loe  (Hurd)  Lacey,  natives  of  the  Empire 
State  and  of  English  and  Irish  extraction,  resi)ect- 
ively.  Eight  children  have  been  born  of  their 
union,  but  Manning  C,  their  eldest,  and  Lyman  C, 
their  fourth  child,  are  now  deceased.  The  living 
are  Roscoe  M.,  Arthur  B.,  Bayard  D.,  Mary  D.. 
Bruce  and  John. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Catron  exercises  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  Republican  party,  of 
which  he  is  a  stanch  advocate.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  While 
residing   in   McLean   County,  he  served  as  Justice 


304 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  Peace  two  terms  and  was  also  a  school 
officer.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Bloomington 
Post  No.  146,  G.  A.  R.  Ill  1892,  he  located  on  the 
celebrated  Roberts'  farm  on  sections  8,  26,  34  and 
35,  Drummer  Township.  It  contains  five  hundred 
and  three  acres,  for  which  he  paid  $75  per  acre. 
It  is  highly  improved,  well  cultivated  and  one  of 
the  most  desirable  places  in  the  county.  Mr.  Cat- 
ron is  recognized  as  a  pul)lic-spirited  and  progres- 
sive citizen  of  Drummer  Township. 


«^»= 


^ 


NDKEW  P.  UREMER  is  iiigaged  in  farm- 
ing on  section  8,  Patton  Township.  Svveden 
has  furnished  many  worthy  citizens  to 
Ford  County,  and  not  the  least  of  these  is 
our  subject,  who  was  born  in  that  country  August 
28,  1845.  He  had  no  special  advantages  in  his 
youth  save  fair  school  privileges.  His  childhood 
dajs  were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm,  where  he 
was  early  inured  to  labor;  he  later  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  a  time. 
With  the  adventurous  spirit  of  young  men  and 
also  with  the  hope  of  bettering  his  financial  condi- 
tion by  emigrating  to  the  New  World,  of  whose 
advantages  he  had  heard  so  much,  Mr.  Bremer 
sailed  for  America  on  a  steamer  which  left  Gotten- 
burg  on  the  7th  of  Maj-,  1869,  and  dropped  anchor 
in  the  harbor  of  New  York  on  the  7th  of  June,  an 
entire  month  being  consumed  in  making  the  trip. 
He  at  once  came  to  the  West,  stopping  first  at 
Chicago,  and  thence  came  to  Paxton.  He  found 
himself  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  with  no 
friends  near  and  no  one  to  whom  he  might  look 
for  aid.  He  spent  the  first  two  summers  after  his 
arrival  in  a  brick-yard  near  Paxton,  then  began 
working  bj'  the  mouth  as  a  farm  hand,  which  oc- 
cupation he  followed  until  1877. 

In  April  of  that  year,  Mr.  Bremer  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Nellie  Anderson,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Sweden  and  is  a  daughter  of  A.  W. 
Anderson,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Bremer  had  pre- 
viously purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  the 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  that 
farm.     Their   home  has  been  blessed  by  the  pres- 


ence of  four  children:  Anna,  Harry,  Hilina  and 
Agnes.  Harry  and  Ililnia  are  attending  the  home 
school.     Anna  is  attending  school  in  Paxton. 

Mr.  Bremer  at  once  began  to  clear  and  improve 
his  farm.  It  was  covered  with  a  good  crop  of  cuc- 
kleburrs,  and  a  small  frame  house  wa-s  the  only  im- 
provement. Not  a  tree  or  bush  was  to  be  found 
upon  the  place,  but  furrows  were  soon  turned,  un- 
til acre  after  acre  had  been  placed  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  the  fields  were  tiled  and 
fences  built,  so  that  now  it  is  one  of  the  fine  farms 
in  the  community.  There  is  also  a  substantial 
and  comfortable  residence  and  a  good  orchard  has 
been  planted,  while,  with  the  additional  forty  acres 
that  has  been  purchased,  a  valuable  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  now  pays  a  golden  trib- 
ute to  the  care  and  cultivation  of  Mr.  Bremer. 
Like  many  of  his  fellow-countrymen,  our  subject 
came  to  America  empty-handed  but  he  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  thrifty  and  industrious  nature  and  was 
not  afraid  of  hard  work.  His  life  has  been  well 
and  worthily  spent,  and  he  is  justly  regarded  as  a 
man  of  sterling  character  and  integrity.  In  pol- 
itics, he  does  not  affiliate  with  any  party  but  votes 
for  the  candidate  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  to 
fill  the  position.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of 
the  School  Board  and  is  a  warm  friend  of  the 
cause  of  education,  believing  in  good  schools  and 
competent  teachers,  if  the  children  are  to  be  trained 
for  useful  and  responsible  positions  in  life.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Cliurch  of 
Farmersville. 


■^=m>^^<^ 


/^  ARY  M.  CONGER,  a  retired  farmer,  resid- 
(|(  ^.^  ing  on  section  7,  Drummer  Township,  was 
■^^  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  on  the  24th 
of  May,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and  Mary 
(McVay)  Conger,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  while  the  former  was  of  Scotch  and 
the  latter  of  Irish  descent.  They  were  married  in 
the  Keystone  State,  and,  about  1820,  removed  to 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  which  was  then  an  almost 
unbroken  forest.  The  father  was  crippled  by  rheu- 
matism in  his  arms,  not   being   able  to   raise  his 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


30.5 


liands  to  liis  face.  He  was  thus  Incapacitated  for 
labor,  but  was  a  good  manager.  His  wife  was  one 
among  a  tiiousand  women,  of  good  business  ability 
and  an  industrious  and  self-sacrificing  lad3-.  Both 
died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  The  mother 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  In  their 
family  were  twelve  children,  live  of  wliom  are  yet 
living. 

Our  sul)jecl  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  birtli.  He 
was  reared  in  a  wooded  couutr\-,  and  as  soon  as 
old  enough  to  pick  brush,  he  began  to  aid  in  clear- 
ing the  farm.  Wlien  about  thirteen  years  of  age, 
he  was  taught  to  weave  and,  from  that  time  until 
he  attained  his  majority,  wove  the  cloth  with  which 
the  family  were  clothed.  This  was  done  during 
rainy  weather  and  after  the  fall  work  was  finished. 
His  lime  being  thus  largely  occupied,  his  educa- 
tional advantages  were  necessarily  limited.  Having 
remained  with  his  father  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  he  hired  out  at  ^9  per  montli,  clearing  land 
and  farming  m  among  the  stumps.  In  iiis  early 
life  he  used  an  old-fasiiioned  sickle  in  reaping  the 
grain  and  afterwaid  cut  it  with  a  cradle,  lie  be- 
came expert  in  this  direction,  being  able  to  cut  five 
acres  of  oats  in  a  day. 

In  Licking,  Ohio,  Mr.  Conger  was  married  Sep- 
tember 21, 1847,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Marriott,  a  native 
of  Licking  County.  In  18.54,  he  came  with  his 
young  wife  to  McLean  County,  111.,  locating  near 
Towanda,  and  in  1877,  he  removed  to  Ford  County, 
and  became  Superintendent  of  a  section  of  Sud- 
deth  farm,  four  miles  west  of  Gibson  City.  He 
there  continued  to  reside  until  1889,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Gibson  City,  where  he  has  since  lived 
retired. 

Unto  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Conger  have  been  born  live 
children:  William  M.,  who  operates  the  Suddeth 
farm;  Aaron  R.,  a  farmer  of  Oregon;  Mary;  Elmer, 
who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Drum- 
mer Township;  and  Rosa.  In  politics,  Mr.  Conger 
is  independent,  voting  for  the  man  he  thinks  best 
qualified  to  fill  the  olHcc,  regardless  of  part}- atlilia- 
tious.  In  life  he  has  had  much  to  contend  with, 
but  nevertheless  he  has  worked  his  waj'  upward 
and  is  now  able  to  live  retired. 

W.  M.  Conger,  son  of  the  foregoing,  was  born 
in   Licking  County,  Ohio,  June  12,  1848,  and  ac- 


quired his  education  in  liie  common  schools.  On 
attaining  his  majority,  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself,  renting  land  in  Ford  and  McLean  Coun- 
ties, and  has  made  farming  his  life  work.  He  is 
now  the  overseer  of  the  noted  Suddeth  farm.  In 
Jlarch,  1879,  he  entered  u\Km  the  duties  of  that 
position  and  now  operates  four  hundred  acres  of 
good  land,  the  neat  appearance  of  which  indicates 
his  tiirift  and  enterprise.  On  the  9th  of  Sei)teinber, 
1874,  Mr.  Conger  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Louise  Donner,  who  was  born  in  Iowa,  September 
10,  1854,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Greenbur^'  and 
Mary  Ann  Donner,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  unto  our  subject 
and  his  wife,  namely:  Cary  Roy,  born  July  11, 
1875;  HattieE.,  March  1,  1878;  Mandy  M.,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1880;  Grade  P.,  on  the  2d  of  January,  1884; 
Harvey  M.,  November  6,  1886;  Orville  W.,  Janu- 
ary 21,  1890;  and  Goldie,  March  7,  1892. 

The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  and  the  three  eldest  children  also 
belong.  Mr.  Conger  has  served  as  Church  Trustee 
for  four  years,  was  Sunday-school  Treasurer  two 
3'ears  and  Steward  two  years  and  is  now  serving 
the  third  term  as  District  School  Director;  he  was 
also  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  three 
terms.  The  family  is  well  and  favorably  known 
in  tliis  community  and  its  members  rank  high  in 
the  social  circles  in  which  they  move. 


IL^ENRY  H.  LEININGER,  who  for  twenty- 
two  years  has  made  his  home  in  Ford 
County,  is  now  living  retired  in  Piper 
City.  He  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
August  15,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Sclusser)  Leininger,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in 
Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1857,  locating  in 
Eden  Township,  La  Salle  County,  where  Mr.  Lein- 
inger spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  died  in 
18fi8,  at  the  .age  of  seventy-three  years.  His 
widow  is  still  living  at  the  age  f)f  eighty-six  and 
makes  her  home  with  our  subject.     He  was  a  life- 


306 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


long  member  of  the  Methodist  Churcli  and  a 
highly  respected  citizen.  The  family  numbered 
nine  sons  and  two  daughters,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living:  George  S.,  who  makes  his  home  in  Vir- 
ginia; J.  W.,  a  resident  of  Tonica,  111.;  and 
Henry  H. 

Our  subject  was  the  sixth  son.  His  boyhood 
days  were  spent  upon  a  farm  in  Ohio  until  six- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He 
had  begun  his  school  life  in  his  native  State  and 
completed  his  education  in  select  schools  of  Peru 
and  Tonica.  On  attaining  his  majority,  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  and,  in  18G0,  made  an 
overland  trip  to  Colorado,  arriving  at  his  destina- 
tion after  four  weeks  of  travel.  He  spent  three 
years  in  the  Empire  mining  district  and  helped 
locate  the  village  of  Georgetown.  In  the  winter 
of  1863-64,  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  began  farm- 
ing in  Lee  County  on  land  given  him  by  his 
father.  He  there  made  his  home  for  three  years, 
when,  in  the  autumn  of  1867,  he  sold  out.  The 
following  jear,  he  purchased  land  in  Ford  County, 
where  he  has  made  his  home  since  1870.  He 
owned  all  of  section  8,  in  Pella  Township,  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1874,  when  he 
removed  to  Piper  City,  where  he  is  now  living  a 
retired  life.  In  1876,  he  was  proprietor  of  a  drug- 
store in  Chatsworth.  He  still  owns  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land,  which  jields  to  him 
a  good  income. 

December  6,1864,  in  La  Salle  County,  Mr.  Lein- 
inger  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alice  G. 
McPherson,  who  was  born  in  that  county  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Harvey  McPherson,  of  Iiish  descent. 
They  have  one  child,  .Jennie,  wiio  was  born  in 
Lee  County,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Albert  Doo- 
little,  of  Dixon, 111.  She  graduated  from  the  Piper 
City  schools,  and  completed  her  education  in 
Onarga  Seminary. 

Mr.  Leininger  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Lincoln  in  1860,  and  has  since  been  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican  part3-  and  has  often 
served  as  a  delegate  to  its  conventions.  He  has 
served  as  Trustee  of  Piper  City,  and  also  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Village  Board.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternit}',  and  his  wife  holds 
membership  with    the    Methodist   Church,   to  the 


support  of  which  he  contributes  liberally.  He  is 
one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  commu- 
nity and  has  made  his  own  way  in  life.  He  is  now 
well-to-do,  having  acquired  through  his  own  cf- 
h)rts  a  handsome  competence. 


f(^\  ETII  LYTLE,  who  is 
^^^^    life  in  Paxton,  is  a 
xJLi^   was  born  near  Somci 


[=~ 


ETII  LYTLE,  who  is  now  living  a  retired 
native  of  Ohio.  He 
r  Somcrsville,  Butler  County, 
March  25,  1817,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
Lytle,  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of 
Irish  descent.  His  mother  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Annie  Glines,  and  was  of  English  lineage.  They 
became  the  parents  of  eight  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Melinda,  died  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Seth 
is  the  second  in  order  of  birth;  .John  died  in  infancy; 
Daniel  resides  in  Butler  County,  Ohio;  James,  a 
weaver  by  trade,  resides  in  Butler  County;  Samuel 
carries  on  farming  in  Champaign  County,  111.; 
Mary  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Isaac  A.  Rockhill,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Richland  County,  Wis.;  and  .Jane 
P.  died  at  the  age  of  eight  yeais.  The  father  of 
this  family  was  born  August  12,  1792,  and  died 
November  6,  1869.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred 
August  2.5,  1889,  and  had  she  lived  till  March  25, 
following,  would  have  been  ninety-six  years  old. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Seth  Lytle  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
father's  farm,  and  the  first  school  which  he  attended 
was  in  a  small  log-cabin,  built  in  the  woods,  three 
miles  from  his  father's  home.  During  nine  years, 
he  was  able  to  attend  school  but  ninety-five  days, 
which  was  the  extent  of  his  schooling.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen,  he  bought  his  time  of  his  father,  pay- 
ing him  $65,  and  then  began  to  work  as  a  farm  hand 
in  the  neighborhood  by  the  month.  He  continued 
to  reside  m  Ohio  until  1841,  when  he  emigrated 
Westward  to  Montgomery  County,  Ind.,  where  he 
was  again  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  that  county,  in  the  autumn  of  1843,  Mr. 
Lytle  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria 
Fink,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Climer)  Fink. 
Having  rented  a  farm  for  some  time,  he  moved  to 
Thorntown  and  engaged  in  huxtering.     Going  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


307 


La  Fayette,  Ind.,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness a  year,  when  he  went  to  Montgomery  Count}', 
Ind.,  and  after  farming  five  years  bought  a  tannerj' 
and  ran  it  six  years.  Tlie  year  1859  witnessed  his  ar- 
rival in  Ford  County.  He  made  his  first  settlement 
in  Wall  Township,  where  he  purchased  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  19,  the  purchase 
price  being  13.50  per  acre.  It  continued  to  be  his 
home  for  twenty  years,  or  until  1879,  when  he 
came  to  Paxton,  where  he  has  since  resided,  with 
the  exception  of  five  years  which  he  spent  in 
Kansas.  He  was  tliere  extensively  engaged  in 
farming  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  having 
gained  a  suflieient  competency  to  enable  him  to  lay 
aside  all  business  cares. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lytle  were  born  ten  children: 
Annie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Elvira,  wife  of  D.  1^. 
Denman,a  contractor  and  builder  residing  in  Pax- 
ton;  William,  a  farmer;  Mar}',  wife  of  Samuel  Long 
who  follows  agricultural  pursuits  in  Republic 
County,  Kan.;  Melissa  was  the  wife  of  Albert  Haw, 
but  is  now  deceased;  Emma,  wife  of  .lames  Apple- 
gate,  a  resident  farmer  of  Indiana;  Alfred  died  in 
Indiana;  Albert,  who  is  in  Kansas;  Etta,  wife  of 
Frank  Carr,  living  in  Paxton;  .and  Hulda  who  died 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

In  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Lytle  is  a  Prohibi- 
tionist, but  at  local  elections  votes  for  the  man 
whom  bethinks  will  best  fill  Ihe  olfice.  He  has 
never  sought  or  desired  political  preferment  for 
himself,  having  been  content  to  devote  his  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests.  He  is  a  well-known 
resident  of  Paxton,  and  is  a  public-spirited  and 
progressive  citizen  who  does  all  in  his  power  for 
the  interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 


\l/_  IRAM  Y.  SIDESINGER,  who  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  on  section  22,  Drum- 
mer Township,  was  l)orn  in  Adams  County, 
Pa.,  January  29,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of 
Leonard  and  Nancy  (Elcook)  Sidesinger.  The 
father  was  also  a  native  of  Adams  County  .and 
was  one  of  three  children  born  unto  Grandfatlier 
Sidesinger,  of  Germany,  who  emigrated   to  Amer- 


ica in  an  early  day.  The  children  were  Leonard, 
Margaret  and  Nancy.  The  first-named,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  remained  in  Pennsylvania  until 
1830,  when  he  came  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Cham- 
paign County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
1850.  He  then  became  a  resident  of  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his  death, 
December  21,  1869.  His  wife,  born  .June  6,  1786, 
died  a  number  of  years  previous,  passing  away 
about  1841, and  was  interred  in  Champaign  Ceme- 
tery. Both  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  the  father  spoke  the  German  language.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Sidesinger  was  first  a  Whig  and  after- 
ward a  Republican.  The  family  nvimbered  ten 
children,  as  follows:  Samuel,  deceased;  AVesley; 
Sarah,  deceased;  Alvina;  John,  of  Logan  County, 
Ohio;  Harriet,  deceased;  Hiram,  of  this  sketch; 
Gordon,  Alfred  and  Rebecca,  all  of  whom,  with 
the  exception  of  our  subject,  have  passed  away. 

In  taking  up  the  history  of  our  subject,  we 
present  to  our  readers  the  life  record  of  one  of 
the  worthy  citizens  of  Drummer  Township.  Mr. 
Sidesinger  acquired  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  an  academy,  where  he  pursued  a 
long  course  of  study,  preparing  him  for  a  busi- 
ness career.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century  and  also  followed  civil  en- 
gineering. He  w.as  very  successful  in  these  lines, 
and  with  the  money  thus  acquired,  in  1876  he 
purch.ased  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved.  He  brought  the  same  energy  and  in- 
dustry to  .agriculture  that  char.acterized  his  other 
pursuits  and  is  likewise  meeting  with  success  in 
this  undertaking. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1861,  Mr.  Sidesinger  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catiierine  Wiles,  who 
was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  February  14, 
1839,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Fred.  M.  and  Cath- 
erine (Foley)  Wiles,  also  of  Brown  County,  and 
of  French  and  Scotch  extraction,  respectively. 
The  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been 
blessed  with  three  children:  .loliii  C,  a  resident 
of  Tippecanoe  County,  Ind.;  U.  S.  (Jrant,  deceased; 
and  Cora  M.ay,  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Moreland, 
an  expressman  on  the  Big  Four  Railroad  at 
Fiirmers'  City,  I)e  Witt  County,  III. 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  politics,  Mr.  Sidesinger  is  a  supporter  of  Re- 
inil)lic'aii  principles  iiiul  has  served  as  Deputy  Sur- 
veyor for  two  terras.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Gen.  .Tolm  C  Fremont.  lie  and  his  wife 
are  adheients  c)f  tlie  Methodist  Church.  The^'  lo- 
cated in  Ford  County  in  l.ssi.and  have  a  pleasant 
home  in  Drummer  Township,  the  hospitable  doors 
of  whicli  are  always  open   to  their  raau\'  friends. 


ART.TON  I.  REMSBURG,  one   of  the  hon- 
11  died    veterans  of  the  late  war.  who  served 

his  country  faithfully  and  well  in  her 
struggle  to  preserve  the  Union,  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  3,  L3-nian  Township.  He 
was  born  in  Frederick  County,  Md.,  April  6,  1845, 
and  is  a  son  of  Solomon  and  Mary  Remslnirg.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Mar\land  anfl  is  now  a  re- 
tired farmei'  of  Bureau  County,  III.  In  early  life, 
he  was  a  Whig  and  east  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  William  Henry  Harrison.  He  is  nf)w  a  .stanch 
Republican  and  a  valuable  citizen  in  the  commun- 
ity where  he  yet  resides.  lie  has  reached  the  age 
of  sevent^'-five  years.  Ilis  wife  died  when  our 
subject  was  an  infant  and  her  remains  were  interred 
in  a  cemetery  of  Ohio.  She  left  two  sons:  Isaiah, 
who  served  for  about  eighteen  months  in  Company 
I,  Twelfth  Illinois  Infantry,  is  now  married  and 
follows  farming  in  liuroau  Count}';  Carlton  is  the 
next  younger.  By  a  second  marriage  there  were 
three  children  but  one  died  in  infancy.  Anna  R., 
who  is  Postmistress  of  Ohio,  Bureau  County,  111.,  is 
the  widow  of  James  Ruff,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  late  war  and  was  cashier  in  a  bank  in  Ohio. 
George  is  married  and  is  a  successful  farmer  and 
stock-de.aler  of  Bureau  County. 

The  educational  advantages  which  our  subject 
received  were  those  of  the  common  schools.  He 
was  a  lad  of  only  fourteen  years  when  he  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Bureau  County,  111.,  where  he 
remained  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when, 
prompted  by  patriotic  impulses, he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-cigiith  Illinois 
Infantry  in  Janu.ary,  18(15,  at  Princeton,  111.     The 


regiment  was  ordered  to  Quincy  and  then  to  Camp 
Butler,  whence  they  were  sent  to  Nashville  and 
assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  under 
Gen.  Thomas.  They  were  then  ordered  to  Tulla- 
homa,  Tenn.,  on  guard  duty.  They  afterward  did 
guard  duty  in  McMinnville,  Tenn.,  and  subse- 
quently returned  to  Nashville,  where  they  were 
mustered  out  of  service  September  5,  1865,  and 
honorably  discharged  at  Springfield  ten  days  later. 
During  his  service,  Mr.  Remsburg  was  taken  .sick 
and  confined  in  the  Cumberland  Hospital  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  for  aboiit  six  weeks.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  this  period,  he  w.as  always  found  at  his 
post  of  duty,  faithful  to  the  cause  for  which  he 
had  enlisted. 

On  the  12th  of  December,  18G9,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Ilauenstein,  who 
was  born  in  Indiana,  July  23,  1849.  Her  father, 
Abraham  Ilauenstein,  w.as  a  native  of  .Switzerland 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was  born  June 
21,  1822, and  died  in  Ford  County  in  March,  ls,S(i, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  His  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Susan  Kindle,  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty  yeai-s. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and 
the  family  numbered  three  children:  Mary,  wife  of 
James  Goodrich,  a  resident  of  Thawvillc,  1 11.;  Sarah, 
wife  of  our  subject,  and  Josei)h  who  married  Miss 
Minnie  T.aylor  and  is  a  landlord  of  Dwight,  111. 

Mrs.  Remsburg  w.as  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  is  a  lady  of  genial  and  social  disposi- 
tion who  has  proved  a  valued  helpmate  to  her  hus- 
band. They  have  three  children:  Josie,  Blanche 
and  Harold,  and  the  family  circle  yet  remains  un- 
broken. Their  home  is  pleasantly  situated  within 
two  and  a  half  miles  of  Thawville,  upon  a  farm  of 
(me  hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres,  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Remsburg  has  been  a  stanch 
Republican  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Cirant.  He  has  been  a 
faithful  school  otiicial  for  nine  j-ears,  and  the 
cause  of  education  has  found  in  him  a  warm 
friend,  but  he  has  never  sought  or  desired  the 
honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Armj'  Post  of  Piper 
City,  and  its  present   Commander.     He  attended 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


309 


the  State  Encampment  at  Springfield  on  the  6th, 
Till  and  8th  of  April,  1892,  as  a  delegate  from  his 
post.  Ill'  and  his  wife  are  held  in  tlie  liighest  re- 
gard tliroughout  the  community,  and  hy  their 
upright  lives  and  sterling  wortli  have  won  tlic 
confidence  of  all. 


(  I  I      * 


I  'I  ■  I'  ^ 


ILTON  T.  SNYDI:R,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 22,  Wall  Township,  is  not  only  a 
A\  representative  farmer  of  this  coinraunit3', 
hut  is  also  one  of  the  early  settlers.  He 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Keedysville,  Washington 
Count}',  Md.,  October  14,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of 
Christian  and  Jane  (Wright)  Snyder.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  de- 
scent. By  trade  he  was  a  weaver,  but  followed  farm- 
ing throughout  much  of  his  life.  The  Snyder  fam- 
ily numbered  ten  children,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
Adeline  C,  became  the  wife  of  David  Bombarger 
and  died  in  1866;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  David 
Snider,  a  shoe-maker  residing  in  Odell,  Ind.;  Su- 
san, dece.ised,  was  the  wife  of  William  McBride,  M. 
D.;  Jacob  is  a  real-estate  agent  residing  in  Indiana; 
Samuel  follows  farming  in  Wall  Townshiji;  John 
W.  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Harrison,  Boone 
County,  Ark.;  iNIary  J.  is  the  wife  of  Perry  Coon, 
an  agriculturist  of  Indiana;  Alfred  follows  farming 
near  Estherville,  Emmet  County,  Iowa;  David  is 
now  deceased;  and  our  subject  completes  the  fam- 

iiy- 

It  was  in  1862  that  Christian  Snyder,  accompa- 
nied by  his  wife  and  children,  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Ford  County.  He  rented  a  farm  near 
Paxton,  which  he  operated  for  two  years,  and 
then  inirchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
railroad  land  on  section  22,  Wall  Township,  where 
he  made  his  iiome  until  his  death,  a  respected  and 
valued  citizen  of  the  community'.  In  politics,  lie 
was  a  sujiporter  of  Re|)ublican  principles  and  was 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  lie 
passed  away  on  the  17th  of  April,  1873,  and  his 
wife  died  on  the  11th  of  March,  1883. 

Milton  Snyder,  whose  name  heads  tiiis  record, 
was  a  lad  of  fourteen  years  when,  with  his  parents. 


he  came  to  Illinois.  In  this  county  he  was  reared 
to  manhood,  and  in  the  district  schools,  which  he 
attended  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  completed 
his  education.  Under  tiie  [laiental  roof  he  re- 
mained until  he  attained  his  majority,  and  then 
took  charge  of  his  father's  farm.  That  place  has 
been  his  home  since  the  first  location  of  the  family 
here,  thirty  years  ago.  He  now  owns  eighty  acres 
of  the  old  homestead,  and  engages  in  general  farm- 
ing. His  lields  are  well  tilled,  the  place  presents 
a  neat  and  attractive  appearance  and  everything 
is  in  keeping  with  the  idea  of  a  model   farm. 

An  important  event,  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Snyder 
occurred  on  the  22d  of  December,  1870,  when  he 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Maggie  Rolib,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  iNIary  (Latimer)  Rolib.  They  have 
a  pleasant  home,  which  is  the  abode  of  hospitality, 
and  their  friends  in  this  community  are  many. 
The  lady  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Paxton.  B3'  their  union  have  been 
liorn  five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters, 
but  two  are  now  deceased.  Those  living  are  Zelda 
May,  and  Oscar  and  Nannie,  twins.  In  his  politi- 
cal alliliatioiis,  Mr.  Snyder  is  a  Reiiiililican.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
and  one  of  the  iirominent  and  well-known  citizens 
of  Wall  Township. 


•^^1 


.H^^;'Ei: 


1^^^^ 


l)EV.  JEREMIAH  ALLGAIER,  pastor  of  the 
ir  \il  German  Lutheran  Church  of  Melvin,  is  of 
iii  W  German  liirtli.  He  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Gerinanj',  on  the  31st  of  December, 
18.55,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Rosiiia  (Muehler) 
Allgaier.  His  parents  were  born  and  reared  in  the 
Old  Country,  and  still  reside  there. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  partially  educated 
in  his  native  land,  where  he  remaiiKKl  until  the  au- 
tumn of  1882,  when  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
on  reaching  the  shores  of  this  country,  came  at 
once  to  Illinois.  For  two  years,  lie  was  a  student 
in  the  Mendota  Theological  Seminary-,  and  was  as- 
sistant pastor  of  the  church  of  his  denomination  in 
Compromise,  Chamiiaigii  County.  After  complet- 
ing his  studies,  he  was  ordained,  in  188.'j,  a  minister 


310 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  the  Gerniaii  Lutheran  Church,  anrl  served  as 
pastor  at  Compromise  until  xVpril,  1887.  when  he 
came  to  Melvin  to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the  Mel- 
vin  chureli.  Its  pulpit  he  has  since  filled,  cover- 
in_o'  a  period  of  five  years,  and  from  this  it  will  be 
seen  that  his  services  are  very  acceptable  to  his 
people. 

On  the  18th  of  .September,  188;'),  Mr.  Allgaier 
was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Annie  l.artell.  the 
wedding  being  celebrated  in  Compromise,  now 
R03'al,  Champaign  County.  The  lady  is  a  native 
of  Adams  County,  111.,  Iiorn  on  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1861,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Fred  and  Agatha 
r.artcU.  Four  children  have  been  born  of  the 
union  of  iMr.  and  Mrs.  Allgaier,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters:  Kose  Agatha,  born  .Tuly  10,  188(1;  Fred 
Godhelp,  April  27,  1888;  ISIartha  :Mary,  IMay  29, 
1890;  and  Emanuel  David,  December  26,  1891. 

The  German  Lutheran  Church  of  INIelvin  was 
organized  in  1872,  the  first  p.astor  being  the  Rev. 
George  Suessc,  who  served  from  tiiat  year  until 
A)H-il,  1875,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
Henry  Ilebler,  whose  term  of  service  continued 
from  April,  1875  until  April,  1878,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Helwig  Staehling,  who  left 
the  pastorate  on  the  15th  of  December,  1886.  At 
that  time  the  Rev.  Mr.  Allgaier  became  pastor,  and 
has  since  filled  that  position.  This  society  embraces 
about  thirty-five  families,  and  the  present  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1888.  The  church  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition,  and  prospers  under  the 
management  of  the  pastor  now  in  charge. 


v_ 


r~ 


'JOSEPH  .1.  BROWN,  an  early  settlor  of 
Ford  County,  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Piper  City.  For  a  number  of  years,  he  was 
a  leading  farmer  of  the  community,  and  by 
his  industry,  perseverance  and  good  management 
acquired  a  competency,  which  now  enaliles  him  to 
rest  and  enjo}'  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  Mr. 
Brown  is  of  English  birth.  He  w.as  horn  in  Nortii- 
hamptonshire,  January  10,  18;?9,  .and  is  one  of 
four  sons  and  five  daughters,  whose   parents  were 


George  and  Louisa  (White)  Brown,  natives  of  the 
same  locality-. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  life  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads,  no  event  of  special  impor- 
tance occurring  dining  his  childhood.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen,  he  left  home  and  liegan  earning  his 
own  livelihood.  He  worked  on  the  railroad,  or  at 
any  labor  which  would  earn  him  an  honest  dollar, 
until  he  had  attained  liis  majority,  when  he  entered 
the  military  service  of  his  country.  He  served  in 
Ireland,  was  in  Gibraltar  for  one  year  and  five 
months,  was  on  the  Island  of  Malta  for  two  years, 
in  (Juebec  and  ISIontreal,  Canada,  for  three  years 
and  then  returned  to  (Tl.asgow,  Scotland,  where  he 
was  dischai'ged  after  eight  years  of  service.  Dur- 
ing a  part  of  the  time,  he  held  the  office  of  Cor- 
poral. On  leaving  the  army,  Mr.  Brown  visited 
his  old  home,  after  which  he  spent  sf)me  time  in 
London,  and,  in  March,  1868,  sailed  from  Liver- 
pool to  New  York.  He  spent  three  years  in  the 
Empire  State,  engaging  in  farm  work,  spent  one 
winter  in  the  pineries  of  Michigan,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1872  came  to  Ford  Count\'.  For  a  time, 
he  was  employed  upon  the  Sibley  farm,  after  which 
he  worked  on  the  section  of  the  railroad  at  Piper 
City  and  operated  a  hay-press.  He  also  carried 
on  a  livery-stable,  and  when  he  had  acquired 
a  sufticient  capital,  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Pella  Township  and  engaged  in  farming 
from  1878  until  1892.  He  now  owns  two  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  fine  land,  the  greater  part  of 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved.  During  the  present  3ear,  lie  removed 
to  Piper  Cit}-,  where  he  has  a  Ijeautiful  new  resi- 
dence and  the  pltiasant  home  is  supplied  with 
all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the   luxuries  of  life. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1877,  Mr.  Ihown  was 
united  in  marriage,  in  Chatsworth,  with  l\Irs.  Car- 
rie White,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Ruff. 
She  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  when 
fifteen  years  of  age  went  to  Indiana,  and  in  Val- 
paraiso was  married  to  David  White,  a  native  of 
Hadley,  Hampshire  County,  Mass.  On  coming  to 
Illinois,  they  located  in  Ford  County,  where  Mr. 
White  died  about  nineteen  years  ago,  leaving  two 
sons:  Charles  F.  and  David  M.,  both  of  whom  are 
engaged    in     farming    in    Pella    Township.     Mrs. 


•SbBfc  ■" 


iia^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


313 


Brown  has  resided  in  Ford  County  for  twenty- 
three  years,  and  has  seen  it«  development  from  a 
wild,  uncultivated  tract  to  one  of  rich  fertility. 
She  is  an  estimable  lady  who  has  nianj'  friends 
throughout  the  community.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  Re- 
puhlican  in  politics,  having  supported  that  party 
since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  R.  B. 
Il.ayes.  Soci.ally,  he  is  a  meuihcr  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' fraternity.  He  is  a  worthy  citizen  of  the 
community,  who  takes  a  commendable  interest  in 
all  that  pertains  to  the  welf.are  and  upbuilding  of 
the  county. 

c^^^  J.  SOWERS,  who  resides  on  section  23, 
f/^^s  Pella  Township,  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
^^^''  St.ate.  He  was  born  in  Perry  County,  De- 
cember .30,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel  .and  Eliza- 
beth (Reiber)  Sowers.  Both  were  of  German 
descent;  the  former  w.as  born  Mai-eh  14,  1813,  and 
the  latter  in  1820.  He  gave  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing and,  in  politics,  was  a  Whig  and  afterward  a 
Republican.  His  wife  died  in  1857,  and  his  death 
occurred  when  about  seventy  years  of  age.  They 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  arc 
now  living:  Thomas,  of  this  sketch;  Barbara  E., 
widow  of  B.  F.  Bender,  of  Pennsylvania, and  Sarah 
A.,  wife  of  Jacob  Bender,  of  Perry  County,  Pa.; 
Caroline  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years;  Margaret 
w.as  married  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two; 
Samuel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years; 
P>lizabeth,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen;  and 
William  H.,  who  died  at  the  Jige  of  eight  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  acquired  a  good  com- 
mon-school education  and  remained  upon  the 
home  farm  until  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
when  he  worked  at  carpentering  for  one  year,  or 
until  August,  1863,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Pennsylvania  Regiment  of  Home  Guards, 
raised  at  the  time  of  the  Gettysburg  invasion,  and 
served  two  months.  In  September,  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  the  Two  Hundred  and  Eighth  Pennsyl- 
vania Infantry,  and  was  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Com- 
pany F,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  regiment 
was  organized  at  Harrisburg  and   commanded  bv 


Col.  A.  B.  McAlmont.  They  did  guard  duty  on 
the  banks  of  the  Apjiomattox  and  in  the  last  of 
November  were  in  front  of  Petersburg.  At  the 
battle  of  Ft.  Stedman,  on  the  2.5tli  of  March,  l.S6,5, 
in  the  charge  the  regiment  lost  one  hundred  men. 
The  troops  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Eighth  parti- 
cipated in  the  ong.agement  on  the  2d  of  April,  when 
Petersburg  was  captured,  and  followed  Lee's  Army, 
participating  in  the  engagement  at  Ai)pomattox 
Court  House,  where  Lee  surrendered.  They  parti- 
cipated in  the  Gr.and  Review  at  Washington  and, 
returning  to  Harrisburg,  were  mustered  out  on  the 
6th  of  June,  1865. 

Mr.  Sowers  returned  to  Blain,  Perry  County, 
where  he  resumed  work  at  the  carpenter's  trade. 
On  the  22d  of  August,  1865,  he  was  there  united 
in  marri.age  with  Miss  Addie  Snyder,  a  native  of 
that  county,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susan 
Snyder,  who  were  natives  of  England.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  in  the  Keystone  State,  where 
Mr.  Sowers  followed  his  trade  until  the  spring  of 
1869,  when  he  came  with  his  family  to  Ford 
Count}',  111.,  and  embarked  in  farming  in  I'ella 
Township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1872, 
he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife, 
who  died  on  the  7th  of  June,  leaving  one  sen, 
John  L.,  who  was  born  July  2,  1866,  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  the  Paxton  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute and  the  Normal  School  of  ^"alparaiso,  Ind. 
He  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  for  some  time, 
and  for  the  past  two  years  has  been  in  the  railw.ay 
mail  service. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1873,  in  Piper  City,  Mr.  Sow- 
ers was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
M.aggie  E.  Taylor,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Sarah  Taylor,  both  of 
whom  are  still  living.  The  father  is  now  sixty- 
six  years  of  age  and  the  mother  seventy-one.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  had  a  family  of  four  children, 
but  one  is  now  deceased,  Delmar  Miles,  the  second 
child,  who  w.as  born  September  29,  1879,  and  died 
March  8, 1880.  Those  who  still  survive  are  George 
T.,  born  September  6,  1874;  Charles  Roscoe,  No- 
vember 6,  1882;  and  Lester  Floyd,  September  12, 
1886. 

For  nine  j-ears  Mr.  Sowers  has  resided  upon  his 
jjreseut  farm, a  one  hundred  and  twenty  acre  tract 


314 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  rich  lanrl.  well  improvefl  and  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  lie  has  Iteen  successful  in  his  busi- 
ness career  and  is  now  nunihered  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  community.  He  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  in  positions  of  public  trust, 
having  filled  the  otKcc  of  Township  Clerk  for  four 
terms,  was  Collector  and  Supervisor  for  one  term 
each,  and  is  now  serving  his  eleventh  term  as  As- 
sessor. He  has  been  Township  Treasurer  of  schools 
since  January,  1875,  and  for  ten  years  has  filled 
the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  His  long  con- 
tinued service  in  these  positions  indicates  his  fidel- 
ity to  duty  and  his  faithfulness  to  the  trust  reposed 
in  him.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  while 
in  the  army  for  Aliraham  r>incoln,  has  since  been 
a  stalwart  Republican,  and  has  often  been  delegate 
to  the  count}',  congressional  and  State  conven- 
tions. His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  a  most  estimable  lady.  Socially,  Mr. 
Sowers  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Pi)jer 
Clity,  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  of  Mt.  Dempsay,  Pa., 
and  is  Master  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Piper  City. 
He  has  been  Vice-president  of  the  Fair  Association 
since  its  organization  and  has  been  a  Director  of 
the  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  IJrenton  and  Pella 
Township  since  it  w.as  organized.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent and  valued  citizen  of  the  community  and 
well  deserves  representation  in  this  volume. 


i^  «•*  t  Hrf" 


WJLLIAM  A.  CAMPBELL,  a  worthy  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  honored  i)ioneer 
^,  ^  families  of  Ford  County',  now  engaged  in 
general  farming  on  section  35,  Wall  Township, 
was  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  March 
29,  1843.  His  parents  were  Obadiah  and  Margaret 
L.  (Po3'er)  Campbell,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
the  Keystone  State.  The  father  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade  and  made  his  home  in  the  East  until 
1856,  when,  with  his  family,  he  emigrated  to  F'ord 
County,  111.,  settling  in  what  is  now  Button  Town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  eighty'  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  and  began  the  development  of  a 
farm.  He  here  made  his  home  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  being  called   to   his  final   rest 


February  17,  1885.  His  wife  had  passed  away  in 
February,  1865,  and  his  remains  were  laid  by  the 
side  of  her  who  had  gone  before  in  Paxton  Cem- 
etery. The}'  were  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Rob- 
ert F.,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  and  carpenter- 
ing near  Kirksville,  Adair  County,  Mo.;  Abraham 
L.,  an  agriculturist;  William  A.,  who  is  the  next 
younger;  Francis  M.,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  Jos- 
ephine, who  died  in  1881;  Oscar  L.,  a  farmer  of 
Button  Township;  Henrietta,  wife  of  Daniel  Moudy, 
also  an  agriculturist  of  Button  Township;  Ann  L., 
wife  of  J.  N.  Swinford,  a  retired  farmer  residing  in 
Paxton,  and  Lee  Britt,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Button  Township. 

As  our  subject  has  so  long  made  his  home  in 
the  county,  he  has  here  a  wide  acquaintance,  and 
we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life  will  be 
received  with  interest  by  many  of  our  readers. 
His  early  life  passed  uneventfully  in  attendance 
at  the  district  schools,  where  he  acquired  a  fair 
English  education,  and  in  work  upon  the  farm,  to 
which  he  devoted  his  energies  during  the  summer 
months.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  father 
until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  on  the 
23d  of  April,  18(57,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Elizabeth  Irvin,  daughter  of  William  and 
Mary  (Hock)  Irvin.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Virginia  and  was  of  Irish  descent.  By  occupation, 
he  was  a  farmer  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine 
years.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  died 
when  about  fifty  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Campbell  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  has  been  a 
valuable  helpmate  to  her  husband.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  two  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Marguerite,  the  eldest,  w.as  a  student  in  the  Busi- 
ness College  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  where  she  took 
a  full  course  of  instruction  in  stenography.  She 
then  went  to  Chicago,  where  she  worked  as  a  sten- 
ographer and  was  also  a  student  in  the  Polytechnic 
School  of  that  city.  She  afterwards  entered  the 
Bryant  and  Stratton  Business  College  and  is  now 
at  home  with  her  parents.  B.  Pearl  is  also  at 
home.  Pain  aids  in  the  cultivation  of  the  home 
farm,  and  Lowelll.  completes  the  family. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  Campbell  rented  land 
in  Button  Township,  and  there  the  young  couple 
began  their  domestic  life.     With  the  exception  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


315 


one  year  spent  in  Cli.iniiiaign  County,  he  continued 
to  engage  in  the  operation  of  that  farm  until  1874, 
when,  having  acquired  some  capital  through  indus- 
try and  perseverance,  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  located  on  section  ST),  Wall 
Township,  where  he  now  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  has  ever  since  resided.  He  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  of  arable  land 
and  his  beautiful  country  residence  indicates  his 
thrift  and  enterprise.  He  is  an  energetic  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  and  all  that  he  possesses  has 
been  achieved  through  his  own  efforts.  He  began 
life  with  scarcely  any  capital,  but  by  industry, 
frugality  and  care,  he  has  made  a  handsome  com- 
petency. He  takes  no  very  prominent  part  in 
public  affairs,  save  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties  of  citizenship.  He  cast  his  first  Presiden- 
tial vote  for  Gen.  George  B.  McClellan,  and  has 
since  been  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  sought  or 
desired  political  preferment. 


— J^ 


i>-^^<^ 


-s-- 


W  UCAS  T.  BISHOP  has  for  a  third  of  a 
il  (^  century  been  a  resident  of  Brenton  Town- 
,[*'— ^^  ship,  and  now  makes  his  home  on  section 
17.  He  has  seen  the  entire  growth  of  the  com- 
munity, for  he  came  here  when  Ford  County  was 
almost  an  uninhabited  tract  of  wild  land.  In  its 
upbuilding  and  growth  he  has  aided,  and  has  ever 
borne  his  part  in  the  work  of  development  and 
progress.  To  the  pioneers  all  credit  is  due  for 
what  they  have  done  for  the  county,  and  promi- 
nently among  them  should  be  mentioned  our 
subject. 

Ml-.  Bishop  was  born  in  Broome  County,  N.  Y., 
November  26,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  Bishop. 
The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  and  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  For  many  years  the  family  resided 
in  New  London,  Conn.,  where  Isaac  Bishop  made 
his  home  until  al)out  thirty'  years  of  age,  when  he 
became  a  resident  farmer  of  Broome  County, 
N.  Y.  In  later  years  he  went  to  Tioga  County, 
Pa.,  and  afterwards  to  Illinois.  He  died  at  the 
home  of  our   subject,  at    the  age    of   eighty-five 


years,  in  1872.  He  served  in  the  War  of  1812, 
near  New  London,  Conn.,  guarding  the  river  and 
the  city.  In  politics,  he  was  first  a  Democrat  and 
afterward  a  Republican.  His  wife  died  in  Broome 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  ISGG. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  under  the 
parental  roof  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  liegan 
learning  the  cooper's  trade,  which  he  followed 
for  about  eight  3'ears.  He  came  to  the  West  in 
1858,  and  purchased  land  in  Ford  County,  III. — 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Brenton 
Township.  He  now  has  a  good  home,  and  wiiat 
was  once  wild  land  has  been  transformed  into 
rich  and  fertile  fields  which  3'ield  him  a  golden 
tribute.  He  has  planted  trees  and  made  other 
improvements  which  add  both  to  the  value  and 
beauty  of  the  place.  In  Mr.  Bishop  we  see  a  self- 
made  man  who,  though  he  had  to  begin  life 
empty-luanded,  has  overcome  all  difticulties  and 
obstacles  in  his  path  and  has  worked  his  way  up- 
ward to  success. 

Mr.  Bishop  is  a  friend  to  education  and  all  in- 
terests calculated  to  benefit  or  improve  the  com- 
munity-. He  has  served  as  School  Trustee  since 
the  township  w.as  organized  and  not  a  cent  of 
money  h.as  been  lost  during  all  this  time.  He 
may  well  be  proud  of  such  a  record.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  with  the  Know-nothing 
party  in  1856,  w.as  then  a  Republican  until  Grant's 
second  term,  when  he  voted  with  the  Greenback 
party.  He  is  now  a  Prohibitionist.  He  h.as  served 
several  terms  as  Supervisor  and  is  now  Assessor 
of  Brenton  Township.  For  a  third  of  a  centuiy 
he  h.as  made  his  home  in  this  county  and  is  well 
and  favorably  known  throughout  its  borders  as 
a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen  and  one 
of  the  prominent  fanners  of  the  community.  He 
and  his  wife  have  been  members  of  the  Presby- 
teri.an  Church  of  Piper  City  since  its  organiza- 
tion. 

Mr.  Bishop  was  married  in  New  York,  in  1850, 
to  Miss  H.annah  Watson,  a  native  of  the  Fnipire 
State,  and  a  daughter  of  Ira  and  Mary  (McCul- 
lough)  Watson,  both  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Six 
children  Imvc  been  born  of  their  union,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Robert  died  at  the  .age  of 
nine  years;  Minnie,  who  was   born    in  New  York, 


316 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


is  now  the  wife  of  David  Hanna,  of  Nebraska; 
Watson  is  a  carpenter  of  Broken  Bow,  Neb.;  Clara 
B.,  who  graduated  from  tlie  Normal  University, 
of  Normal,  111.,  is  now  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Harvard;  Clarence  died  when  about  a  3ear  old, 
and  Edward  aids  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm. 


^I^DWARD  M.  LYMAN,  who  is  engaged  in 
fe]  general  farming  on  section  17,  Lj'nian 
jl' — ^  Township,  is  a  worthy  representative  of 
the  honored  pioneer  family  for  whicli  this  township 
was  named.  He  was  born  in  Soutliampton,  Mass., 
May  23,  1850,  and  was  the  youngest  of  live  sons, 
whose  parents  were  Samuel  and  Lucetta  (Burk) 
Lyman.  The  father  was  born  in  the  Bay  State, 
July  1(3,  181  ],  followed  the  occupation  of  farming, 
and  emigrated  to  the  West  in  18.56.  Locating  in 
this  county,  he  purchased  two  hundred  and  thirty 
acres  of  wild  land  and  his  home  was  the  only  one 
between  Del  Re}' and  Oliver  Grove.  The  township 
first  bore  the  name  of  Stockton,  which  was  after- 
ward changed  to  Brenton,  and  later  was  named  for 
JNlr.  Lyman.  Deer,  geese,  ducks  and  all  kinds  of 
wild  game  were  plentiful  and  the  experiences  of 
pioneer  life  were  all  borne  by  the  Lyman  family. 
The  parents  were  both  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  and  instilled  into  the  minds  of  their 
children  lessons  of  industry  and  morality.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Lyman  was  a  stanch  Republican  and 
was  a  widely-known  citizen  of  this  community, 
held  in  high  regard  for  his  sterling  worth  and  in- 
tegrity. His  wife  died  in  Onarga,  Septembei-  2.5, 
1875,  and  he  passed  away  on  Christmas  Day  of 
1877.  They  were  laid  to  rest  side  by  side  in  Rob- 
erts Cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  monument  has 
I    een  erected  sacred  to  their  niemor}-. 

Three  sons  of  this  worth j'  couple  are  still  living. 
The  eldest,  Samuel  B.,  was  born  in  Massachusetts, 
was  reared  to  agricultural  p\irsuits  and  acquired  a 
common-school  education.  During  the  late  war, 
he  donned  the  blue  and  served  throughout  the  en- 
tire struggle.     At    Harper's    Ferry,    he  was  taken 


prisoner  but  was  afterward  exchanged.  Later,  he 
enlisted  in  an  Illinois  regiment  and  was  given  a 
place  on  the  detective  force  in  securing  "bounty- 
jumpers."  When  the  war  was  over,  he  received  his 
discharge  and  returned  home.  He  has  lieen  twice 
married.  He  first  married  Samantha  Harris,  who 
died  in  1873,  leaving  four  children,  after  which  he 
was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Mrs.  Maggie  Rams.ay. 
They  now  reside  in  Rolfe,  Iowa,  where  Mr.  Lyman 
is  living  retired.  He  was  one  of  Ford  County's 
honored  citizens  for  a  number  of  years  and  served 
as  Sheriff  from  1875  until  1882,  proving  one  of 
the  most  efficient  officers  that  the  county  has  ever 
known.  George  P.,  who  for  some  time  was  a  lead- 
ing merchant  of  Roberts,  111.,  resides  in  Pasadena, 
Cal.,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  milling  business. 
He  married  Helen  Searls. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  son.  He  spent  the 
first  six  years  of  his  life  in  his  native  State,  then 
came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois.  His  education 
was  acquired  in  the  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  in 
Onarga  and  he  is  a  well-informed  man.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-four,  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self with  no  capital,  but  is  now  a  well-to-do  farmer 
of  Lyman  Township. 

On  the  26tii  of  November,  1874,  Mr.  Lyman  was 
imited  in  marriage  to  Miss  Harriet  Samantha  Hard- 
ing, a  native  of  Illinois.  She  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  for  six  terms  was  a  successful 
teacher  in  Tazewell  County.  Her  mother  is  still 
living  and  resides  with  Mrs.  Lyman.  She  was  born 
in  May,  1824,  and  is  now  about  sixtj'-eight  3-ears 
of  age.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  one  son, 
Eugene  H..  who  is  attending  school  in  Roberts. 
The  parents  are  both  devout  members  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  of  Roberts,  to  which  Mrs. 
Harding  also  belongs,  and  they  have  been  .active 
workers  for  its  interest  and  upbuilding.  Mr. 
Lyman  is  one  of  the  Deacons  of  the  church,  also 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  ,i  worker 
in  the  Sunday-school.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  Endeavor  Society  an<I  is  an  officer  in 
the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  INIr.  Lyni.an  has  always 
been  an  earnest  advocate  of  temperance  principles, 
and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Black  and  Russell,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  the 
Prohibition  party.     Himself  and  wife  are  members 


POKTRAIT  AND  lilOCJRAril'CAL   RECORD. 


319 


of  tlic  Indepondcnt,  Ordor  of  Good  Templars  of 
Roliei'ts  and  are  miiiihured  among  the  best  citizens 
of  tliis  community,  being  held  in  high  regard  by 
all  for  their  manv  cxcollencics  of  character. 


"S! 


^-^ 


(^_ 


[=" 


^  DWIN  RICE  was  for  nianj'  years  one  of  the 
most  prominent  residents  of  Paxton,  .and 
the  history  of  Ford  County  would  be  in- 
complete without  this  record  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  native  of  INIassachusetts,  born  in  Worcester 
County,  December  21,  1834.  His  parents,  Silas 
and  Elizabeth  (Corey)  Rice,  were  both  natives  of 
New  England. 

Our  subject  spent  his  \outh  with  his  parents  in 
Ashburnham,  where  he  acquired  a  good  education, 
supiiiemented  by  study  in  Oxford,  M.ass.  He  after- 
ward engaged  in  teaching  for  about  two  years,  and 
in  the  spring  of  185.5  came  West,  locating  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  accepted  a  position  as  salesman  in 
the  mercantile  house  of  D.  B.  Fisk  it  Co.  A  few 
months  later,  he  left  the  city  and  went  to  Lisbon, 
Kendall  County,  111.,  where  he  accepted  a  position 
in  the  dry-goods  house  of  John  Moore,  and  after 
two  years  became  a  partner  in  the  business. 

In  Lisbon,  on  the  10th  of  August,  1859,  Sir. 
Rice  wedded  Miss  M.  Almarine  Moore,  daughter  of 
Scliuyler  and  Lucretia  (Kingsbury)  Moore.  Her 
father  was  a  well-educated  man  and  a  native  of 
Connecticut.  In  early  uianhood,  he  went  to  New 
York,  locating  in  Skaneateles,  where  he  engaged  in 
business,  was  married  and  reared  his  family.  His 
death  occurred  in  that  place  in  1863.  His  wife 
survived  her  husband  a  number  of  years  and  de- 
parted this  life  in  August,  1891.  Both  were  buried 
in  the  cemetery  near  their  old  home.  Mrs.  Rice 
was  reared  and  educated  in  that  city.  Having 
relatives  in  Lisbon,  111.,  she  came  to  that  town  and 
eiiiratred  in  teaching  for  some  time. 

On  account  of  failing  health,  Mr.  Rice  withdrew 
from  the  firm  of  Moore  &  Rice,  and  in  1865  made 
a  trip  to  California,  where  he  spent  about  six 
months,  settling  up  the  estate  of  his  wife's  uncle, 
Denman  Kingsbury',  who  was  a  pioneer  of  that 
State,  a  bridge  builder  and  prominent  citizen  dur- 


ing its  early  history.  On  his  return  to  Illinois, 
Mr.  Rice  became  a  grain  dealer  of  Morris,  but  the 
following  December  removed  to  Paxton,  where  he 
[michased  an  elevator.  In  1882.  he  suffered  a 
heavy  loss,  his  elevator  being  destroyed  by  fire, 
but  he  rebuilt  it  soon  afterward  and  resumed  busi- 
ness, which  he  carried  on  until  his  death.  He  was 
connected  with  various  enterprises,  also  w.as  one  of 
the  incorporators  of  the  First  National  Bank  under 
a  Nation.al  charter  in  Ford  Count3'.  It  was  after- 
ward re-organized  as  the  Ford  County  Bank,  of 
which  Mr.  Rice  was  a  stockholder  until  his  death, 
and  he  was  also  a  large  stockholder  in  the  Linseed 
Oil  Works, of  Toledo,  Ohio.  He  was  a  most  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  man  and  was  pub- 
lic-spirited and  progressive.  He  gave  liberally  of 
his  means  to  the  support  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  of  which  he  was  an  active  worker,  and  also 
gave  freely  to  charitable  and  benevolent  purposes. 
The  cause  of  temperance  found  in  liim  a  warm 
advocate,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council 
which  closed  the  saloons  of  Paxton.  He  was  ever 
ready  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  community 
where  he  lived,  and  certainly  did  much  for  the 
upbuilding  of  this  city. 

Mr.  Rice  passed  away  on  the  24th  of  April, 
1884,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him  and  mourned 
by  the  entire  community.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Glen  Cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  mon- 
ument marks  his  last  resting  place.  The  poor  and 
needy  great!}-  mourned  his  loss  for  they  found  in 
him  a  true  fiiend.  He  was  a  man  of  unblemished 
character  and  his  life  was  iu  many  respects  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  had  no  children  of  their  own 
but  reared  in  their  home  the  lad3''s  niece.  Miss 
Almarine  Gaylord,  who  came  to  them  when  about 
three  and  a  half  j'ears  of  .age.  She  has  giown  to 
womanhood  and  is  an  accomplished  young  lady, 
still  residing  with  her  aunt. 

Further  mention  should  be  made  of  the  estima- 
ble wife  of  the  worthy  pioneer  whose  life  record 
we  have  just  given.  After  her  husband's  deatli, 
she  took  charge  of  the  estate  and  business.  To  the 
grain  business,  she  gave  her  personal  attention  for 
about  two  yeai-s,  when  a  stock  companv  was  or- 
ganized, of  which    she  was    the    priucii)al    stock- 


320 


POUTKAIT  A^'D  BIO(iUAFIIICAL   RECORD, 


liolder.  She  also  owns  an  interest  in  the  Ford 
County  Bank.  She  is  a  lady  of  superior  business 
ability,  and  her  efforts  have  been  very  successful. 
Of  recent  years,  she  has  invested  largely  in  Ford 
County  real  estate  and  is  the  owner  of  three  good 
farms  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  each,  highly 
cultivated  and  well  improved.  Of  her  means  she 
has  given  liberally  for  the  advancement  of  those 
enterprises  calculated  to  |)romote  the  best  interests 
of  the  city,  and  has  been  prominently  connected 
with  its  upl)uilding.  In  1889,  some  three  years 
after  the  discontinuance  of  the  Paxton  Collegiate 
I  nstitute,  siie  purchased  the  college  building  and 
l)roperty,  which  siie  then  deeded  to  the  trustees. 
It  was  soon  afterwaid  re-opeued  and  the  Rice 
Collegiate  Institute,  for  so  it  is  now  called,  is  in  a 
nourishing  condition. 

After  the  death  of  Rlr.  Kice,  his  widow  built  a 
neat  and  substantial  residence  in  Paxton,  one  of 
the  best  homes  in  the  city,  where  she  is  still  living. 
She  was  again  married,  on  the  .'5d  of  February,  1891, 
becoming  the  wife  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Miles,  of  Peoria. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  at  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Moore,  in  Skaneateles,  N.  Y.  The  Doctor  is  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated  at  Dart- 
mouth College,  N.  Y.,  and  was  graduated  from 
Marshall  College,  Pa.  After  completing  bis  literary 
course,  he  studied  medicine  and  was  graduated 
from  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philadelphia. 
He  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Peoria,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  drug  busniess  for  a  number  of 
years.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Miles  are  both  faithful  mem- 
bers and  active  workers  in  the  Paxton  Congrega- 
tional Church,  and  are  well-known  citizens  of  Ford 
County,  held  in  high  esteem  by  all. 


R^•J••^♦•^[- 


OHN  A.  INIONTKLIFS,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  and  inlluential  citizens  of  Ford 
County,  is  a  dealer  in  real  estate, grain  and 
^  agricultural  implements  in  Piper  City.  This 
work  would  be  incomplete  without  his  sketch, 
which  we  feel  assured  will  i>rove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers.  He  was  liorn  in  MitHinburg, 
Pa.,  Ma3'  29,    1844,  and   is  a  descendant    of  Fred 


Marcus  IMontelius,  who  started  .across  the  Atlantic 
in  the  winter  of  1773,  landing  in  Philadelphia  on 
the  2oth  of  August.  For  some  time  he  engaged  in 
merchandising  ui  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Reamstown,  where  his  death 
occurred.  His  son  John,  the  giandfather  of  our 
subject,  settled  in  Mifflinburg,  Pa.,  about  1800,  and 
there  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  following  the 
trade  of  a  tanner.  He  served  as  Associate  Judge 
of  the  c()unt\- and  represented  his  district  in  the 
State  Legislature. 

Charles  Montelius,  father  of  our  subject,  w.as 
born  in  181 1,  and  was  one  of  six  sons  and  six 
daughters.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  and  in  1837  married  Rebecca  Howard 
Piper.  When  a  young  man,  he  learned  the  tanner's 
trade  but  afterwards  engaged  in  merchandising. 
His  wife  died  in  1860,  and  the  following  year  he 
came  to  Piper  City  and  resided  with  his  son.  They 
were  in  business  together  from  1807  until  1873. 
The  death  of  the  father  occurred  in  1882,  and  liis 
remains  were  taken  back  to  Pennsylvania  and  laid 
by  the  side  of  his  wife.  In  politics,  he  was  lirst  a 
Whig  and  afterwards  a  Republican.  In  religious 
belief,  he  was  a  Presbyterian  and  served  as  Elder 
of  the  church  for  many  years.  His  family  num- 
bered four  sons,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  MitHin- 
burg, but  two  died  in  infancy.  William  Piper, 
brother  of  our  subject,  completed  his  literarv  edu- 
cation in  La  Fayette  College,  after  which  he  was 
for  two  years  a  student  in  the  Western  Theological 
Seminary  of  Pittsburg.  He  then  became  connected 
with  the  Christian  Commission  ami  in  the  fall  of 
1864  was  stationed  at  Iluntsville,  Ala.  He  died 
the  following  year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  his  native  cit}',  where  he  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  in  an  academy.  In  18.59,  he  left 
home  and  for  a  year  engaged  in  clerking  in  Milton, 
Pa.,  after  which  he  spent  one  year  in  Lewisburg. 
On  the  17th  of  June,  1863,  he  enlisted  for  the  one 
hundred  days'  service  and  spent  the  time  at  Cum- 
berland, Md.,  as  a  member  of  Comi)an3'  D,  Thirty- 
first  Pennsylvania  Infantry.  He  was  discharged  at 
Harrisburg,  August  8,  1863,  and  on  the  12th  of 
July,  1K04,  re-enlisted  in  the  First  B.attalion  of 
Pennsylvania  Infantry,  and  served  until  November 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


321 


11,  1864.  He  participated  iu  no  battles,  but  on 
one  occasion  niaiciied  thirty-five  miles  in  one  day 
to  guard  tlie  iron  works  at  Johnstown.  In  the  fall 
of  1865,  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and  attended  the 
(Quaker  City  Business  College,  and  iu  the  summer 
of  the  following  year  held  a  i)Osition  in  the  Corn 
Exchange  National  Bank,  of  that  city. 

Mr.  Monteliuscame  AVest  in  the  autumn  of  IHGG, 
reaching  Piper  City  on  the  14th  of  November.  On 
the  6th  of  December,  he  began  general  merchan- 
dising in  connection  with  his  uncle.  Dr.  Piper,  for 
whom  the  town  was  named.  The  firm  afterwards 
became  Piper,  Montelius  &  Co.,  subsequently  C. 
Montelius  ife  Son,  and  business  is  now  carried  on 
under  the  name  of  J.  A.  Montelius,  our  subject  be- 
ing sole  proprietor.  He  was  also  engaged  in  bank- 
ing with  his  father  until  1877,  when  he  sold  out  to 
Cami)bell  ife  Thompson,  with  the  intention  of  de- 
voting his  time  to  his  extensive  land  interests.  In 
order  to  give  emploj-meut  to  his  brother,  he  began 
dealing  in  agricultural  implements  and  aflervvards 
in  grain.  He  owns  two  elevators  in  Piper  Cit}', 
has  a  branch  implement  store  at  Kemptf)n  and  owns 
live  thousand  acres  of  farming  land  in  Ford,  Liv- 
ingston and  Iioquois  Counties.  His  cash  transac- 
tions amount  to  about  f 600,000  annually. 

On  the  8lh  of  October,  1867,  in  Mifflinburg,  Pa., 
Mr.  Montelius  married  Kate  Gast,  who  was  born  in 
that  city  and  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary 
Gast.  Her  mother  is  now  deceased,  but  her  father 
isstill  living.  They  have  a  family  of  five  children: 
Joseph  K.,  who  is  now  twenty-two  years  old,  was 
born  in  Piper  City,  is  a  graduate  of  the  public 
schools,  for  two  years  studied  at  Lake  Forest,  and 
is  now  employed  in  his  father's  office;  Maggie  was 
also  educated  at  the  public  schools  and  at  Lake 
Forest;  George  D.  attended  the  Military  Academy 
of  Orchard  Lake,  Mich.,  for  two  j'ears;  John  A.  was 
in  the  same  school  for  one  year;  .and  Mary  Rebecca 
completes  the  family. 

The  cause  of  education  has  ever  found  in  Mr. 
Montelius  a  warm  friend,  and  while  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  School  Board,  he  did  effective  work 
in  its  interest.  In  1867,  be  laid  out  the  town  of 
Piper  City  and  in  a  room  twelve  feet  square,  a  part 
of  his  present  oHice,  the  first  school  convened  with 
eight  pupils.     There  were  only  four  houses  iu  this 


locality  when  he  located  here,  and  witli  every  pro- 
gressive step  of  I'iper  City,  our  subject  has  been 
identified.  In  his  political  affiliations,  he  has  been 
a  stalwart  Republican  since  he  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Lincoln,  in  1864,  when  in  the  army, 
and  he  usually  attends  the  county  and  congress- 
ional conventions  of  his  party.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  Piper  Lodge  No.  608,  A.  F.  ct  A.  M.; 
Chapter  No.  99,  R.  A.  M.;  St.  Paul  Commandery 
No.  34,  K.  T.,  and  Gibson  Council;  also  the(Jrand 
Army  Post.  He  and  his  wife  are  leading  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  take  an  .active  interest 
in  its  work  and  for  twenty  years  Mr.  Montelius  has 
served  as  Elder  and  for  man}'  years  has  been  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  He  started  out 
in  life  with  nothing  and  came  to  Piper  City  with 
only  $1,200,  but  by  his  industry, enterprise,  perse- 
verance and  good  management,  he  has  increased 
his  possessions  until  he  is  now  the  wealthiest  man 
in  the  county.  Strict  integrity  and  upright  deal- 
ing have  characterized  his  life  and  won  him  the 
confidence  of  all.  Of  his  means  he  has  given 
liberally  to  educational  and  moral  interests  and 
every  enterprise  calculated  to  prove  of  public  ben- 
efit. 


AVID  NEWMAN,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Sussex  County,  N.  J., on  the  14th  of  July, 
1808,  and  was  of  English  descent.  His 
parents,  John  and  Anna  (Schofield)  New- 
man, had  a  family  of  seven  children.  They  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and,  in  poli- 
tics, John  Newman  was  first  a  Whig  and  afterward 
a  Republican. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in  the  State 
of  his  nativity  and  on  the  28tli  of  July,  1833,  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Maria  Conkle,  a  native 
of  New  Jersej'.  Unto  them  was  born  a  family  of 
four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter:  John, 
George,  Sarah  and  Ezra,  but  all  are  now  deceased. 
The  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  August  30, 
1839.  Mr.  Newman  was  again  married  on  the 
24th  of  September,  184r),  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Mary  .1.  Koe,  who  was  born  in  Strouds- 
buig,  Pa.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary 


322 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(Haines)  Roe.  Mr.  Roe  was  a  native  of  Holland 
and  of  Englisli  descent.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  seven  children,  as  follows:  Wickliffe,  Anna, 
Ezekiel,  Samuel  (deceased),  Phcebe,  Clara  (de- 
ceased) and  David  E. 

Ju  1860,  having  come  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Newman 
located  in  Bloomington  for  five  years,  lii  1865,  he 
purchased  a  tine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  upon  whicli  he  made  his  home  until  his  death, 
lie  followed  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his 
entire  life  and  was  (piite  successful  in  his  business 
career.  He  and  iiis  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  his  political  aflilia- 
tions,  ]\Ir.  Newman  was  a  Republican.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  I'Jth  of  .January,  1892,  and  his 
wife  died  on  the  21st  of  Januar3'  of  the  same 
year.  Speaking  of  tiiem,  one  of  the  county  news- 
papers gave  the  following:  "Mr.  and  Mrs.  New- 
man were  two  of  tiie  band  of  twenty  who  gathered 
in  the  Union  Schoolhouse,  in  1871,  to  organize 
tiie  First  Presbyterian  Church,  under  the  leader 
ship  of  Rev.  Criswell.of  Normal.  From  that  band 
of  Iwentj',  the  churcli  had  grown  in  their  lifetime 
to  a  membership  of  over  two  hundred,  among 
whom  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newman  were  ever  prominent. 
The}'  were,  indeed,  iiiglily  res[)ected  people  of  this 
communit}',  who  had  the  confidence  and  warm  re- 
gard of  all  with  whom  they  were  brought  in  con- 
tact. ' ' 

David  E.  Newman,  the  youngest  son,  has  the 
control  of  the  old  homestead,  and  is  one  of  Ford 
County's  most  enterprising  and  industrious  young 
men.  He  isanieml)er  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,' 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  the  support  of  the 
Republican  party  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
many  friends  and  ac(iuaiiitances. 


J'  OHN  VAN  NOSTIN,  a  representative  farmer 
of  Drummer  Township,  living  on  section  27, 
was  born  on  Ins  father's  farm  in  Whitewater 
Township,  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 7,  1836.  His  father,  Abram  Van  Nostin,  wa.s  a 
native  of  New  .Jersey.  He  was  reared  as  a  farmer  but 


afterward  became  a  boot  and  siioe  maker.  He  re- 
moved to  Hamilton  County,  Oiiio,  in  an  early  day 
and  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  McLean  County, 
111.,  of  1840.  He  there  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1852,  his  remains  being  interred 
in  the  cemetery  near  Downs.  His  wife  long  sur- 
vived him  and  passed  away  in  181)0.  He  was  a 
member  of  tiie  Universalist  Church  and  she  lield 
membership  with  the  Christian  Cluuch.  Their 
family  numbered  ten  children:  Aaron,  now  de- 
ceased; Ann,  widow  of  William  C.  King;  Eliza, 
wife  of  D.  Ilarboard;  Alirain,  deceased;  Alexan- 
der, of  Kansas;  Charlotte,  who  is  living  in  I(.>wa; 
Hannah;  .John,  of  this  sketch;  Margaret,  Amanda 
and  Sarah. 

John  Van  Nostin,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
has  S|ient  almost  his  entire  life  in  lUinoi'  his  par- 
ents locating  in  McLean  County  when  he  ,j  a  lad 
of  only  four  summers.  He  aided  in  the  lors  of 
the  farm  during  the  summer  montlis  ar  .  in  tiie 
winter  season,  when  his  services  were  not  needed 
at  home,  attended  the  district  schools  of  tl  >  neigii- 
borhood,  where  he  acquired  a  limited  education. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  iiiilil  his  fa- 
ther's death  and  tiieii  began  working  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  mouth  and  took  care  of  his  widowed 
mother. 

On  the  ytli  C)f  .lanuary,  1861,in  McLean  County, 
Mr.  Van  Nostin, was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  to  Miss  Martha  S.  Pliillips,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  in  Nicholsville  in  1844.  Her  par- 
ents, Beauford  and  Lucy  (Settles)  Phillips,  were 
natives  of  Kentucky.  For  thirty-nine  years,  Mr. 
A'an  Nostin  engaged  in  farming  in  McLean  County 
and  then,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  removed  to 
this  count}'  in  January,  1875.  Soon  afterward,  he 
purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides, 
consisting  of  eighty  acres  of  arable  land,  under  a 
good  stiite  of  cultivation  and  well  improved.  In 
connection  with  general  farming,  he  engages  in 
stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  thoroughbred 
horses.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat  liut  has  never 
sought  or  desired  puljlic  oHice,  preferring  to  de- 
vote his  entire  attention  to  Ins  business.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Methodist  Cliurcli. 
They  are  worthy  citizens  of  this  community  and 
are  held  in  high  regard  by  their  many  friends. 


■lit/ 
Jilf 

Ui. 


c--^riS '^^^i^^^i^/HJ 


0-t*K, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


325 


^1  BEL  C.   THOMPSON,    now   deceased,  was 

WLm  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential  bus- 
iness men  of  Paxton,  and  his  name  is  in- 
separably connected  witii  the  upbuilding 
and  history  of  the  city.  lie  was  born  in  Luzerne 
County,  Pa.,  August  6,  1818,  and  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Mary  (Gardner)  Thompson.  His  father, 
also  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  was  descended 
from  Scotch-Irish  ancestors,  and  was  a  man  of 
character  and  worth.  The  family  of  John  and 
Mary  Thom[)Son  consisted  of  eight  children:  Fan- 
nie is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Sailor,  a  merchant  of 
Franklin,  Pa.;  Sallie  is  the  widow  of  George  Swal- 
low, a  capitalist  of  Abington,  Pa.;  Jesse,  a  mer- 
chant of  Carboudale,  Pa.;  James,  a  retired  farmer 
of  the  same  place;  Enoch,  a  farmer  of  Shenandoah, 
Iowa,  and  Rebecca,  wife  of  Thomas  Whait,  of  Wav- 
er ly,  Pa. 

Abel  C.  Thompson,  whose  n.ame  heads  this 
article,  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his  father's 
farm,  receiving  such  education  as  the  district 
schools  of  those  days  afforded.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen,  he  began  the  battle  of  life  for  himself  by 
working  on  the  farm  at  112  per  mouth.  Not  sat- 
isfied with  his  educational  attainments,  he  invested 
his  careful!}'  husbanded  earnings  in  a  course  of 
higher  studies  in  the  schools  of  Hartford,  Pa. 

Having  accumulated  !)>'  industrj'  and  economy 
a  small  capital,  he  opened  a  general  store  in  Exe- 
ter, Pa.,  which  he  r.an  successfully  some  two  or 
three  years.  Removing  to  Ransom,  in  the  same 
State,  he  again  embarked  in  mercantile  pursuits, 
continuing  with  marked  success  for  many  years. 
In  1852,  he  disposed  of  his  interests  in  Ransom, 
and  moved  to  Pittstown,  Pa.,  where  he  w.as  also 
engaged  in  trade  for  some  time,  when  he  sold  his 
store  and  turned  his  attention  to  journalism,  be- 
coming editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Fillstuwn.  Ga- 
zelle. A  man  of  varied  ability,  he  proved  himself 
capable  in  this  field,  as  well  as  in  business  affairs. 
Other  interests  claimed  his  attention,  for  he  had 
ownership  in  extensive  coal  fields.  But  nowhere 
did  his  excellencies  of  character  more  clearly  man- 
ifest themselves  than  in  the  home  circle.  To  him 
home  was  the  haven  of  rest  from  annoyances  that 
must  come  to  every  business  man. 

On  the  20th  of  October,  1845,  Mr.  Thompson 
14 


married  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Elizabeth  (Searle)  Brown.  Mrs.  Thompson  is  one 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Daniel  is  a  farmer  of 
Exeter,  Pa.;  Catherine;  Elizabeth  and  ]>awrence, 
deceased;  Rasselas;  Clara,  wife  of  F.  A.  Thompson, 
of  Paxton;  Myron,  a  resident  of  Exeter. 

I\Ir.  and  !\Irs.  Thomiison  became  the  parents  of 
two  children.  Lawrence  died  in  infancy.  Their 
only  surviving  child,  Marian,  was  born  October 
12,  1846,  received  her  education  in  Miss  Anabel's 
College,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  on  the  22d  of 
September,  1868,  became  the  wife  of  I.  J.  Sutton, 
manager  of  the  Roller  IMills  of  Paxton.  They 
have  one  child,  Stanley  T.,  the  eflicient  book-keeper 
for  the  Ford  County  Bank. 

Failing  health  caused  Mr.  Thompson  to  seek  a 
home  in  the  AVest.  It  was  his  intention  to  go  to  Min- 
neapolis, Minn.,  but  on  the  way  he  stopped  to  visit 
relatives  at  Paxtou.  His  healtli  improved  so  rapidly 
that  he  determined  to  locate  in  Paxton.  The  fall 
of  the  same  year,  1808,  he  returned  to  the  East, 
disposed  of  his  interests  and  moved  his  family  to 
their  western  home.  Having  purchased  an  inter- 
est in  the  Ford  County  Bank,  he  was  made  its 
President,  which  position  he  held  continuously  to 
the  date  of  his  deatii.  He  was  public-spirited 
and  liberal  toward  all  worthy  enterprises,  and 
whatever  he  took  hold  of  he  pushed  with  his  char- 
acteristic energy  and  determination.  Through  his 
personal  efforts  the  old  gristmill  of  Paxton  was 
converted  into  one  of  the  best  roller  mills  of  East- 
ern Illinois. 

Ill  tlie  truest  sense,  Mr.  Thompson  was  a  self- 
made  man;  beginning  as  a  wage-earner,  he  arose  by 
persistent  and  well-directed  effort  to  a  position  of 
infiuence  and  wealth,  his  intercourse  with  his  fel- 
low men  ever  being  m.arked  by  honesty  and  jus- 
tice. 

In  political  affairs,  ISIr.  Thompson  always  took 
an  active  part,  working  for  the  triumph  of  the 
Republican  principles.  In  Pennsylvania  he  served 
as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  after  coming  to  Paxton 
held  the  office  of  Mayor  of  the  city  two  terms.  He 
w.as  not  a  man  that  sought  places  of  public  trust, 
but  when  he  once  accepted  such  trust,  he  performed 
his  part  with  conscientious  fidelitj'. 

A  record  of    the    life   of   Mr.  Thompson  would 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lack  in  the  most  essential  element  were  it  not  to 
speak  of  his  religious  faith  and  works.  In  early 
life  he  was  converted,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  which  he  was 
ever  a  zealous  and  cheerful  worker.  If  a  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunda3--school  was  needed,  he  was 
capable  and  willing;  when  a  class-leader  was  wanted 
Mr.  Thompson  was  available;  was  financial  support 
necessary,  he  could  always  be  relied  upon  to  do  his 
share.  In  a  word,  he  was  a  pillar  of  the  church. 
Is  it  any  wonder  that  family,  friends,  and  commun- 
ity should  mourn  the  loss  of  one  so  helpful  in  all 
that  tends  to  make  life  brighter  and  mankind  bet- 
ter.? On  the  24th  of  September,  1890,  while  at  the 
mill,  Mr.  Thom})son  met  with  an  accident  that  re- 
sulted in  his  death  six  days  later.  In  Glenn 
Cemetery,  at  Paxton,  his  remains  wei'e  laid  to  rest, 
but  he  will  long  be  remembered  as  one  of  nature's 
noblemen  and  one  of  God's  faithful  servants. 


■jflOHN  C.  KEN  WARD  has  been  identified 
I  with  the  history  of  Ford  County  since  1869. 
He  now  resides  in  Roberts,  and  is  half 
_  owner  and  foreman  in  the  tile  factory.  He 
was  born  in  Sussex,  England,  October  2,  1832. 
His  parents,  John  and  Mercy  (Standing)  Ken- 
ward,  never  left  their  native  land.  The  father  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church.  They  had  a  family  of 
three  sons  and  two  daughters:  Mercy  E.,  wife  of 
Mr.  Johnson,  grocer  and  draper  of  Stenning,  Sus- 
sex Count}',  England;  John,  of  this  sketch;  Sam- 
uel S.,  who  was  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  of  the  late 
war,  and  died  in  the  service  in  1863;  George,  a 
commission  merchant,  who  is  married,  and  lives  in 
Spokane  Falls,  Wash.;  and  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  John 
Stacey,  a  merchant  of  East  Grinstead,  England. 

Our  subject  attended  school  until  thirteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  began  serving  an  apprenticeship 
to  the  miller's  trade,  working  in  that  capacity  un- 
til seventeen  years  of  age.  By  an  uncle,  he  was 
advised  to  come  to  America,  and,  acting  upon  his 


advice,  in  May,  1850,  sailed  from  Liverpool  on 
the  "John  McKinzie,"  and,  after  seven  weeks, 
landed  in  New  York  with  only  $25  in  his  pocket. 
He  had  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  young  man 
on  board,  and  together  thej'  went  to  Buffalo. 
There  they  fell  in  with  a  man  who  robbed  Mr. 
Ken  ward's  friend  of  ^200,  and  the  poor  boys 
found  themselves  with  only  three  sovereigns, 
which  belonged  to  our  sul)ject.  At  Sandusky,  Mr. 
Kenward  was  offered  §2.50  for  a  musket  which  he 
carried,  and  he  gladly  exchanged  it  for  the 
money.  The  young  men  started  to  walk  to  Per- 
rysburg,  Ohio,  where  the  friend  secured  work  as  a 
mechanic,  and  our  subject  found  employment  in  a 
mill.  A  short  tune  afterward,  however,  he  left 
that  place,  and  at  length  went  to  Marshall,  Mich., 
where  he  worked  until  the  si)ring  of  1851  in  a 
mill,  and  then  returned  to  Detroit.  In  May,  of 
that  .year,  he  landed  on  Rock  Island,  in  AYisconsin, 
and  there  engaged  in  fishing  through  the  summer, 
but  his  employer  failed  to  pay  him  for  his  ser- 
vices. The  following  winter  he  spent  in  Wau- 
kegan,  where  he  did  chores  for  his  board,  and  in 
the  spring  went  to  Washington  Island,  Wis. 

While  on  that  island,  in  November,  1852,  Mr. 
Kenward  married  Miss  Nanc}'  Westbrook,  daugh- 
ter of  Joel  and  Lucinda  (Kilbourn)  AVestbrook. 
Unto  them  have  been  born  ten  children,  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters,  eight  of  whom  are  j'et 
living:  Joel,  who  was  educated  at  Normal  Union 
and  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  is  now  married,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
jewelry  business  in  Roberts;  John,  who  was  edu- 
cated in  the  AVesle^'an  University,  resides  in  Los 
Angeles,  Cal.;  Ira,  who  was  graduated  from  the 
Weslej'an  University  in  1888,  and  for  a  time  en- 
gaged in  teaching,  is  now  married  and  practices 
law  in  Protho,  Utah;  Samuel  is  married  and  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead;  Aaron  is  an  agricul- 
turist of  AVall  Township;  Patience,  .lanieand  AVill- 
ard,  at  home. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Kenward  came  with  his  family  to 
AVall  Township.  For  eighteen  years  he  had  en- 
gaged in  fishing  on  Washington  Island,  and  now 
turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  purchased 
onediundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw  land,  at  $10 
per  acre,  and  transformed  the    uncultivated    tract 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


327 


into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  The  boundaries  of  his 
farm  he  also  extended,  until  he  now  owns  three 
hundred  and  tn-enty  acres  of  highly  improved 
land.  In  188,5,  he  came  to  Roberts,  and  ha.3  since 
Iwen  foreman  of  the  tile  factor.)',  in  which  he  owns 
a  lialf  interest.  It  has  a  eapacitj'  of  about  six 
hundred  thousand  tile  annually  and  the  sales  of 
brick  and  tile  amount  to  from  *8,0()0  to  *  10,000. 

A  poor  friendless  boy,  he  started  out  for  himself 
in  America  and  for  iiis  success  in  life  deserves 
great  credit  as  he  has  worked  his  way  uitward  to  a 
position  of  affluence  and  also  to  a  higli  position  in 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow-townsmen.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Metliodist  Cliurch  and  the 
lady  is  a  member  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
ciety. Tliey  have  given  freelj'  of  their  means  for 
the  erection  of  churches  and  to  all  benevolent  and 
charitable  considerations.  Mr.  Kenward  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Fremont,  and  since 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  p.arty  has  been 
one  of  its  stanch  advocates.  He  has  served  as 
Assessor  of  Wall  Township  for  about  six  years, 
was  Collector,  School  Director  and  is  School 
Trustee  of  Lyman  Township  at  the  present  time. 
He  was  also  liglit-house  keeper  on  Pilot  Island, 
Wis.,  for  three  years.  While  only  twenty- two 
years  of  age,  he  served  as  .Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
laugliingly  tells  of  how  he  was  called  upon  to 
marry  a  couple  when  his  embarrassment  was  as 
great  as  that  of  the  contracting  parties.  In  the 
summer  of  1882,  Mr.  Kenward  paid  a  visit  to 
his  old  home  in  England,  wliere  he  spent  four 
months. 


f'«j'*j**j»»j*F 


W;ILLIAM  HURST  is  numbered  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Ford  County,  where  he 
has  made  his  home  for  the  past  thirty- 
four  j'ears.  He  is  a  native  of  Lancashire,  Eng- 
land, born  on  the  lOtli  of  January,  1838,  and  is  the 
ninth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  often  children, 
three  sons  and  seven  daugliters.  The  parents  were 
Joseph  and  Maiy  (Bowers)  Hurst.  The  father  was 
a  native  of  Lancashire,  was  a  well-educated 
gentleman  and  was  emploj'ed  as  book-keeper  in  a 


cotton  manufactory.  About  1847,  accompanied 
by  his  wife  and  family,  he  determined  to  emigrate 
to  America,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  from  Liver- 
pool to  Philadelphia.  He  made  a  location  at 
Gloucester,  N.  J.,  and  there  remained  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  June  23,  1849.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  AVoodbury,  N.  J.  His  wife  came 
to  the  West  and  died  July  26,  187.5.  She  was  laid 
away  in  Peach  Orchard  Cemetery,  where  a  beauti- 
ful stone  marks  her  last  resting  iJace.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  children  of  the  family  areBettie,  a  resident 
of  Lj'man  Township;  Alice,  wife  of  James  Roberts, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work; 
Ellen,  who  is  living  on  section  30,  in  Lyman 
Township;  Ann,  wife  of  Joseph  Tucker,  a  railroad 
employe,  residing  in  Camden  County,  N.  J.;  Mary, 
wife  of  Jlatthew  Biichenough,  a  farmer  of  Iro- 
quois County;  Joseph,  a  prominent  agriculturist  of 
Lyman  Township,  whose  sketch  is  given  in  this  vol- 
ume; William,  our  subject;  and  Hannah,  who  is 
living  on  section  30,  L^-man  Township. 

William  Hurst  was  a  lad  of  nine  years  when 
with  his  parents  he  came  to  America.  He  worked 
for  his  mother  upon  the  farm  between  the  ages  of 
nineteen  and  twenty-four  years  and  then  began 
life  for  himself,  his  property  consisting  solely  of  a 
team.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's 
journey,  he  chose  Miss  Mary  Jane  Roberts,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Roberts.  Their  union  was  celebrated 
February  13,  1867,  and  has  been  blessed  with  a 
family  of  five  children,  but  the  only  son,  Walter, 
died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  Lizzie  is  now  the 
wife  of  David  Kenned}^  an  agriculturist  of  Rob- 
erts, and  unto  them  have  been  born  a  son  and 
daughter.  Mary  is  attending  school  and  has  also 
received  instructions  in  instrumental  music. 
Cynthia  is  also  in  school,  and  Elsie  is  the  baby  of 
the  household.  Mrs.  Hurst,  who  is  a  native  of 
Sussex,  England,  is  a  well-educated  lady  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching  prior  to  her  marriage. 

Mr.  Hurst  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he 
has  been  identified  since  casting  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  For  nine  years, 
he  has  served  as  School  Director  and  the  cause  of 
education  has  found  in  liim  a  waim   friend,    He 


328 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Cliiircli,  are  benevolent  and  worthy  people,  and 
the  poor  and  needy  are  never  turned  from  the 
door  empty-handed.  Mr.  Hurst  is  now  living  re- 
tired. For  man^^  years  he  followed  farming  and 
was  very  successful,  so  that  now  he  can  lay  aside 
all  business  cares.  He  first  became  owner  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  raw  land,  but  transformed  it  into 
rich  and  fertile  fields,  and  extended  tlie  bounda- 
ries of  his  farm  until  he  now  has  a  richly  culti- 
vated tract  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  His 
sterling  worth  well  entitles  him  to  representation 
in  this  volume. 


-^1 


^+^ 


(^_ 


"^ 


\t7  EVI  MILLER,  an  enterprising  farmer  and 
I  (j^  one  of  the  prominent  early  settlers  of  this 
jlL^^  county,  now  resides  on  section  24,  Wall 
Township.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State, 
born  in  Berks  County,  April  9,  1831,  and  is  a  son 
of  Frederick  Miller,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  of  German  descent,  his  ancestors  having 
come  from  that  country  in  an  earl_v  day  and  set- 
tled in  Mar3dand.  Frederick  Miller  removed  to 
Ohio  in  1833,  settling  in  ISIontgomery  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1842.  His  first  wife 
was  in  her  maideniiood  Miss  Rieagle,  and  by  her 
marriage  became  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: Isaac  and  Jonathan,  both  now  deceased; 
Alvina,  a  resident  of  Darke  Count}*,  Ohio;  and 
Harriet,  who  died  near  Salem,  Oliio.  Mr.  Miller 
was  again  married  in  Pennsylvania  to  Catherine 
Whitman.  She  passed  away  in  that  State,  leaving 
two  children  to  mourn  her  loss,  our  subject  and 
Jeremiah,  who  resides  near  Sidney,  Ohio,  where  he 
carries  on  farming  and  is  one  of  the  County  Com- 
missioners of  Shelby  County.  The  father  of  this 
family  was  a  United  Brethren  in  religious  belief, 
and  in  politics  was  a  Jackson  Democrat  and  a 
stanch  supporter  of  his  party. 

Levi  Miller  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Ohio 
when  but  eighteen  months  old  and  was  there 
reared.  His  father  died  when  he  was  eleven  years 
of  age,  and  he  was  then   bound  out    for  six  years. 


His  educational  privileges  were  limited,  he  only  at- 
tending school  three  or  four  months  in  a  year. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen,  lie  began  learning  the 
carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  three 
years.  After  liis  marriage,  he  removed  to  Darke 
County,  (Jhio,  making  his  home  near  Greenville, 
where  he  followed  his  trade.  He  then  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  La  Salle  County,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  same  occupation  for  ten  years, 
when,  in  1864,  he  came  to  Ford  County,  purchas- 
ing his  present  farm.  At  that  time  the  country 
was  so  thinly  settled  that  he  could  get  on  his 
horse  and  ride  straight  to  the  court-house  in  Pax- 
ton  witliout  turning  either  to  the  right  or  the  left. 
His  farm  consisted  of  eighty  acres  of  wild  prairie 
land,  and  on  the  whole  amount  there  was  not  a 
single  tree.  All  this  is  now  greatly  changed.  On 
his  fine  farm  is  a  comfortable  and  commodious  resi- 
dence, surrounded  l\y  a  grove  of  beautiful  trees. 
This  has  all  been  accomplished  by  industrious  and 
enterprising  efforts  of  our  subject,  who  is  one  of 
the  successful  farmers  of  Ford  County.  He  has 
now  one  tree  on  his  place  which  is  two  feet  in 
diameter  and  over  sixty  feet  high,  which  he  set 
out,  it  being  a  slip  that  he  cut  off  with  his  plow 
while  at  work. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  18.52,  in  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Maria  Werts,  a  native  of  that  county.  The  union 
of  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  nine  children,  namely: 
Mary,  wife  of  James  Harris,  of  Loda,  111.;  Jere- 
miah makes  his  home  in  Cliicago;  Viola  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Big  Bend,  Kan.;  Hamer  and  Theresa,  now 
deceased;  Lee  lives  in  Loda;  Charles  is  in  Chicago; 
and  Lucretia  and  Arthur  make  their  home  with 
their  parents.  All  of  the  children  have  had  com- 
mon educational  advantages  and  have  had  the 
benefit  of  a  good  district  school.  Mrs.  Miller  is 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church    and  her  children    attend    Victor  Church. 

Mr.  Miller  takes  an  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
.and  helped  to  organize  Wall  Township  and  was 
its  first  Commissioner.  He  was  Clerk  of  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  some  time  and  made  out  the 
first  road  tax.  He  has  held  four  different  offices 
at  the  same  time,  thus  showing  the  high  regard  in 


(7^/^'^<lm) 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


331 


which  he  is  held.  He  was  Supervisor  in  the  year 
1872,  and  for  twenty'  3-ears  held  the  office  of  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in 
educational  matters  and  has  held  all  the  school 
offices.  He  was  Assessor  of  his  township  and  in 
all  the  official  positions  he  has  held,  he  has  dis- 
charged the  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 
He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  President 
Pierce,  and  is  a  stalwart  Democrat  in  political  sen- 
timent, often  acting  as  a  delegate  to  the  conven- 
tions of  his  party.  Mr.  Miller  is  essentially  a  self- 
made  man,  having  secured  all  that  he  now  pos- 
sesses by  his  able  management  and  good  business 
abilitj'.  He  has  done  much  for  the  upbuilding  of 
the  county  and  is  one  of  its  honored  pioneers. 


r 


\ 


yT.  MORRISON  has  a  pleasant  home  on 
section  7,  Button  Township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  geneial  farming.  He  is  a  well- 
known  citizen  of  this  community  and  one  highly 
esteemed.  He  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Oliio, 
August  11,  1840,  and  is  of  Irish  descent.  His 
father,  Mitchell  Morrison,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  county,  but  the  gmnd father,  .ludge  Robert 
Morrison,  was  born  on  the  Emerald  Isle.  When  a 
boy  he  came  to  this  country-  and  located  in  South 
Carolina,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  In  180.3, 
he  emigrated  to  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Adams  County,  and  was  quite  promi- 
nent in  the  early  history  of  that  eoninmnity.  For 
about  thirty  j'ears  he  served  as  Probate  .hulge  and 
also  held  the  rank  of  Major  in  the  State  militia. 

Mitchell  Morrison  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Jane  Wright,  a  native  of  Adams  County,  Ohio, 
and  there  followed  farming  until  1856,  when  he 
came  with  his  family  to  Illinois  and  east  his  lot 
among  the  early  settlers  of  McLean  County.  Lo- 
cating west  of  Bloomington,he  there  resided  until 
1868,  which  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Ford 
County,  and  in  Button  Township  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death,  in  1879.  His  first  wife 
died  in  18.50,  but  his  second  wife  still  survives 
him.     Our  subject  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in 


a  family  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  two 
daughters  being  children  of  the  second  marriage. 
A  brother  and  two  sisters  are  still  living. 

W.  T.  Morrison  was  sixteen  years  of  age  when 
with  his  father  he  came  to  Illinois.  During  the 
late  war,  he  joined  Company  lil,  of  the  Ninety- 
fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  on  the  7th  of  August,  1862, 
and  served  until  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities, 
when  he  was  mustered  out  at  Galveston,  Tex., 
in  August,  1865,  receiving  his  discharge  in  Spring- 
field, 111.  He  participated  in  all  the  engagements 
of  his  regiment,  including  the  battle  of  Prairie 
(irove.  Ark.,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  battle  of 
Mobile  and  man}^  others.  I  n  the  first-named  he 
received  a  flesh  wound  just  behind  the  ear  but 
otherwise  escaped  uninjured  and  was  never  in  the 
hospital.  He  was  always  found  on  dut}',  faithful 
to  his  post,  and  made  for  himself  an  honorable  war 
record. 

After  his  return  to  the  North,  Mr.  Morrison  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  two  years  in  McLean  County, 
and  in  1868  came  to  this  county,  locating  on  a 
farm  in  I?utton  Township.  He  purchased  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  his 
present  farm,  and  began  its  development.  Its 
boundaries  have  since  been  extended,  until  now 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  pay  tribute  to  the 
care  and  labor  which  he  bestows  upon  it  and  the 
highly  cultivated  fields  indicate  his  thrift  and  en- 
terprise. Many  improvements  are  there  to  be  seen, 
including  good  barns  and  other  outbuildings  and 
a  large  two-story  residence. 

In  this  county  on  the  17th  of  January,  1871, 
Mr.  Morrison  wedded  Miss  Mary  Moore,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Alexander  Moore.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children:  Edward  C,  Laura  J., 
Lena,  Myrtle,  Llo^d  and  Herman  Leota.  The  par- 
ents hold  membership  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Clarence.  Mr.  Morrison  cast  his  first  Presiden- 
tial vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  and  has  supported 
e.ach  Presidential  nominee  since  that  time.  He  takes 
quite  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs  and  has 
filled  several  pul)lic  offices.  After  serving  as  As- 
sessor, he  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Button  Town- 
ship for  eleven  years  and  is  serving  his  seventh 
year  as  a. member  of   the  County  Board  of  Super- 


332 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


visors  and  for  tlie  second  time  is  its  Chairman. 
Mr.  Morrison  possesses  good  business  ability  and 
well  deserves  the  success  which  has  crowned  his 
efforts.  lie  has  lived  an  upriirht  life,  is  a  man  of 
sterling  wortli,  and  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem 
and  confidence  by  all. 


•te^tor    ■  I  I    ti  f  > 


f   i   •  \  I     I  (    I 


^jp5^  AMUEL  DAY.  Among  tlie  early  settlers 
^!^^  of  the  territory  now  comprising  Ford 
Ifl/J)})  County,  was  he  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  and  whose  family  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  business  interests  and 
development  of  the  county  since  its  organization. 
Mr.  Da}^  was  born  in  Kenton  County,  Ky.,  on  the 
16th  of  April,  179i),  while  that  region  was  still  a 
wilderness.  I  lis  father  was  the  Kev.  John  Day,  a 
native  of  Maryland  and  a  jiioneer  of  Kentuck}-, 
when  the  red  men  held  almost  undisputed  sway  in 
that  region.  In  1803,  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Preble  County,  Ohio,  where,  by  the  help  of  his 
sons,  he  cleared  and  improved  a  farm  in  that  heav- 
ily timbered  region,  which  was  his  home  for  the 
remainder  of  his  daj-s.  His  wife  died  in  middle 
life  and  was  buried  in  Preble  County.  The  hus- 
band survived  till  old  age,  remaining  single.  He 
was  a  minister  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  was  ever  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties.  His  death  occurred  in  Shelby  Connt3', 
Ind.,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  children,  and  he  was 
there  buried. 

Samuel  Day  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and 
in  his  youth  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  although 
he  made  agricultural  pursuits  the  iirincipal  occu- 
pation of  his  life.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1821,  he 
was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Peggy  Purviance, 
a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  David  Purviance,  and  a 
native  of  Kentucky.  Her  father  was  a  prominent 
man  of  that  State  and  distinguished  himself  by  his 
open  hostility  to  slavery,  lieing  an  original  Aboli- 
tionist. In  earl}'  life  he  had  settled  in  Kentucky, 
where  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  from 
his  peculiar  and  then  unpopular  views  on  the  all- 
exciting  subject  of  slavery,  he  became  renowned 
for  the  bold  defense  of  his  opinions  and    for    tlie 


hostility  he  encountered  and  successfully  com- 
batted.  In  1807,  he  removed  to  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  passed  the  latter  years  of  his    life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Day  had  a  family  of  nine  children, 
all  born  in  Preble  County,  of  whom  only  four  are 
now  living:  Eliza,  the  eldest,  died  in  her  native 
State  at  the  age  of  seventeen;  John  P.  married 
Miss  Melinda  Swisher,  and  is  a  well-known  pioneer 
business  man  of  Paxton,  111.;  Mary  A.,  the  next 
j'ounger,  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Sophia 
became  the  wife  of  Alonzo  Loutzenhiser  and  died 
in  Champaign  County,  III.,  November  11,  1854. 
Samuel  L.  wedded  Susanna  Swisher,  who  died  in 
April,  1858,  and  in  1860,  he  married  his  present 
wife,  wlio  was  Miss  Jennie  Lj'cm;  he  is  also  a 
pioneer  business  man  of  Paxton  and  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  Nicholas  B.,  the  third  son, 
married  Barbara  Stoner  and  is  one  of  the  oldest 
merchants  of  Paxton;  the  next  in  order  is  a 
daughter  who  died  in  infancy;  Cordelia  is  now 
the  wife  of  James  Hock,  of  Paxton;  and  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  a  son,  died  while  a  babe. 

Mr.  Day  continued  his  residence  in  Ohio  until 
August,  1851,  when  with  his  family  he  removed 
to  Miami  Countj',  Ind.,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Peru.  In  November,  1853,  accompanied  b}-  his 
wife  and  children,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  trav- 
eling with  teams  and  driving  the  stock.  They  lo- 
cated near  Danville,  where,  after  sjiending  a  year, 
Mr.  Day  and  his  sons,  Samuel  and  Nicholas  B., 
came  to  what  is  now  Ford  County,  then  a  part  of 
Vermilion.  Mr.  D.ay,  Sr.,  ])urchased  a  partly  im- 
proved faim  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
near  Prairie  City,  now  Paxton,  where  he  contin- 
ued to  reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
February,  1858.  He  was  in  feeble  health  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  died  soon  after  coming  here, 
so  that  he  was  not  actively  identified  with  the 
affairs  of  the  county.  Politically,  he  was  a  Whig 
from  early  manhood  until  tiie  disruption  of  that 
part}',  after  which  he  was  a  Kepublican  and  alwaj'S 
anti-slavery.  He  filled  the  position  of  Assessor 
and  other  minor  ollices  in  Ford  County.  He  and 
ills  wife  were  consistent  members  of  tlie  Christian 
Church  in  former  years. 

Mrs.  Day  survived  her  husband  many  years  and 
later  in  life,  not  having  an   organized   society    of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


333 


her  own  church  at  Paxton,  she  joined  the  church 
of  the  United  Brethren  of  that  place.  Her  death 
occurred  on  the  9th  of  August,  1890,  in  her  nine- 
t^'-third  jear.  She  was  possessed  of  a  remarkably 
strong  constitution  and  superior  mental  force  and 
preserved  her  faculties  almost  unimpaired  up  to 
the  day  of  her  death.  She  was  devoted  to  her 
family  and  reared  her  children  to  habits  of  in- 
dustry and  frugality,  and  inculcated  the  lessons  of 
sound  moralitj'  and  Christian  faith  that  resulted 
in  their  becoming  worthy  and  respected  members 
of  society.  She  was  a  noble  woman  and  her  mem- 
ory is  held  in  great  veneration  by  her  children 
and  surviving  friends  of  the  pioneer  days  of  Ford 
CountJ^ 


WAN  PETERSON,  the  leading  florist  of 
Ford  County  and  the  only  one  of  Gibson 
City,  established  business  at  that  place  in 
1882.  Mr.  Peterson  is  a  native  of  Sweden 
and  was  born  in  Kristianstad,  December  29.  1860. 
His  parents'  Christi.-in  names  were  Jens  and  Mary, 
respectively,  and  they  were  also  natives  of  the 
same  country. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  his 
native  land  and  served  a  regular  apprenticeship 
to  the  trade  of  a  florist.  In  1880,  when  not  quite 
twenty  years  of  age,  he  emigrated  from  Sweden  to 
America,  coming  direct  to  (iibson  City.  For  two 
3'^ears  he  worked  at  whatever  he  could  lind  to  do, 
by  which  he  could  eain  an  honest  dollar,  and  in 
the  meantime  learned  the  English  Language.  In 
the  spring  of  1882,  having  accumulated  a  very  small 
capital  whicli  he  had  saved  from  his  earnings,  he 
began  raising  flowers  in  a  small  way,  under  glass. 
His  business  prospered  and  he  invested  the  profits 
in  improvements,  until  he  now  h.as  an  extensive 
establishment  with  Ave  lots,  ."iOxlGO  feet  e.ach, 
situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city.  He  has 
5,500  square  feet  of  glass,  and  all  the  facilities  for 
a  first-class  greenhouse.  His  princii)al  liusiness  is 
in  cut  flowers  and  his  specialties  are  carnations 
and  violets,  while  he  has  a  fine  collection  cf  roses 
and  otlier  plants.     His  principal    markets    are   in 


Chicago  and  St.  Louis.  He  has  a  commission  mer- 
chant in  both  cities  who  handle  his  goods.  In 
addition  to  the  business  he  does  in  Chicago  and 
St.  Louis,  he  has  quite  an  important  trade  at  home 
and  in  neighboring  Illinois  cities.  His  annual 
trade  is  large.  Supplying  floral  decorations  for 
weddings  and  funerals  constitutes  an  important 
part  of  his  business,  and  his  good  taste  in  such 
matters  is  conceded  by  all. 

Mr.  Peterson  was  united  in  marriage,  on  the 
16th  of  May,  1886,  to  Miss  Sarah  Moline,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Swan  and  Permelia  Moline.  Mrs.  Peterson 
was  born  in  Southern  Sweden,  and  emigrated  to 
America  with  her  parents  when  six  years  of  age. 
Three  children  were  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  one  of  whom  is  now  deceased,  Freddie,  the 
only  son,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  and  a  half 
years.  The  living  are  Freda  Maria  and  Anna 
p]lizabeth. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Petersf)n  is  a  Republican,  casting 
his  vote  in  support  of  that  party.  He  and  his 
wife  are  consistent  members  of  the  Swedish  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  and  are  highly  respected 
in  this  community.  He  is  an  upright  and  honest 
citizen  and  is  greatly  esteemed  for  his  sterling 
worth. 


ILLIAM    BAKER    is   a  prominent   joung 


^  I^ILLJAM  15AKEU  is  a  promine 
\/sJ/'  f'^''i"''''  <^'f  Wall  Township,  who  has  spent 
y^^  alnu)st  his  entire  life  in  Ford  County.  He 
now  resides  on  section  2,  where  he  manages  a  large 
estate.  His  father,  Henry  Baker,  was  born  in  Han- 
over, German3-,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1834, 
and  his  people  for  some  generations  were  fanning 
folks.  He  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm  and  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  i)ublic  .schools.  When 
a  boy,  he  was  put  to  work  herding  sheep,  but  as 
he  much  disliked  that  work,  he  determined  to 
seek  a  home  in  America,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
left  his  native  land.  After  (piite  a  while  spent 
upon  the  Atlantic,  he  landed  in  New  York,  in 
1850,  and  from  thence  made  his  way  Westward  to 
La  Salle  County,  III.,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  for  some  time.     He  afterwards 


334 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


purcliased  land  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  himself.  He  had  owned  several  farms  in 
La  Salle  County  prior  to  1871,  when  he  carac  to 
Ford  County,  settling  upon  the  farm  which  is  now 
the  home  of  our  subject.  He  there  resided  until 
1889,  when  he  removed  to  Streator,  111.,  where  he 
is  now  engaged  in  mercliandising. 

In  La  Salle  County,  in  1858,  Henry  Baker  mar- 
ried Miss  Louisa  Eberhart,  a  native  of  New  York. 
Her  father  was  a  Frenchman  by  birth  and  her 
mother  was  born  near  Straslnirg,  (iermany.  Unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  were  born  six  children  who 
are  yet  living,  and  they  have  also  lost  one.  Henry 
is  now  a  merchant  of  Streator,  111.;  William  is  the 
second  in  order  of  birth ;  Edward  is  now  a  student  in 
the  V.alparaiso  Normal  School  of  Indiana,  and 
makes  his  home  witli  his  parents;  John  is  now  en- 
gaged in  clerking  in  Chicago;  Benjamin  and  Caro- 
line are  at  home.  Mr.  15aker  came  to  this  country 
witli  no  capital,  but  accumulated  a  fine  property. 
He  now  owns  one  and  three-quarter  sections  of 
land,  besides  business  and  residence  property  in 
Streator.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Evangelical  Association,  to  which 
his  family  also  belongs. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  La  Salle  County,  on  the 
8th  of  September,  1864,  and  in  the  usual  manner 
of  farmer  lads  spent  the  d.ays  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  He  attended  the  public  schools,  and  the 
education  which  he  there  acquired  was  supple- 
mented by  a  six  months'  course  in  the  High  School 
in  Streator  and  also  six  niontiis'  study  in  Naper- 
ville.  When  six  years  old,  he  came  to  Ford 
County,  where  he  has  resided  almost  continuously 
since.  When  his  father  left  the  farm  in  1889,  Mr. 
Baker  took  charge  of  it  and  is  now  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raisuig.  He  is  a  successful 
young  business  man, wide-awake  and  enterprising, 
and  is  well  and  favor.alily  known  in  this  commun- 
ity. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1888,  Mr.  Baker  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Rienenschneider,  a  native  of  Will 
County,  111.,  and  a  daughter  of  August  and  Bar- 
bara (Klingert)  Rienenschneider,  who  reside  in 
Lyman  Township,  that  county.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  son,  Samuel  Walter,  who 
was  born  on  the  6th  of  July,  1889.     The  parents 


are  both  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  of 
which  Mr.  Baker  is  a  Trustee.  He  also  serves  as 
Superintendent  of  the  Sundaj'-school.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidenti.al  vote  for  Gen.  Harrison,  in  1888. 
He  has  served  as  School  Director  for  three  j'ears, 
but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  His  fellow- 
townsmen  recognize  in  him  an  honorable  and  up- 
right young  man,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
prominent  and  representative  farmers  of  the  com- 
munity. 

•'^^S^'  ■':=r-~|^-,      ■«^=^ S)^?^ 

ellARLES  C.  PEARCE,  as  a  breeder  of 
standard-lired  horses  and  a  stock-raiser,  is 
well  known  to  tlie  people  of  Ford  County. 
He  comes  from  Kentucky,  a  State  noted  for  its  fine 
horses.  He  was  born  in  Flemingsburg,  Fleming 
County,  April  5,  1866.  His  father,  Edwin  E. 
Pearce,  was  born  on  the  3d  of  August,  1822,  in  the 
same  county  where  he  has  p.assed  his  entire  life. 
His  career  has  been  a  remaikable  one.  Beginning 
his  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  $50  per 
year,  he  has  become  a  man  of  infiuenceand  wealth, 
much  of  his  time  being  devoted  to  the  raising  of 
standard-bred  horses.  In  an  early  day,  Mr.  Pearce, 
Sr.,  purchased  lands  in  different  counties  in  Illinois 
at  a  nominal  sum,  which  have  since  become  very 
valuable  through  the  rise  in  the  price  of  land  and 
the  improvements  he  has  made  thereon.  Besides 
owning  several  farms  in  Kentucky,  he  is  president 
of  the  banking  house  of  Pearce,  Fant  &  Co.  of 
Flemingsburg.  Notwithstanding  he  owned  a  large 
number  of  slaves,  he  was  an  advoc.ite  of  emanci- 
pation, and  when  the  war  broke  out  gave  his  sup- 
port to  the  Union  cause.  On  the  10th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1857,  Mr.  Pearce  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Anna  J.  Clarke,  a  native  of  Mason  County, 
Ky.,  born  April  4,  1838,  and  called  to  her  final 
rest  on  the  4th  of  October,  1878.  Unto  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  five  children,  four  of  whom  are 
now  living. 

Charles  C.  Pearce,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,who 
is  the  third  child  of  the  family,  spent  his  early  life 
on  the  farm.  In  the  private  schools  of  his  native 
county,  he  began  his  education,  which   was   com- 


'J^?^./?  2j^- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


337 


pleted  at  Lexington  University.  Having  remained 
on  the  farm  until  1881,  he  entered  the  liank  of 
Pearce,  Fant  &  Co.,  as  book-keeper,  remaining  in 
that  position  for  tliree  years,  and  since  188G  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  that 
institution.  In  August,  1887,  Mr.  Pearce  came  to 
Gibson  City  and  began  farming  and  stock-raising 
on  a  section  of  land  which  his  father  had  purchased 
many  years  before. 

The  following  year  our  sulijcet  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky and  there,  October  3,  1888,  near  Tallesboro, 
married  Miss  Hattie  M.,  daughter  of  Madison  M. 
and  Mary  E.  (Means)  Walker.  Mr.  Walker  still 
lives,  his  wife  having  died  some  years  ago.  ]>oth 
were  born  in  Kentucky  and  their  only  surviving 
child  is  INIrs.  Pearce.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearce 
was  born  a  son,  Edwin  M.,  who  lived  to  be  nearly 
two  years  old,  when  he  was  called  home.  The 
mother  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  the  interests  of  which  she  is  an  active 
worker. 

In  political  sentiment,Mr.  Pearce  is  a  Republican, 
and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  that  party,  as  is  also 
his  fatiier.  He  is  now  devoting  himself  chielly  to 
the  raising  of  standard-bred  horses,  of  which  he  has 
eleven  at  the  present  time  on  his  farm,  being  .some 
of  the  flnesthorses  of  the  county.  In  early  boy- 
hood, he  learned  to  handle  horses  and  has  acquired 
more  than  a  local  reputation  as  a  good  horseman. 
He  is  enterprising  and  progressive  and  is  numbered 
among  the  worthy  citizens  of  Ford  County. 

.^ M ^— 

'ff|OIIN  PURYIANCE  DAY,  a  pioneer  business 
man  of  Paxton,  Ford  County,  who  located 
^^  here  in  March,  1857,  and  for  the  past  thirty- 
(^^  three  years  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  its  real-estate  and  other  business  interests, 
was  born  in  Preble  Count}',  Ohio,  on  the  8th  of 
September,  1824.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Peggy  (Purviance)  Day,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  was  reared  on  his 
father's  farm  in  the  woods  of  Preble  County, 
Ohio.  He  enjoyed  the  limited  educational  advan- 
tages of  the   public  schools  of  those  da3's  in  that 


i-egion,  and  was  early  inured  to  hard  labor,  clearing 
the  heavy  timber  and  fitting  the  land  for  cultiva- 
tion 

Having  attained  to  man's  estate,  Mr.  Day  was 
united  in  marriage,  in  IMiami  County,  Ind.,  on  the 
25th  of  September,  1845,  to  Miss  Malinda  Swisher, 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Bassett)  Swi- 
sher. The  lady  was  born  in  Ripley,  Ind.,  and  was 
reared  in  Preble  Count_v,  where  she  was  a  neigh- 
bor and  associate  of  her  husband  in  childhood. 
Soon  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Day  made 
their  home  on  a  farm  in  a  heavily  timbered  section 
of  Miami  County,  Ind.  For  seven  years,  Mr.  Day 
swung  the  ax  and  tilled  the  soil,  enjojing  life 
keenly  in  the  possession  of  the  substantials  of  life, 
where  all  were  on  a  common  footing,  never  long- 
ing for  or  missing  the  luxuries  of  more  modern 
civilization. 

In  the  fall  of  1853,  he  and  his  family,  with  teams 
and  a  portion  of  their  household  effects,  joined  his 
father  and  brothers  in  their  emigration  to  Eastern 
Illinois,  and  in  November  reached  a  point  near 
Danville,  where  they  located  %ind  bought  land. 
John  P.  Day  and  family  remained  on  their  farm 
at  that  place  until  March,  1857,  when  they  removed 
to  Paxton,  in  what  is  now  Ford  County.  He  be- 
came interested  in  merchandising  at  that  point 
and  later  sold  his  farm  near  Danville  and  concen- 
trated his  business  at  Paxton.  In  .Tune,  1859, 
Ford  Count}'  was  organized  and  at  the  first  election 
of  the  county  officers,  which  occurred  the  follow- 
ing fall,  Mr.  Day  was  elected  County  Treasurer. 
He  was  re-elected  at  the  two  succeeding  elections 
and  subsequently  filled  an  unexpired  term  on  the 
death  of  the  Treasurer,  serving  from  March  22, 
1866,  to  November,  1867,  making  his  entire  service 
in  that  office  amount  to  nearly  eight  years.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  AVhig  in  early  life  and  joined  the 
Republican  party  at  its  organization  in  Illinois  in 
1854.  AVhile  serving  as  County  Treasurer,  he  be- 
came very  familiar  with  the  land  of  Ford  Count}', 
and  .acted  as  agent  for  many  non-residents  in  the 
settlement  of  taxes  and  in  buying  and  selling  real 
estate  on  commission.  On  retiring  from  office,  he 
naturally  turned  his  attention  to  the  real-estate 
business,  which  he  has  carried  on  successfully  ever 
since.     His  official  and  land  business  did  not,  how- 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ever,  occupy  his  time  exclusively,  as  he  has  been 
interested  three  different  times  with  his  brotliers 
in  merchandising,  and  at  this  writing  is  a  partner 
of  his  brother,  N.  B.  Da3',  in  one  of  the  largest  dr^^- 
goods  and  general  stores  in  Paxton.  He  and  his 
brother,  Samuel  L.,  were  associated  in  merchandis- 
ing, farming,  real  estate  and  general  trading.  Mr. 
Day  handled  live  stoclv  extensively,  buying,  feed- 
ing and  shipping.  Thej'  began  merchandising  in 
Paxton,  in  March,  18.58,  having  the  second  general 
store  in  tliis  place.  In  18G0,  ,Tohn  P.  Day  cm- 
barked  in  the  land  business,  since  which  time  lie 
has  bought  and  sold,  either  as  principal  or  agent, 
many  thousand  of  acres  of  land  in  Illinois  and 
other  Western  States.  At  this  writing,  he  is  the 
senior  member  of  the  real-estate  and  loan  agency 
firm  of  Day  Brotliers,  of  Paxton.  This  firm  does 
an  extensive  business,  not  only  in  Illinois,  but 
in  Kansas,  Iowa  and  Missouri  lands,  and  in  city 
property. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  IMis.  Daj': 
Cordelia  E.,  tlie  eldest,  now  tlie  wife  of  George 
Wright,  of  Chicago,  and  the  muther  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  a  daughter.  Margaret  died  at 
the  age  of  six  years,  and  Alice  M.  married  Tlieodore 
M.  King,  a  leading  druggist  of  Paxton;  they 
have  one  son,  Claude.  The  parents  and  tlieir 
daughters  are  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

Mr.  Day  was  the  first  President  of  the  town  of 
Paxton,  to  whicli  office  he  waselected  April  15,1861, 
on  the  incorporation  of  the  town  or  village.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  first  Grand  .lury  of  F^ord 
County,  in  November,  1859,  as  well  as  the  first 
County  Treasurer  to  serve  a  full  term.  His  life 
has  been  an  active  and  useful  one,  and  his  business 
relations  have  been  sucli  .as  to  give  liim  an  extended 
acquaintance  throughout  Ford  and  adjacent  coun- 
ties, where  his  opinion  and  good  judgment,  espec- 
ially on  the  suliject  of  land  values,  are  generally 
accepted  as  authority.  It  is  gener.all3'  conceded 
that  no  man  has  liad  a  wider  experience  or  pos- 
sesses more  reliable  information  in  that  direc- 
tion than  Mr.  Day.  In  all  his  intercourse  with  his 
fellow-citizens  and  the  world  in  general,  he  has 
alwa3's  been  found  upright  and  reliable.  While 
conservative  and  prudent  in  all  his  business  trans- 


actions, yet  he  is  enterprising  and  ready  to  ven- 
ture where  his  good  judgment  sanctions  invest- 
ment and  he  seldom  makes  mistakes.  Perhaps 
that  is  one  reason  why  he  has  been  so  successful  in 
business  and  is  so  generally  respected.  It  is  now 
forty-six  years  since  Mr.  Day  began  business  on 
his  own  account  and  in  all  that  time  he  has  never 
sued  or  been  sued  in  a  court  of  justice,  a  record 
an3'  man  might  be  proud  of. 


^ 


/^^S\  IIARLES  O.  HAYES,  a  prominent  and  rep- 
(I  ^-^^  resentative  citizen  of  Roberts  and  the  pop- 
^^^J  ular  host  of  the  Glencoe  House,  is  a  native 
of  Clinton  Count3-,  N.  Y.  He  was  born  June  II, 
1834,  and  was  the  eighth  in  a  family  of  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters,  born  unto  Asa  and  Laura 
(Larkin)  Ilaycs.  The  father  was  born  in  the 
Green  JMoiiiitaiii  State,  where  he  remained  until 
eleven  years  of  age,  and  then  removed  to  New 
York,  where  he  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
and  engaged  in  Ijusiness  as  a  lumberman.  In  his 
childhood  da\s,  when  the  Revolutionaiy  War  was 
in  i)rogross,  he  fre(iueiitly  carried  dis[)atches  from 
Plattsburg  to  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  through  the  un- 
broken forests.  In  politics,  he  was  a  .lefferson 
Democrat.  lie  emigrated  to  McLean  County,  111., 
in  1863,  and,  purchasing  f)roperty,  there  made  his 
home  until  his  death.  His  wife  died  at  the  age  of 
fifty  and  her  remains  were  interred  by  the  side  of 
her  two  daughters  in  the  cemeteiy  of  Beekman- 
town,  N.  Y.,  while  Mr.  Ha3'es  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Livingston  County,  111.  They  were  highly  re- 
si)ected  people  and  their  lives  were  worthy  of  the 
warm  regard  in  which  they  were  held. 

Five  children  of  their  family  are  3'et  living: 
Hiram,  who  served  as  Ca|i1ain  in  the  late  war,  is 
now  married  and  lives  a  retired  life  in  Whitewater, 
Wis.;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  S.  P.  Alford,  a 
Methodist  niinister;  Charles  is  the  next  younger; 
.John,  who  wore  the  blue  during  the  late  war,  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  a  retired  life  near  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.; 
and  .loel  P..  who  was  (^uarterni.aster  of  his  company 
during  the  late  war,  is  engaged  in  farming  near 
Neosha  P'alls,  Kan.      The   following  are  now  de- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


339 


ceased:  Lo^-al.  who  was  horn  in  New  York,  fol- 
lowed farming  and  died  in  Vermont,  wliere  his 
wife  and  famil3'  reside;  Christiana  became  the 
wife  of  L.  8.  Robinson,  a  farmer  of  New  York,  and 
died  at  about  the  age  of  thirty-live  jears;  Harriet, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Levi  Stafford,  a  mechanic, 
died  in  New  York,  and  since  her  deatii  her  family 
hus  emigrated  to  JMichigan;  P^noch  and  Lorin 
died  at  about  twelve  and  fifteen  years  of  age, 
respectively. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  is  a  self-made  man  who  had  to 
begin  life  for  himself  empty-handed.  In  f.act,  he 
borrowed  $5  with  which  to  come  to  the  West. 
On  attaining  his  majoritv,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
and  in  18.56.  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  in 
Kendall  County.  He  spent  the  year  18.58  in  AVal- 
worth  County,  Wis.,  hut  with  tlie  exception  of 
that  time  has  since  made  his  home  in  Illinois.  On 
the  .5th  of  ()ctol)er,  18.5',),  he  married  Lucenia  R., 
daughter  of  Wesley  .and  Cornelia  (Randall)  Alford. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  emi- 
grated to  this  State  in  185.5,  locating  in  Kendall 
County,  where  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  mar- 
ried. She  w.as  born  October  30,  1842,  and  w.as  one 
of  live  sons  and  four  daughters.  Her  birth  was 
followed  by  that  of  Hannah,  who  became  the  wife 
of  William  Skinner,  a  farmer,  now  deceased,  who 
resides  in  Fiirest,  111.;  Setli,  of  Cropse^y,  111.;  Emma, 
wife  of  Sherman  .lohnson,  a  farmer  of  Livingston 
County,  III.;  Lorenzo,  a  merchant  of  Cropsey; 
fleorge,  who  makes  his  home  in  the  same  place; 
and  Allen,  who  is  employed  as  a  .salesman  b_y  his 
brother  Lorenzo. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hayes  have  been  born  four 
daughters:  Ada,  who  was  educated  in  Saybrook, 
.and  passed  the  teachers'  examination,  possesses 
considerable  musical  talent  and  was  instructed  in 
that  art  by  Prof.  Hugh  Kilso,  now  of  t,he  Conser- 
vatory of  Music  in  the  Auditorium  of  Chicago. 
She  became  the  wife  of  Orville  CUieney,  who  was 
educated  at  Wesle3"an  College,  and  is  a  well-known 
farmer  of  INIcLe.an  Count}\  He  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Gen.  Grant  and  is  a  stalwart  Republican. 
Julia  is  the  wife  of  Andrew  .1.  O'llarra,  a  con- 
tractor and  builder,  of  Englewood;  Nellie,  who 
was  educated  in  Saybrook,  is  the  wife  of   N.    F. 


Davis,  a  contractor  and  builder,  of  Gano,  III.,  and 
a  iirominent  member  of  the  Patriotic  Order  of 
Sons  of  America.  Ilattie  is  the  wife  of  Roy 
M.ah.aflfey,  who  is  now  engaged  in  merch.andizing 
in  Englewood,  III. 

Mr.  Hayes  proudly  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  .John  C.  Fremont  and  has  since  been  a  stalwart 
Republican.  He  was  Constable  of  McLean  County 
for  four  consecutive  years  but  has  never  been  an 
olhce-seeker.  Himself  and  wife  are  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church  and  contributed 
liberally  to  the  erection  of  the  beautiful  church 
edifice.  He  is  one  of  the  Trustees  and  was  also 
.Steward.  His  wife  was  President  of  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Societ}',  and  is  a  member  of  the  F'oreign  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  botli  have  been  identified  with 
the  .Sunday-school  work. 

Glencoe  House  is  one  of  the  leading  hotels  in 
this  part  of  the  county  and  has  found  favor  with 
the  traveling  public.  Everything  is  kept  in  first- 
class  order  which  insures  it  a  liberal  jiatronage. 
Besides  this,  Mr.  Hayes  owns  other  valuable  prop- 
erty' in  Roberts  luit  expects  soon  to  go  South  on 
account  of  his  health.  In  his  removal  the  county 
will  lo.se  a  valuable  citizen. 


|r^)OBERT  POLLOCK  is  a  prominent  and  rep- 
ILiir  resentative  farmer  of  Patton  Township, 
residing  on  section  24,  and  it  is  with  ple.as- 
ure  that  we  record  his  sketch  in  this  vol- 
ume, for  he  is  well  worthy  of  representation  in 
this  history  of  his  adopted  count3'.  Indiana  is 
the  State  of  his  nativity  and  his  birth  occurred  in 
La  Fayette,  November  28,  1840.  The  Pollock 
family  is  of  Scotch  origin  and  was  founded  in  this 
country'  in  earl3'  Colonial  days  by  ancestors  who 
settled  in  JIaryland.  The  name,  however,  was 
originally  Polk,  and  was  thus  written  l)y  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  Robert  Polk,  a  Revo- 
lutionarj'  soldier,  who  emigrated  from  Mary- 
land to  Ohio  in  an  earl}-  d.ay.  He  w.as  accom- 
panied by  his  s(m  William,  father  of  our  subject, 
who  was  then  a  lad.  It  w.as  William  and  his 
brothers  who  changed   the  spelling  of    the  family 


340 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


name.  He  remained  in  the  Buckeye  State  until 
eighteen  years  of  age,  and  then  removed  to  Indi- 
ana, locating  in  La  Fayette. 

Mr.  Pollock  was  there  united  in  marriage  to 
P0II3'  Ann  I'atton,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  a 
daugliter  of  Judge  David  Patton,  an  earlj-  pio- 
neer and  prominent  citizen  of  Ford  County,  wliose 
sketch  appears  elsewliere  in  this  work.  After  tlieir 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pollock  resided  for  tliree 
years  in  La  Fayette,  and  then  removed  to  Kanka- 
kee County,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
for  a  few  years.  Later,  he  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Monee  Station,  Will  Count}', 
and  in  l>i.')l  removed  with  his  family  to  what  is 
now  Ford  County,  settling  at  Ten  Mile  Grove, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  more  than 
twenty  years.  He  now  resides  near  the  city  of 
Maryville,  Nodaway  Count}',  Mo.,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  since  1880.  The  Pollock  fam- 
ily numbered  eight  sons  and  four  daughters  and, 
with  one  exception,  all  reached  adult  age. 

Robert  Pollock,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  part  of  Illinois  in 
1851,  a  lad  of  eleven  years,  and  hence  almost  his 
entire  life  has  been  passed  in  Ford  County.  The 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  he  aiding  in  the 
farm  labors  during  the  summer  months,  while  in 
the  winter  season  he  attended  the  public  schools. 
His  primary  education  was  supplemented  by  a 
course  in  Abingdon  College,  and  he  further  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  Lombard  University.  He  be- 
gan teaching  when  only  seventeen  years  of  age, 
and  followed  that  profession  for  several  terms, 
but  at  length  left  the  schoolroom  for  the  farm, 
and  for  several  ye-ii'S  engaged  in  agricultuial  pm- 
suits. 

In  Kankakee  County,  111.,  in  the  spring  of  18G3, 
Mr.  Pollock  wedded  Miss  Margaret  Olson,  a  na- 
tive of  Sweden.  He  has  always  taken  quite  an 
interest  in  political  affairs,  and  has  been  honored 
with  several  positions  of  i)ublic  trust.  He  served 
as  Marshal  of  Paxton,  was  also  Constable  and 
Deputy  Sheriff,  and  filled  other  official  positions  a 
number  of  years.  On  questions  of  national  im- 
portance, he  casts  his  ballot  in  support  of  Demo- 
cratic principles,  but  at    local  elections    votes  for 


the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  to  fill  the 
office,  regardless  of  party  alHliations.  In  1880,  he 
located  upon  his  farm,  three  miles  from  Paxtou, 
where  he  now  resides,  and  has  since  given  his  time 
to  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pollock  has  been 
blessed  by  the  presence  of  three  children:  Freder- 
ick J.,  who  lives  at  home  and  follows  farming; 
William,  who  aids  his  bruther  in  the  operation  of 
the  farm;  and  Irena  C,  wife  of  Charles  Graham, 
of  Paxton.  The  parents  attend  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  and  contribute  to  its  support,  al- 
though they  are  not  members.  Since  a  lad  of 
eleven  summers,  Mr.  Pollock  has  resided  in  Ford 
Count}',  wiiere  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  and  is 
held  in  high  regard,  for  he  is  esteemed  Iiy  his  fel- 
low-citizens as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  ex- 
emplary character.  Ilis  life  h.as  been  a  busy  and 
useful  one  and,  as  a  result  of  his  own  enter|)rising 
efforts,  he  has  accumulated  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence. 


-5- 


-^^ 


-^ 


AVID  RKEP,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising,  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  acres  of  valu- 
able land  situated  on  section  28,  Patton  Townshii). 
The  farm  is  pleasantly  situated  aliout  three  and  a 
half  miles  from  Paxton.  It  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  well  im])roved  with  good  buildings  and 
stocked  with  a  fine  grade  of  horses  and  cattle.  In- 
deed, the  owner  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  successful  agriculturists  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Reep  was  Itorn  in  Butler  County,  P.a.,  Dec- 
ember 3,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  Reep,  who 
was  born  in  1812.  The  grandfather  also  bore 
the  name  of  Isaac  Reep,  and  was  likewise  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  State,  where  the  German  ancestors 
of  the  family  settled  at  an  early  day.  The  grand- 
father served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  The 
father  of  our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  and 
youth  in  Butler  County,  and  afterward  m.arried 
Lydia  Barnhart,  who  was  born  in  that  county  and 
was  a  daughter  of  Andrew  Barnhart,  also  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 


;  I 


ri  /d-^A^/CfJ^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


343 


Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Reep  located  upon  a  farm  in  the 
county  of  their  nativity,  and  there  reared  their 
family.  The  father  still  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and,  at  the  age  of  sevent^'-nine  3'ears,  is  liv- 
ing a  retired  life.  He  has  been  an  ardent  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party  since  its  organization  and 
has  held  numerous  local  olliccs.  In  religious  be- 
lief, he  is  a  Lutheran  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  church  work. 

David  Reep,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
reared  to  manhood  upon  his  father's  farm,  acquired 
a  good  common-school  education  and  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  after  he  had  attained 
his  majority,  wlien  he  left  home,  and  on  the  22d 
of  October,  1867,  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss 
Nannie  Jane  Kinkaid,  who  was  born  and  reared  in 
Butler  County,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  Kinkaid,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
Keystone  State.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  near  the  old  Reep  homestead,  and 
our  subject  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  a  number  of  j'ears,  after  which  he  sold  out.  It 
was  in  1879,  that  he  cauie  to  Illinois,  locating  first 
in  Kankakee  County,  where  he  rented  a  farm  for 
a  year.  He  then  came  to  Ford  County,  and  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land — his  present  farm.  He  first 
bought  only  one  hundred  and  nine  acres  but  has 
since  added  to  it  an  eighty-acre  tract,  and  to  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  has  devoted  his  entire  atten- 
tion continuously  since. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reep  have  beeu  Ijorn  eight 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  John  F.,  is  now  em- 
ployed in  the  railroad  shops  at  Evansvillc,  Ind.; 
Minnie,  who  has  engaged  in  teaching,  is  now  at- 
tending the  university  at  Bloomington,  111.;  Lib- 
bie  is  attending  the  Collegiate  Institute  of  Paxton; 
Alexander  is  attending  the  public  schools  of  Pax- 
ton;  James  C,  Albert  and  Iva  May  are  attend- 
ing the  home  school,  and  Charles  Everett  com- 
pletes the  family.  They  have  lost  two  cliildren. 
The  Reep  household  is  a  hospitable  one  and  the 
members  of  the  family  rank  high  in  social  circles. 

Both  Mr.  and  i\Iis.  Reep  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  at  Paxton.  In  politics,  he  was 
formerly  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  but, 
being  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  cause  of  tera])erance, 
his  views  on    that  question    led    him    to  identify 


himself  with  the  Prohibitionist  party.  He  is  a 
friend  to  all  social,  moral  and  educational  interests, 
and  whatever  tends  to  benefit  the  community'  or 
promote  the  general  welfare  is  sure  to  receive  his 
hearty  support  and  co-operation.  He  is  indeed  a 
valued  citizen  and  one  deserving  of  representation 
in  the  history  of  his  adopted  county. 


r^^  OBERT  BLACKSTOCK,  of  the  Ford  County 
'^t'  Bank,  of  Paxton,  of  which  Thompson, 
Blackstock  &  Co.  are  proprietors,  is  an 
'■^-  earl 3-  settler  of  Ford  Count\'  and  has  been 
identified  with  its  financial  history  for  nearly 
twenty-two  years  and  a  resident  for  thirty-eight 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  Ontario,  Canada,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Peterboro,  of  that  province,  on 
the  3d  of  August,  1825.  His  parents,  the  Rev. 
Moses  and  Jane  (Morrow)  Blackstock,  emigrated 
from  Ireland  to  Canada  in  1818.  The  Rev.  Moses 
Blackstock  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  was  distinguished  for  his  earnest 
Christian  piety  and  consistent  and  faithful  work 
in  his  holy  calling.  His  wife  was  in  full  sj'mpathy 
with  her  husband  and  possessed  in  a  marked  degree 
the  true  Christian  virtues  that  adorn  and  perfect 
the  character  of  a  woman  whose  husband  is  a  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel.  Tlie  families  of  both  were  of 
Scottish  origin.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  Presbyterian  clerg3-nian  of  Scotland, 
w)io  became  chaplain  for  a  Scottish  colony  under 
Lord  Farnham,  which  located  near  Dublin  in 
County  Cavan,  Ireland.  The  Rev.  Moses  Black- 
stock,  after  attending  the  meetings  in  Dublin  of  an 
English  Methodist  missionary,  named  Gideon  Ous- 
ley,  united  with  the  Methodist  Church.  After  his 
conversion,  he  went  to  Canada  as  a  Methodist  mis- 
sionary, taking  with  him  his  wife,  whom  he  had 
married  two  years  previous.  He  was  continuously 
and  successfully  engaged  in  ministerial  work  in 
that  country'  until  1855,  when  he  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  and  located  near  La  Fayette,  Ind., 
where  he  united  with  the  Northwestern  Indiana 
Conference  and   labored   faithfully  and   industri- 


344 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ously  in  that  field  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  September,  1876.  His  wife  had  died  some  eight- 
een years  previous,  in  La  Fayette. 

Robert  Blackstock  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Canada  under  the  best  moral  influences  and  the 
strictest  Christian  discipline.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, lie  began  learning  the  trade  of  harness-maker 
and  was  employed  in  that  vocation  for  the  suc- 
ceeding eight  3ears.  In  1852,  he  went  to  Shaw- 
nee Mound,  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1853,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Emily  Meharrj',  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Susan 
(Ambrose)  Meharry,  of  Shawnee  Mound,  Ind., 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Five 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackstock,  of 
whom  three  died  in  childhood,  while  a  son  and  a 
daughter  are  yet  living.  Ira  B.,  the  elder,  is  now 
engaged  with  his  father  in  the  management  of  the 
Ford  County  Bank,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors, and  R.  May  presides  over  her  father's 
household. 

In  the  year  1856,  Mr.  Blackstock  removed  from 
Indiana  to  Ford  County,  111.,  and  commenced 
farming  about  three  miles  west  of  the  site  of 
the  present  city  of  Paxton,  which  occupation 
he  pursued  with  marked  success  for  a  period  of 
twelve  years  and  accumulated  considerable  prop- 
erty. In  1870,  he  removed  to  Paxton  and  became 
interested  in  banking,  and  on  the  1st  of  Novem- 
ber of  the  follovving  year,  in  company  with  A.  C. 
Thompson,  Edwin  Rice  and  C.  E.  Ilendenson,  he 
participated  in  the  incorporation  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Paxton,  in  which  he  was  a  stock- 
holder. In  the  spring  of  1874,  he  was  chosen 
cashier  of  the  bank  to  succeed  S.  J.  Toy,  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  in  that  position  until  February  10, 
1876,  when  the  bank  went  into  voluntary  liquida- 
tion. Then  the  existing  firm  of  Thompson,  Black- 
stock  &  Co.  organized  the  Ford  County  Bank, 
which  has  since  conducted  a  safe  and  increasing 
business  and  which  is  now  under  the  management 
of  Mr.  Blackstock  and  his  son,  Ira  B.,  resident  part- 
ners. 

In  January,  1890,  Mr.  Blackstock  was  called  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  passed  to  her 
eternal  rest  on  the  9th  day  of  the  month. 

In  politics,  our  subject  is  an  earnest  Republican 


but  has  never  sought  or  desired  prommence  in 
public  affairs.  His  life  has  been  distinguished  by  the 
strictest  observance  of  Christian  duty  and  an  earnest 
and  active  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  church  of  his 
choice,  the  Methodist  P^piscopal,  of  which  he  has 
been  a  consistent  member  from  his  youth  up.  He 
was  one  of  the  constituent  members  of  the  first 
church  established  in  Paxton,  and  has  been  an  ac- 
tive and  efficient  worker  in  the  Sunday-school  and 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  advance  of  the  best  in- 
terests of  societ3'  aud  the  Christian  religion.  He 
and  his  brother-in-law,  Francis  Meharry ,  were  the 
priucipal  contributors  in  the  construction  of  the 
Meharry  Chapel,  the  Methodist  house  of  worship, 
situated  at  a  point  four  miles  west  of  Paxton.  It 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  ^1,400  and  was  the  first  reg- 
ular meeting-house  erected  in  Ford  County.  He 
was  also  a  liberal  contributor  toward  the  building 
of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Paxton.  Mr.  Blackstock 
is  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Building,  Loan  and 
Savings  Association  of  this  place  and  was  chosen 
Treasurer  of  the  association.  In  all  the  affairs  of 
life,  he  has  proved  true  to  the  high  moral  princi- 
ples inculcated  in  his  youth  by  his  venerated  par- 
ents and  is  esteemed  a  most  worthy  and  respected 
citizen  by  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances. 


V^^^^ICHOLAS  BALFOUR  DAY,  a  well-known 
I  jjj  early  settler  of  Ford  County,  and  a  pioneer 
lAS^  merchant  of  Paxton,  now  the  manager  and 
junior  partner  in  the  mercantile  firm  of  J.  P.  Day 
&  Co.,  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  on  the 
12th  of  November,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
and  Peggy  (Purviance)  Day,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

The  childhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
passed  on  his  father's  farm.  He  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  and  learned  to  swing  an  ax  about  as 
early  as  he  learned  to  read.  His  home  was  in  a 
heavil_v  timbered  region,  where  every  acre  of  land 
represented  an  immense  amount  of  hard  labor, 
compared  with  the  land  whereon  he  subsequently 
made  his  home  in  Illinois.  When  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Miami 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


345 


Comity,  Iiid.,  and  after  there  rosidiiiij  upon  a  farm 
for  two  years,  the  family,  eonsistiiiif  of  the  parents, 
two  married  sons  and  their  families,  and  one  mar- 
ried daughter  and  iier  family,  also  Nicholas  11.  and 
his  younger  sister,  emigrated  to  Illinois.  They  left 
Indiana  in  the  fall  of  1853,  with  teams  and  wagons 
loaded  with  houseliold  goods,  in  addition  to  whieh 
they  drove  eonsideraI)le  live  stock,  making  (piite  a 
caravan.  They  made  their  way  to  N'ermilion  County, 
111.,  and  settled  on  land  near  Danville.  The  fol- 
lowing siiring  they  put  in  crops,  hut  decided  to  go 
farther  to  the  Northwest  where  the  country  was 
more  newly  settled,  and  land  cheaper.  In  August, 
18.'54,  Mr.  Day  and  his  sons,  Samuel  and  N.  n.,came 
to  what  is  now  Ford  County,  and  settled  near  the 
site  of  the  jjresent  city  of  Paxton,  then  a  wild  prai- 
rie. An  incident  illustrating  the  primitive  condi- 
tion of  the  situatKjn  is  given  by  our  suliject,  who 
relates  the  story  of  his  one  day  running  a  prairie 
wolf  down  while  out  on  horsehack,  and  his  killing 
the  animal  at  a  point  tliat  is  now  the  center  of  the 
city  of  Paxton.  The  killing  was  accomplished  by 
the  common  method  in  pioneer  da3's.  The  rider 
having  tii'ed  the  wolf  out,  took  off  one  of  the  stir- 
rups with  the  strap  attached  and  struck  the  wolf 
over  the  head  without  dismounting.  He  also 
helped  to  build  the  first  house  in  Prairie  City,  now 
Paxton,  so  that  he  may  be  said  to  have  been  in 
prett}'  near  the  beginning  of  civilization  at  the 
county  seat  of  Ford  County. 

Mr.  Daj'  spent  the  fall  and  winter  of  1854  in 
assisting  his  father  in  getting  a  home  established, 
and  was  back  and  forth  between  the  new  home  and 
the  farm  near  Danville,  aiding  in  securing  tiie 
crops.  The  next  winter  he  helped  break  prairie, 
and  on  the  loth  of  December,  a  month  after  his 
twentieth  birthda\',  was  married  at  the  lady's  home, 
to  Miss  Barbara,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Daniel  C. 
and  Susan  Stoner,  who  was  one  year  his  jnnior. 
She  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  Count)-,  Ind.,  and 
came  to  lord  County  with  her  parents  in  1852. 
The  \'oung  couple  who  at  so  early  an  age  had 
launched  their  ship  in  life  upon  the  sea  of  matri- 
mony', were  rich  only  in  youth,  hope  and  energy, 
and  a  determination  to  succeed  in  making  their 
way  in  the  world.  Mr.  Day's  worldly  possessions 
consisted  solel}-   in  the  ownership  of  a  horse  and 


saddle,  whieh  may  have  been  very  useful  for  pur- 
poses of  locomotion  over  the  prairie,  and  no  doul)t 
might  carry  double  on  a  [linch,  but  could  not  very 
well  be  utilized  for  shelter,  food  or  raiment.  The 
bride's  father  was  well-to-do  for  a  settler  in  the 
new  country,  and  was  evidently  shrewd  and  sensi- 
ble, and  instead  of  reaching  for  his  [locket-lxiok 
and  making  the  opening  chapter  of  the  married  life 
of  iiis  daughter  and  son-in-law  cheerful  aTid  easy, 
took  Mr.  Day  at  his  word  when  lie  said  he  only 
asked  him  for  his  daughter,  and  let  the  young  folks 
learn  by  experience  tliat  married  life  without  means 
was  no  summer  holiday.  And  the^-  learned  it. 
But  their  independence  and  pluck,  backed  by  in- 
defatigable energy,  soon  made  the  road  smoother. 
Sir.  Day  rented  a  partially  improved  farm,  where 
he  and  his  wife  worked  with  all  their  strength  and 
endurance  to  make  a  start.  Those  were  hard  times, 
too,  in  the  history  of  the  West;  produce  brought 
but  small  return  for  labor,  and  money  w.as  scarce, 
especially  in  the  years  1857,  1858  and  1859.  After 
a  few  years,  hoping  to  better  themselves,  they 
rented  land  near  Danville  and  removed  there.  IMr. 
Stoner  had  evidently  watched  with  satisfaction  the 
manly  independent  course  of  his  son-in-law,  and 
had  made  up  his  mind  that  the  time  had  come 
when  he  might  safely  lend  a  helping  hand,  espe- 
cially as  he  had  learned  that  a  valuable  farm  near 
by  was  on  the  market  at  a  very  low  figure.  So  he 
wrote  Mr.  Day  that  lie  wanted  to  see  him  .at  once. 
On  our  subject's  arrival,  he  was  surprised  to  learn 
that  it  was  the  desire  of  his  wife's  father  that  he 
should  buy  this  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty 
.acres  at  a  cost  of  about  ¥3,000,  and  that  the  first 
pa3'ment  of  §1,000  w.as  made  by  Mr.  Stoner,  he 
taking  Mr.  Da\"s  note  for  the  same.  The  old 
gentleman  then  took  from  all  the  holes  in  the  walls 
of  the  rude  cabin  that  amount  in  gold,  for  which 
he  took  a  note  on  a  long  time.  When  Mr.  Sto- 
ner was  fully  satisfied  that  his  son-in-law  was  a 
financial  success,  he  made  his  wife  a  present  of  that 
%  1 ,000  note  as  a  birthday  present.  The  purchase  was 
made,  and  Mr.  Day  found  himself  the  owner  of  a 
fine  farm  partially  improved,  but  he  was  also  deeply 
in  debt.  He  had  given  his  notes  for  the  deferred 
])ayments  in  amounts  of  $500,  running  one,  two 
and  three  years.     Then  came  the  tug  of  war.     He 


346 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


raised  a  big  crop  of  corn  the  first  year,  but  on  liaul- 
ing  a  load  into  Paxton,  was  offered  onlj'  ten  cents 
a  bushel  for  it.  lie  finally  sold  it  for  twelve  and 
a  half  cents  per  bushel,  but  decided  not  to  sell  any 
more  at  those  figures.  The  date  of  payment  of  the 
first  note  came  round,  and,  for  the  first  and  last  time 
in  his  life,  he  had  to  admit  that  he  could  not  meet 
his  obligation.  He  had  a  lot  of  corn  in  store  and 
some  cattle,  but  to  sell  at  going  prices  would  only 
make  his  ruin  more  complete.  So  he  got  an  ex- 
tension of  time.  This  was  during  the  first  year  of 
the  war;  gold  had  disa|)peared  from  sight,  and 
prices  were  tending  upward.  To  make  a  long  story 
short,  he  sold  his  ten-cent  corn  for  seventy-five 
cents  per  bushel,  and  his  cattle,  that  had  been  held 
at  two  cents  per  pound,  for  six  or  seven,  and  he 
soon  had  his  land  paid  for  and  money  to  spare. 

After  the  farm  was  clear,  Mr.  Day  found  that 
both  he  and  his  wife,  by  their  long  continued  strug- 
gle, were  broken  down  in  healtii.  and  they  decided 
to  let  the  farm,  move  to  Paxton  and  take  a3car's 
much  needed  rest.  The  change  was  made  in  the 
fall  of  1863,  but  the  result  was  not  what  they  an- 
ticipated. The  sudden  change  from  active  and 
continuous  labor  to  idleness  was  terrible  to  Mr. 
Day,  who  became  so  uneasy  that  he  had  no  com- 
fort or  pleasure  in  life.  It  happened  that  an  ac- 
quaintance offered  him  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  gen- 
eral store  at  a  modest  salary,  which  he  gladly 
accepted  in  order  to  have  something  to  occupy  his 
time.  He  learned  to  like  his  new  work,  and  con- 
tinued in  it  about  two  years,  or  until  he  had  thor- 
oughly learned  the  mercantile  business,  when  he 
started  in  the  dry-goods  trade  for  himself  in  1865, 
and  has  followed  it  almost  continually  since,  mak- 
ing him  the  oldest  merchant  in  Paxton  in  years  of 
business  experience.  During  all  this  time,  he  has 
still  held  the  title  to  his  farm,  which  is  one  of  the 
most  productive  and  valualile  in  the  couiit3'.  His 
wife  inherited  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  ad- 
joining it,  which  IS  also  valuable  land. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Da}-,  a 
son  and  two  daughters:  Florence  A.,  the  eldest,  is 
now  the  wife  of  William  P.  Martin,  of  Paxton; 
Viola  E.  married  Wilnier  Wright,  and  is  now  re- 
siding in  Chicago;  Curtis,  the  only  son,  is  single 
and  in  business  with  his  father  in  Paxton. 


Recently  a  partnership  was  formed  between  Mr. 
Day  and  his  brother,  .John  P.,  in  the  mercantile 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  J.  P.  Day  &  Co. 
While  this  partnership  has  existed  only  a  year, 
they  have  been  associated  in  business,  in  one  way 
and  another,  for  the  greater  part  of  their  mature 
j'ears.  It  has  been  a  marked  characteristic  of  the 
Day  brothers,  that  they  have  always  worked  to- 
gether in  harmony  and  mutual  confidence;  the 
younger  ones  looking  up  to  John  P.  as  the  head  of 
their  family,  and  their  counselor  and  adviser. 

N.  B.  Day  has  alw.ays  been  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  while  he  has  served  as  Supervisor  of  his 
township  for  six  years,  he  has  never  been  an  aspir- 
ant for  public  office.  His  religious  training  in 
early  life  was  under  the  auspices  of  the  Christian 
Church,  to  which  his  parents  belonged,  lint  later 
in  life  he  became  associated  with  the  Methodist 
Church  as  an  oHScial  member,  and  with  his  family 
attends  that  church.  Mr.  Day  has  lieen  known  to 
the  citizens  of  Ford  and  adjacent  counties  from 
early  manhood,  with  whom  he  has  maintained  in- 
timate social  and  Ijusiness  relations,  and  it  is  no 
flattery  to  say  of  him  that  his  integrity  is  above 
question,  and  his  character  without  reproach.  He 
is  genial,  cordial  and  unassuming  in  manner,  and 
is  always  to  be  relied  upon  for  a  fair  and  honorable 
discharge  of  the  duties  devolving  upon  him  in  all 
the  relations  of  life. 


ENRY  C.  RAWLINGS,  a  member  of  the 
Rice  Grain  Elevator  Company  and  of  the 
Wabash  Valley  Coal  Company,  is  a  promi- 
yj  nent  citizen  of  Paxton,  and  well  deserves 
mention  in  this  volume.  He  claims  Indiana  as  the 
State  of  his  nativity',  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
.Jennings  County  on  the  23d  of  July,  1848.  His 
parents  are  Henry  and  Caroline  (Amnions)  Rawl- 
ings,  the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Jefferson  County,  Ind.  Both  are  still  living 
and  reside  in  Jackson  County,  Ind.,  near  Seymour. 
Henry  C.  Rawlings,whose  name  heads  this  record, 
was  educated  in  the  country  schools  of  his  native 
State,  where  the  days  of  his  boyhood    and   3-outh 


*■ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


351 


were  passed.  Thinking  Paxton  fui-nished  a  good 
opening,  lie  came  to  this  city  in  the  latter  part  of 
187.'5,  and  engaged  in  the  harness-making  business. 
Some  time  afterwards  he  embarked  in  the  dry-goods 
trade  and  continued  merchandising  until  1890, 
when  lie  became  connected  with  the  Rice  Grain 
Elevator  Company  of  Paxton. 

When  a  young  man,  in  December,  1 864,  Mr.  Rawl- 
ings  responded  to  the  country's  call  for  troops  to 
help  crush  out  the  rebellion  and  became  a  member 
of  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth  In- 
diana Infantry.  He  went  into  the  service  as  a 
drummer  boy,  being  then  less  than  seventeen  3'ears 
of  age,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when 
he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  Paxton  Post,  No.  387,  G.  A.  R.,  and  of  Mt. 
Olivet  Commandery,  No.  38,  K.  T.  He  exercises 
his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Prohibition 
party,  and  as  every  true  American  citizen  should 
do,  takes  an  interest  in  political  affairs  although  he 
has  never  sought  public  ofHce. 

The  lady  who  is  now  Mrs.  Rawlings  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Margaret  Cooper.  She  is  a  native 
of  Springl'icld,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  Cooper.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated 
on  the  22d  of  February,  1876.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rawlings  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  widely  and  favorably  known  as  a 
popular  merchant  and  successful  business  man  and 
both  he  and  his  wife  are  highly  respected  members 
of  Paxton  societ}'. 


fp^REDERICK  J.  .lOHNSON,  who  owns  and 
pHcTji  operates  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
jk^  laud  on  section  15,  Patton  Township,  is 
numbered  among  the  earl}^  settlers  of  the  county, 
bis  residence  here  covering  a  period  of  twenty- 
seven  years.  He  was  born  on  the  6th  of  July, 
1842,  in  Sweden,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Johanna 
(Anderson)  Johnson.  The  family  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  America  in  1853,  taking  passage  at  Guten- 
berg on  the  24th  of  July,  in  a  sailing-vessel,  which 
reached  Boston  on  the  22d  of  October,  after  thir- 
teen weeks  spent  upon  the  broad  Atlantic.  Mr. 
15 


Johnson  at  once  came  West,  locating  in  La  Fayette, 
Ind.,  where  he  made  his  home  for  a  few  years.  It 
was  in  1865  that  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in 
Ford  County,  where  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  of 
two  hundred  acres  near  Paxton  and  began  its  de- 
velopment. His  wife  died  the  following  year.  Mr. 
Johnson  still  resides  with  his  s<m,  our  subject. 

The  first  eleven  years  of  his  life  our  subject  spent 
in  the  land  of  his  nativity  and  then  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  emigration  to  America.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  Indiana,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years,  in  August,  1862,  joined  the  boys  in 
blue  of  Company  II,  Seventy-second  Indiana  In- 
fantry in  defense  of  the  Union.  He  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Corporal  and  participated  in  all  the 
engagements  with  his  command.  The  regiment 
was  mounted  at  Murfreesboro  and  formed  the 
Wilder  Brigade.  The  troops  were  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  and  all  the  en- 
gagements of  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  and  went  with 
Sherman  on  the  memorable  march  to  the  sea.  When 
the  war  was  over,  our  suliject  received  his  dis- 
charge at  Indianapolis,  July  6,  1865,  after  almost 
three  years  of  service.  He  had  proved  a  faithful 
soldier,  was  ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty  and 
made  an  honorable  army  record. 

After  being  mustered  out,  Mr.  Johnson  joined 
his  father's  family,  who  in  the  meantime  had  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  aided  his  father  in  farming. 
They  afterwards  sold  the  original  place  and  pur- 
chased that  on  which  Mr.  Johnson  is  now  living. 
The  farm,  which  is  pleasantly  situated  three  miles 
from  Paxton,  comprises  within  its  boundaries  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable  and  highly 
improved  land,  and  the  owner  is  accounted  one  of 
the  enterprising  and  substantial  agriculturists  of 
Ford  County.  He  is  industrious,  possesses  good 
business  abilit}-,  and  prosperit}'  has  attended  his 
undertakings. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1869,  in  this  county, 
Mr.  Johnson  was  married  to  Sophia  A.  Westrand, 
a  native  of  Sweden.  She  spent  her  maidenhood 
days  in  that  country,  and,  with  her  brother  Charles, 
came  to  America  in  1867.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
now  have  a  family  of  five  children,  and  the  circle 
yet  remains  unbroken:  Carl  J.  and  Emma  AY.,  the 
two  eldest,  are  attending  the  Collegiate  Institute 


352 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAIHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Paxton;  William  E.  is  also  a  student  in  that 
school;  Anna  .J.  and  Julia  A.  complete  tlie  family. 
Mr.  .Johnson  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Swedish  Lutheran  Church  and  he  is  one  of  its 
trustees.  The  Republican  party  finds  in  him  a 
stalwart  supporter,  and  for  all  of  its  Presidential 
candidates  he  has  voted  since  the  time  when  he 
cast  his  first  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Paxton  and 
has  served  on  the  School  Boai-d  in  his  district  for 
a  numlier  of  3'ears.  "We  find  in  Mr.  .Johnson  a 
pubiic-s|)irited  and  progressive  citizen,  who  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community  and  the  promotion  of  those  en- 
terprises calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit.  He 
is  a  straightforward  and  upright  business  man  who 
has  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  luas  been 
brought  in  contact. 


^ 


1^^  AMLTEL  .lOlIN  TAPP,  one  of  the  promi- 
^^^  nent  and  influential  citizens  of  Roberts,  is 
(ll/^j  inseparably  connected  with  tlie  business 
history  of  this  place.  He  is  a  native  of 
Somersetshire,  England,  and  was  born  on  the  28tli 
of  May,  1845,  the  third  in  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  whose  parents  were  John  and  Jane 
E.  (Hull)  Tapp.  His  father  was  born  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  January  21,  1816,  was  a  mechanic 
by  trade  and  spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native  land, 
his  doatli  occurring  May  7,  188.").  His  wife  was 
born  in  Devonshire,  January  20,  1812,  and  is  now 
living  in  Somersetshire,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty  j-ears.  Their  children  yet  living  are:  Mary, 
who  is  a  teacher  in  the  industrial  department  of 
the  National  School,  of  Somersetshire,  England; 
Samuel  J.,  of  this  sketch;  Thomas,  a  mechanic 
of  Somersetshire,  who  is  married  and  has  four 
daughters;  Elizabeth  Jane,  wife  of  Webb  Stanford, 
who  resides  with  his  wife  and  six  children  in  Car- 
diff, Wales;  William,  who  is  living  with  his  wife 
and  three  children  in  London,  and  is  a  successful 
contractor  and  builder;  Anna  Eliza,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  dress-making  in  Bath,  England.  Jane 
Ann,  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John  Lock. 


At  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  our  subject  began 
learning  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  and  long  followed 
that  occu|)ation.  About  18(i2  he  went  to  London 
to  finish  learning  that  trade  and  while  there  deter- 
mined to  seek  a  home  in  America,  so  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  from  Liverpool,  and,  landing  at  New 
York  Cit}',  went  to  Chicago.  He  spent  three  j'ears 
in  Onarga,  111.,  and  in  July,  1872.  came  to  Roberts, 
then  a  small  hamlet  of  three  stores  and  about  five 
residences.  He  here  opened  a  smithy  and  began 
business.  He  had  then  only  ^500,  which  formed 
the  nucleus  of  his  present  competence. 

While  in  Onarga,  Mr.  Tapp  met  and  married 
Miss  Louisa  Tliompson,  a  native  of  Washington, 
N.  J.,  and  a  daughter  of  Rev.  .John  L.  Thompson, 
who  was  born  in  the  Empire  State,  and,  after  pui- 
suing  a  collegiate  course  of  study,  became  a  Bap- 
tist clergyman.  After  forty  years  spent  as  a  min- 
ister of  the  Gospel,  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-two. 
His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Harriet  Marsh, 
and  was  a  native  of  New  York  City.  Their 
family  numbered  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Those  yet  living  are:  Mrs.  Tapp,  of  this  sketch; 
John  M.,  a  barber  of  Prescott,  Ark.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  has  two  sons;  Anna  Eliza,  wife  of  Robert 
Chambers,  a  leading  merchant  of  Roberts;  and  Cor- 
nelius H.,  who  is  living  in  Iv.ankakee.  iNIrs.  Tapp 
is  a  highly  cultured  and  refined  lady.  With  her 
parents,  she  came  to  Illinois  about  18(il),  and  has 
since  made  her  home  in  this  State.  On  the  22d  of 
July,  1873,  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
Tapp,  tlie  wedding  ceremony  being  performed  on 
the  old  homestead  of  her  parents,  by  Polder  Palmer. 

Our  subject  is  a  philanthropic  and  progressive 
citizen  and  has  done  all  in  his  power  for  the  up- 
building of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 
He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Peter  Cooper. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Roberts,  and  is  now  one  of  its  members. 
He  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows'  society  of  Onarga, 
and  both  himself  and  wife  were  charter  members 
of  the  Good  Templars'  society  of  Roberts.  They 
are  also  faithful  and  consistent  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  have  ever  given  their 
support  to  educational  and  moral  interests  calcu- 
lated to  benefit  and  improve  the  community. 
The}'  are  benevolent,  worthy  people  and  are  held 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


353 


in  warm  regard.  In  1877,  Mr.  Tapp  abandoned  Ins 
trade  and  became  a  partner  in  tlie  mercantile  busi- 
ness of  Mr.  Chambers,  but  after  two  years,  in  coni- 
l)any  witli  John  Kalp,  he  again  engaged  in  blacl<- 
smithing  until  1,S88,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  part- 
ner. Since  that  year  he  has  been  one  of  the  mana- 
gers of  the  Roberts  Creamery,  a  leading  and  suc- 
cessful enterprise  of  this  place.  He  owns  a  nice 
farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Lyman  Township,  be- 
sides eight}' acres  in  Iroquois  County.  His  home 
is  located  on  the  corner  of  .South  and  Walnut 
Streets,  and  is  a  beautiful  and  comfortable  prop- 
erty. In  June,  IS.S;),  JMr.  Tapp  went  to  England 
and  visited  his  sisters,  also  went  to  London  and 
other  principal  cities  of  the  Old  World,  after  which 
he  returned  and  gave  his  attention  to  his  business 
interests  in  Roberts. 


'  OHN  H.  THOMPSON  owns  and  operates  a 
well-ini|)roved  farm  on  section  26,  Patton 
Township,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for 
_  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a  native  of  Nor- 
way, his  birth  having  occurred  on  the  7tli  of 
March,  1844.  His  father,  Ilause  Thompson,  was 
also  a  native  of  that  land,  where  he  resided  until 
1871,  when  he  emigrated  to  America  and  became 
a  resident  of  Kendall  County,  111.  There  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March, 
1886.  His  wife  died  in  1871,  just  nine  weeks 
after  they  located  in  this  State.  In  the  family 
were  ten  children  who  grew  to  mature  years,  four 
sons  and  six  daughters,  and  with  the  exception  of 
one  son  and  one  daughter  all  are  yet  living  at  this 
writing. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  of  the  family.  He 
spent  his  youth  upon  a  farm  in  Norway  and  in  at- 
tendance at  the  public  schools  until  sixteen  years 
of  age.  He  received  a  good  education  in  his  mo- 
ther tongue  but  his  knowledge  of  the  English 
language  has  been  mostly  acquired  since  he  came 
to  America.  It  was  in  1860  that  he  bade  good-bye 
to  the  laud  of  his  birth,  his  friends  and  his  home, 
and  sailed  from  Bergen  to  Montreal,  Canada,  where 
he  arrived  about  the    1st  of  June,  after  a  voyage 


of  three  weeks  and  four  days.  During  that  trip, 
they  experienced  some  quite  severe  w^eatherand  in 
a  gale  one  mast  and  some  of  the  rigging  was  car- 
ried away,  I)ut  at  length  the  vessel  reached  harbor 
in  .safety.  ]Mr.  Thompson  at  once  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  Morris,  (irundy  County,  where  he 
joined  a  brother  who  had  settled  there  three  years 
before.  He  at  once  began  working  by  the  montli, 
in  the  employ  of  the  same  man  by  whom  his 
brother  was  hired,  and  they  worked  together  for  a 
year,  when  the  brother  joined  the  army. 

Our  subject  also  enlisted  in  the  .service  of  his 
adopted  eouulry  in  1862  as  a  member  of  Company 
D,  Thirty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  joined  the 
regiment  in  Kentucky.  He  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  River,  Tenn.,  after  which  he 
was  taken  sick  and  sent  to  the  hospital  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky.  On  his  recovery,  he  again  joined  his 
command  and  was  in  active  duty  until  he  received 
his  discharge  in  August,  1865,  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  AVhen  the  countrj'  no  longer  needed  his 
services,  he  returned  to  Morris,  111.,  and  began 
working  on  a  farm  in  that  locality.  He  afterward 
joined  his  parents  in  Kendall  County  and  there 
resided  until  1876,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County, 
and  rented  land  for  a  few  years.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 

In  September,  1871,  in  Kendall  County,  Mr. 
Thompson  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Anna 
Holverson,  a  native  of  Norwa}',  who  spent  her 
maidenhood  days  in  that  country  and  when  a 
young  lady  came  to  the  United  States.  Tiieir  un- 
ion has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  five  children, 
all  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Hanse  O.,  who  aids  his 
father  in  operating  the  home  farm;  Oliver,  Anthony 
A.,  Henry  B.  and  Ole,  all  of  whom  are  attending 
the  home  school. 

Since  liecoming  a  voter,  Mr.  Thompson  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  part}'.  He  cast  his 
first  ballot  for  IT.  S.  Grant  and  has  supported  each 
Presidential  nominee  of  his  party  since  that  time. 
He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
interests,  which  he  has  followed  with  good  success, 


354 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Himself  and  wife  are  inemhers  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Mr.  Thompson  is  an  industrious  and 
enterprising  man  and  has  by  his  own  labor,  per- 
severance and  good  management  accumulated  the 
property  which  numbers  him  among  tlie  well-to-do 
citizens  of  the  communit}'. 


i^y^  ATTHIAS  W.  NEWHART,  a  wortliy  pio- 
neer of  Ford  County,  of  1864,  now  a  re- 
tired farmer  and  resident  of  (iibson  City, 
was  born  in  Northampton,  now  Monroe 
County,  Pa.,  on  the  11th  of  November,  1822,  and 
is  a  sou  of  George  and  Louisa  (Wilbert)  Newhart. 
His  parents  were  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
were  of  German  descent,  their  grandparents  having 
emigrated  from  Germany  in  an  early  day. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  and 
attended  the  public  schools  until  eighteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  left  home  and  learned  the  miller's 
trade  in  New  Jersey.  On  the  1st  of  April,  1850, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Rowe,  the  wedding 
being  performed  near  Newton  m  Sussex  County, 
N.  .1.  The  lady  was  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Rowe 
and  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1853,  Mr.  New- 
hart  returned  to  his  native  State,  settling  near  his 
old  home,  where  he  followed  milling  for  a  few 
years  and  then  purchased  a  farm  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, Monroe  County,  whicii  he  operated  success- 
fullj'.  Subsequently  he  removed  to  Pike  Countj^, 
Pa.,  where  he  resided  until  1864,  when  he  came  to 
Ford  County,  111.,  settling  in  what  is  now  Drum- 
mer Township,  but  was  then  a  part  of  Dix,  and 
participated  in  the  organization  of  the  new  town- 
ship of  Drummer.  He  bought  a  tract  of  good  land, 
one  hundred  and  sixt^'  acres  in  extent,  which  he 
improved  and  occupied  until  January  4,  1882,when 
he  leased  it  and  moved  to  Gibson  City.  There  he 
purchased  a  residence,  which  he  recentlj'  sold,  and 
bought  the  property  where  he  now  resides.  He 
continued  to  rent  his  farm  until  the  fall  of  1891, 
when  he  sold  it,  realizing  a  handsome  profit. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newhart, 
of  whom  five  are  living:  Jennie,  the  eldest  was  the 


wife  of  David  Watson,  and  died  October  12, 1889; 
Frank  P.  married  Blattie  Zenii  and  resides  in  Jack- 
son, Tcnn.;  Mary  Louisa  is  the  wife  of  Ira  Davis, 
Ida  County,  Iowa;  Pha'be  C.  married  James  Lyons 
and  lives  in  Gibson  City,  111.;  and  Sarah  Elizabeth 
and  D.  Anna  reside  witii  tiieir  father.  Mrs.  New- 
hart, who  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and  a 
ciMisistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
passed  away  on  the  2d  of  January,  1892.  She 
was  a  lady  of  many  excellencies  of  character  and 
left  many  friends  to  mourn  her  loss.  Mr.  Newhart 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Preslnteriau  Church,  as  are 
his  daughters,  Sarah  and  Anna.  Frank  P.  and  his 
wife,  .also  Louisa,  hold  memlK'rsliip  with  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  the  daugliter  Phcebe  is  a  Meth- 
odist in  religious  belief. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Newhart  atHliates  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  and  has  held  a  number  of  minor  of- 
fices to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  He  has  been  School 
Director  and  Road  Overseer  of  his  township.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  Gibson  Lodge,  No.  542, 
I.  O.  ().  F.,  and  also  belongs  to  the  camp  and  Re- 
becca degrees.  He  was  initiated  into  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' fraternit}^  in  Stillwater,  N.  J.,  in  1850,  and  is 
the  oldest  member  of  the  order  in  his  lodge.  He 
has  p,isscd  all  the  chairs  and  is  now  Past  Grand. 
Mr.  Newhart  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life  and  is 
one  of  the  upright  and  honorable  citizens  of  Ford 
County.  He  is  now  i)assing  his  decliniug  3'ears  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  well-earned  rest  and  is  possessed 
of  a  substantial  quantity  of  this  world's  goods.  He 
has  the  highest  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens  and  is 
well  and  favorably  known  in  the  community  where 
he  has  so  long  made  his  home. 


^^EORGE  W.  IIAUPT.  a  harness-maker  of 
III  Gibson  City,  was  born  in  Pottsville,  Schuyl- 

^^^  kill  County,  Pa.,  May  29,  1847,  and  is  a 
son  of  Lsaac  and  Mary  (Persing)  Haupt.  The 
Ilaupt  family  is  of  German  extraction,  though 
many  years  have  elapsed  since  they  crossed  the 
ocean  to  this  country.  The  father  of  our  subject 
w.as  born  in  Northumberland  County,  Pa.,  but  was 
married  in  Pottsville.     The  mother  was  also  born 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


355 


in  Pennsylvania,  her  father  being  of  Hiignenot 
descent,  and  her  mother,  who  was  a  Campbell,  be- 
ing of  Scotch  lineage.  By  trade  Isaac  Haupt  was 
a  carpenter.  In  1850,  he  moved  to  Indiana,  locat- 
ing in  Fountain  County,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  The  country  was  new  and  his  services 
were  in  demand  and  some  of  the  houses  he  con- 
structed are  still  standing  as  monuments  to  his 
thrift  and  industry.  His  wife  died  during  the 
sickly  season  of  1855,  but  he  is  still  living  in  Cov- 
ington, ]nd.  lie  served  as  Treasurer  for  four  years 
in  his  county,  and  in  politics  was  a  Democrat 
until  the  rise  of  the  Republican  party,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  one  of  its  stalwart  supporters. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  Presbyterians  in  relig- 
ious belief.  Tlie}'  became  the  parents  of  Ave  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  eldest. 

George  W.  Haupt  was  educated  m  the  district 
schools,  and  in  March,  1864,  though  not  yet  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  enlisted  in  Company  B,  P>lev- 
enth  Indiana  Infantry.  The  regiment  first  went 
to  New  Orleans  and  from  there  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  and  then  on  to  Washington.  Going  to 
Shenandoah  Vallev,  they  took  part  in  the  battles 
of  Ilalltown,  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar 
Creek,  where  Sheridan  made  his  famous  ride.  At 
the  battle  of  Winchester,  he  received  a  wound  in 
the  left  arm,  besides  having  his  canteen  shot 
off  and  a  ball  passing  through  his  haversack. 
After  leaving  the  Siienandoah  Valley,  he  was  on 
'  detached  duty  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  was 
mustered  out.  being  discharged  at  Indianapolis  in 
August,  1865. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  llaupt  went  to 
Covington,  Ind.,  and  began  to  learn  the  harness- 
making  business.  He  was  to  have  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years,  but  after  a  year  and  a  half 
he  left  his  emplo3'er  and  came  to  Fairbur}',  111.,  in 
1867,  wliere  lie  worked  under  instructions  for  six 
months  and  then  worked  as  a  journeyman.  In 
October,  1864,  he  came  to  Gibson  City,  and  opened 
a  harness  shop.  As  his  trade  increased,  he  extended 
his  business  and  has  now  a  fine  trade  and  is  widely 
known  as  a  first-cla.ss  workman. 

In  Covington,  Ind.,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1872, 
Mr.  Haupt  led  to  the  marriage  altar   Miss  Adella 


C,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Wertz)  Royer, 
both  of  whom  are  of  German  descent.  About  the 
year  1845,  they  removed  to  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
in  which  State  Mr.  Royer  still  lives  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  To  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Royer  were  born 
eight  children,  all  girls,  of  wliom  Mrs.  Haupt  is  the 
sixth  in  order  of  birth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haupt  have 
become  tlie  parents  of  six  children:  Frank  C,  who 
assists  his  father;  Bertha  G.,  Lela  L.,Guy  I.,  Pearl 
A.  and  Edna  F. 

Mr.  Haupt,  his  wife  and  their  three  oldest  chil- 
dren are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and, 
in  politics,  he  is  a  Republican  but  not  an  office- 
seeker.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows' society  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity, 
having  been  Deputy  of  the  latter  order  for  some 
eiglit  years  and  having  held  about  all  the  ottices 
of  both  lodges.  He  also  belongs  to  Lott  Post  No. 
70,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Gibson.  As  a  business  man  he  has 
been  quite  successful,  having  accumulated  a  good 
property  and  si cured  a  good  trade.  For  eighteen 
years  he  has  been  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Gibson  City,  and  is  the  only  one  in  his  line  that 
lias  made  no  chanoe  in  the  firm  title. 


AMUEL  LEVI  DAY,  of  the  firm  of  Day 
real-estate  and  loan  agents  of  Pax- 
is  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers  of 
the  city  of  Paxton,  and  was  the  first  Clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Ford  Countv.  He  is  well 
deserving  of  representation  in  this  volume  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  his  sketch  to  our 
readers.  Mr.  Day  was  born  in  Preble  Count}', 
Ohio,  on  the  25tli  of  February,  183.3,  his  parents 
being  Samuel  and  Peggy  (Purviance)  Day. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1851,  the  family  of 
our  subject  removed  to  Miami  County,  Ind.,  Sam- 
uel accompanying  them.  The  succeeding  two 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  a  farm  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Peru,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1853  they 
all  emigrated  to  Eastern  Illinois.  Their  first 
home  in  this  State  was  fixed  near  Danville,  where 
land  was  occupied,  and  the  following  year  a  crop 
planted.     In    the   summer  of    1854,   Mr.  Day,  Sr., 


356 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


accompanied  by  his  sons,  Samuel  L.  and  N.  B., 
came  to  what  is  now  Ford  County.  The  father 
made  his  liome  near  Prairie  City,  now  Paxton, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

Samuel   L.  Day  was  married   in    Illinois,  about 

1856,  to  Miss  Susanna  Swisher,  who  died  in  1858, 
leaving  no  living  children.  In  18&0,  lie  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss  .Jennie 
Lyons,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Lyons,  of  Or- 
leans County,  X.  Y.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church.  Her  birth  occurred  in  Onon- 
daga County,  N.  Y.,  and    she    came  to    Illinois  in 

1857.  Three  children,  sons,  have  been  born  of 
their  union,  as  follows:  Mark  L.  married  Libbie 
Daley,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  resides  in  Chicago; 
Fred  L.  married  Ella  Blackstone  and  also  resides 
in  Cliicago,  where  to  them  was  born,  in  18!)1, 
a  daughter  named  Doroth3'.  Mark  L.  and  Fred 
L.  are  now  classed  among  the  most  prosperous  cloak 
salesmen  of  Chicago.  Cljde  A.,  who  was  born 
in  Paxton,  June  25,  1869,  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  the  Collegiate  Institute  of  his 
native  citj',  studied  law  under  the  direction  of 
Cook  &  Moffett,  of  Paxton,  and  passed  a  satisfac- 
tory examination  before  the  committee  of  .Judges 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  when  he  was 
but  eighteen  years  old,  but  his  license  was  with- 
held until  he  became  of  age.  He  was  probably  the 
youngest  law  student  to  pass  a  successful  exam- 
ination in  the  State.  For  a  time  after  securing 
his  license  he  was  in  practice  alone,  but  in  June, 
181(0,  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Tipton, 
Moffett  &  Day,  now  Moffett  &  Day.  He  is  a  Knight 
Templar,  belonging  to  Paxton  Lodge  No.  416, 
A.F.  &  A.M.;  Ford  Chapter  No.  113,  R.  A.  M.. 
and  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery  No.  38. 

On  the  formation  of  Ford  County,  in  1859,  Mr. 
Day,  of  this  sketch,  was  elected  the  first  Clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Court  and  Recorder  of  the  new  county, 
which  position  he  held  for  two  terms,  or  four 
years.  He  opened  the  books  of  the  office  and 
served  under  Judge  David  Davis.  On  leaving 
the  service  of  the  county,  he  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business  in  company  with  Gen.  L.  A.  Dodd, 
which  connection  continued  several  years,  when 
he  became  a  member  of  the  dry-goods  house  of 
Day  Bros.  &  King.     Later,  he  joined  J.  P.  Middle- 


coff  in  the  same  line  and  continued  that  connec- 
tion until  1876,  when  he  became  connected  with 
the  real-estate  firm  of  Hanley,  Sutton,  Cloud  & 
Day.  Subsequently,  he  became  a  member  of  tlie 
real-estate  firm  of  Da}-,  Bogardus  dr  Jlorris,  and, 
in  1877,  he  went  to  Champaign,  where  he  repre- 
sented the  Illinois  Loan  &  Trust  Company  until 
1879,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business  with  his  brothers,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Day  Bros. 

In  politics,  Mr.  D.ay  was  a  Republican  until 
1872,  since  which  time  he  hits  affiliated  with  the 
Democrats.  In  1872,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Democratic  Convention  which  nominated  Horace 
Greeley  for  the  Presidency.  While  but  a  middle- 
aged  man,  Mr.  Day  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  busi- 
ness 3'ears  in  the  city  of  Paxton,  and  is  one  of 
the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  that  place. 


-^^ 


ELMER  ENOCH,  one  of   the  most  extensive 
stock  dealers  of  Ford  County'  and  a  promi- 
'  nent  resident  of  Roberts,  is  so  well  known  in 

this  community  that  he  needs  no  special  introduc- 
tion lo  our  readers  wlio  will,  we  feel  assured,  re- 
ceive this  record  of  his  life  with  interest.  He  was 
born  in  McLean  County,  111.,  April  10,  1860,  and 
is  a  S(m  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Mitchell)  Enoch. 
His  father  was  born  in  McLean  County,  in  1832, 
acquired  a  common-school  education  and  is  now  a  ^ 
dealer  in  real  estate  and  live  stock.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  Republican  and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged.  Her 
death  occurred  in  1869.  Our  subject  has  two 
sisters:  Lottie,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Chi- 
cago; and  Louisa,  who  is  married  and  makes  her 
home  in  Mcl^ean  County. 

Elmer  Enoch  acquired  a  good  practical  education 
in  the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
commenced  life  for  himself  with  no  capital  sdve  a 
disposition  to  succeed  and  a  pair  of  willing  hands. 
He  gave  his  attention  to  the  pursuit  with  which  he 
had  been  familiar  since  his  boyhood,  that  of  stock 
raising,  and  until  1884,  resided  in  McLean  County. 
In  that  year,  he  came  to  Roberts,  where  he  has  since 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


357 


made  his  liome.  Duriiiij  1891,  lie  sliippcfl  over  the 
Illinois  Central  Raih-oad  one  hundred  and  fifty-five 
car  loads  of  stock,  the  largest  shii)inent  made  on 
this  division  of  the  road  in  that  year  by  one  man. 
He  purchases  all  kinds  of  live  stock  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  hogs  and  cattle.  He  deals  directly 
with  the  Chicago  markets  and  liis  sales  in  the  past 
year  amounted  to  about  ¥l<Hl.OO(l.  He  is  an  ex- 
cellent judge  of  stock  and  has  met  witli  a  well-de- 
served success  in  his  liusiness  career. 

Mr.  Enocii  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Jemima 
Olive,  daughter  of  Rev.  David  Olive,  of  Zanesville, 
Ohio.  Slie  was  educated  in  the  seminary  of  Zanes- 
ville, and  is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  who 
has  shown  decided  talent  as  an  artist.  Two  chil- 
dren graced  this  union  but  Lula  r)live,  the  elder, 
died  at  the  age  of  three  and  a  half  years  and  her 
loss  was  a  deep  grief  to  her  parents;  Winnefred,  the 
younger  daughter,  is  the  light  of  the  Enoch  house- 
hold. 

In  his  political  altiliations,  Mr.  Enoch  is  a  Re- 
publican, having  supported  that  party  since  cast- 
ing his  first  Presidential  vote  for  (ien.  .James  A. 
Garfield.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  tiiey  have  contributed  to  its  support 
and  to  benevolent  and  eiiaritalile  interests  worthy 
of  their  consideration.  Mr.  Enoch  is  recognized 
as  a  public-S|)irited  and  progressive  citizen  who 
does  all  in  his  power  for  the  upbuilding  of  the 
community  in  wliich  he  resides  and  tlie  promotion 
of  the  general  welfare.  He  is  a  courteous,  genial 
gentleman,  wiio  well  deserves  representation  in  this 
volume. 


^ 


E^ 


J 


^AMES  ALFRED  COOPER  is  one  of  the 
well-known  and  enterprising  young  business 
men  of  Roberts.  He  is  the  junior  member 
_^  of  the  firm  of  Cooper  tfe  Wright,  dealers  in 
lumber,  coal  and  carriages.  He  has  the  honor  of 
being  a  native  of  this  Stale,  his  birth  occurring  in 
Amboy,  -July  18,  18o8.  He  was  the  tliird  in  a 
family  of  twelve  children,  eleven  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter, five  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Thomas  A.,  who 
is  married  and  resides   upon   a    farm    in  -Kearney 


County,  Neb.;  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Hugh  Gibson,  an 
agriculturist  of  Minneapolis,  Kan.;  .Tames C.  of  this 
sketch;  Albert  A.,  who  is  employed  as  a  salesman 
in  a  boot  and  shoe  store  in  Minneapolis,  Kan.;  and 
Warren  S.,  who  also  resides  in  the  same  i)lace.  The 
parents  were  William  and  .Vnn  (Watson)  Cooper. 
The  father  was  liorn  near  i^ondon,  England,  and 
shortly  after  his  marriage  emigrated  with  his  liride 
to  the  United  States.  He  made  his  first  location  in 
Northern  Illinois, where  he  engaged  in  the  coal  busi- 
ness.after  whicli  he  fcillowed  fanning  until  his  death 
at  ihe  age  of  forty-six  years.  His  wife  is  still  living 
at  the  age  of  sixt3'  and  makes  her  home  in  Kansas. 

In  his  youtii,our  suliject  was  inured  to  iiard 
labor.  At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  was  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources  with  not  a  dollar  which  he  could 
call  his  own,  but  he  possessed  industiy,  enterprise 
and  good  management,  ciiaraeteristics  which  always 
win  success.  From  the  age  of  thirteen  he  made  his 
home  with  William  Hurst,  one  of  tiie  sterling  citi- 
zens of  Roberts,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  else- 
where in  this  work.  He  has  been  an  eye-witness 
of  the  growth  of  Ford  County  for  a  quarter  of  a 
centuiy  and  had  seen  almost  its  entire  develop- 
ment. As  before  stated,  he  is  now  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Cooper  A  Wrigiit,  which  has  a  capital  of 
110,000  invested.  They  have  an  oflice  and  a  large 
repository  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Green  Streets, 
which  is  well  filled  with  all  kinds  of  agricultural 
implements,  surrej's,  carriages,  wagons,  etc.  They 
also  deal  in  lumber  and  coal,  and  the  liberal 
patronage  which  they  receive  is  well  deserved  by 
the  industrious  and  enterprising  gentlemen  who 
constitute  the  firm. 

A  marriage  ceremony  jierformcd  December  28, 
1880,  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Cooper  and  Miss 
Cynthia  I.  Kennedy,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a 
daughter  of  William  and  IJarbara  (Barnet)  Ken- 
nedy. Her  father  is  now  deceased.  Tiie  family 
numbered  three  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom 
six  are  yet  living.  Three  children  graced  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper:  Charles  L.,  who  is  attend- 
ing school  in  Roberts;  Elmer  Merton,  a  lad  of  five 
summers;  and  Bessie  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  months  and  five  days.  The  parents  have 
a  beautiful  home  on  Majjle  Street,  tastefully  furn- 
ished and  supplied  with  all  the  comforts  and  many 


358 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  the  luxuries  of  life.  They  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  Mr.  Cooper  is  President  of 
the  Epworth  League,  wliieh  was  established  in  1891, 
and  has  a  membership  of  sixty-five.  Socially,  he 
is  a  member  of  Lyman  Lodge  No.  293,  K.  P.,  and, 
in  politics,  is  an  adherent  of  the  Republican  party, 
which  he  has  supported  since  he  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  James  A.  Garfield.  He  has 
served  as  School  Director  and  as  a  member  of  the 
Village  Board.  For  his  success  in  life  he  certainly 
deserves  great  credit  and  iiis  example  is  well  worthy 
of  emulation. 


lEORGE  H.  SPELLMEYER,  who  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  on  section  17,  Wall 
Township,  is  a  native  of  Germany.  He 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Manan,  County  Lubecka, 
February  17,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  Gotlieb  S.  and 
Caroline  (Becker)  Spelhneyer,  also  natives  of  that 
locality.  Ere  leaving  their  native  land,  the  fol- 
lowing children  were  liorn  unto  them:  William, 
now  deceased;  Charles,  a  resident  farmer  of  Wall 
Township;  Louisa,  wife  of  Fred  Steinman,  of  the 
same  township;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  August  Schuene- 
niann,  a  farmer  of  Missouri;  llenr^-,  who  resides 
in  Peach  Orchard  Townshii);  and  George  H.,  of 
this  sketch. 

The  family  sailed  from  Bremen  in  1858,  and 
after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  landed  at  New  York, 
whence  Gotlieb  Spellmeyer  went  to  Putnam 
County,  111.,  locating  near  Magnolia.  The  next 
spring  he  removed  to  I^a  Salle  County,  and  a  year 
later  went  to  Livingston  Countj-,  but  after  two 
years  returned  to  La  Salle.  After  renting  land  for 
five  years,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  that  county,  and 
there  made  his  home  until  after  the  death  of  his 
wife,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County  to  live  with 
his  children.  He  died  at  the  home  of  a  daughter, 
in  1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  an  honest 
and  upright  man,  respected  l)y  all  who  knew   him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  the  schools 
of  his  native  land  when  a  lad  of  seven  sum- 
mers.    With    his    parents,    he    crossed    the    broad 


Atlantic  when  a  youth  of  twelve  3-ears,  and 
after  locating  in  Illinois,  attended  school  at 
various  intervals,  in  all  about  nine  months.  His 
boyhood  days  were  spent  in  the  usual  manner 
of  farmer  lads,  and  he  aided  his  father  until 
twenty-seven  years  of  age,  when  he  left  home  and 
l)egan  farming  for  himself  in  La  Salle  County, 
where  he  worked  for  two  years.  He  then  came  to 
Ford  County  and  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixtv  acres  on  section  17,  Wall 
Township.  It  was  entirelj'  destitute  of  improve- 
ments except  a  hedge  fence,  but  he  at  once  began 
its  development  and  now  has  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  locality,  supplied  with  good  build- 
ings and  many  other  improvements.  Its  boun- 
daries have  also  been  extended  until  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land  now  pay 
tribute  to  the  care  and   cultivation  of  the  owner. 

In  La  Salle  County,  in  1868,  Mr.  Spellmeyer  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Charlotte  Steinman, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  neighborhood  .as  her 
husband,  August  26,  1816,  and  has  proved  to  him 
a  valualile  helpmate.  Her  parents,  Gerhardt  and 
Anna  Maria  (Becker)  Steinman,  were  both  natives 
of  Germany.  Accompanied  by  his  children,  the 
father  came  to  America,  sailing  from  Bremen  to 
New  Orleans,  whence  he  came  up  the  Mississippi 
to  St.  Louis.  He  made  his  first  location  in  La 
Salle  County,  111.  His  death  occurred  in  Ford 
County,  at  tiie  age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  a 
monument  has  been  erected  to  his  memory.  Mrs. 
Spellmeyer  has  two  brothers  and  two  sisters  vet 
living:  Fred,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  Louisa,  wife  of  Henry  Spellmeyer,  a 
farmer,  whose  sketch  is  also  given  in  this  work; 
Henry,  who  is  married  and  follows  farming  in 
Wall  Township;  and  Catlierine,  wife  of  John 
Feldhus,  deceased,  a  resident  of  St.  Louis. 

Jlr.  and  Mrs.  Spellmeyer  have  a  family  of  nine 
children;  Caroline,  ISIary,  Gotlieb,  Henry,  Will- 
iam, Annie,  Emma,  Lizzie  and  Edna,  and  they 
have  also  lost  three  children.  The}-  intend  to  edu- 
cate them  in  the  German  and  English  languages. 
Both  parents  and  children  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Cliurcli,  of  Melvin,  and  the  family  is 
widely  and  favoralily  known   in  this  community. 

In  his.  political   atliliations,  Mr.  Spellmeyer  sup- 


I 


4 


'OcJ-^f--^    ^yKJU^^t^^^^ULA 


y^^OCS-^i'--\n 


^A^^h^L^c^ 


g^ZA^ 


r 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


361 


ports  the  Republican  partj'  on  questions  of  na- 
tional importance,  but  at  local  elections  votes  for 
the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  to  fill  the 
position,  regardless  of  party  affiliations.  He  is 
one  of  the  siil)stautial  citizens  and  leading  farmers 
of  Wall  Township,  who  has  ever  lioriie  his  part 
in  the  upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the  county's 
interests,  and  is  held  in  high  regard  by  all. 


-'^^■i^-M^—^' 


l^'jEUBEN  NEWKIRK,  a  representative  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Patton  Townsliip,  resid- 
J^AV  ing  on  section  1.3,  claims  Ohio  as  the  State 
of  his  nativity.  Fairfield  Count}'  is  the 
place  of  his  birth,  and  the  date,  February  2,  1846. 
The  fainil}-  is  of  German  origin,  and  was  estab- 
lished in  America  at  an  early  day,  the  ancestors 
being  residents  of  Virginia,  of  wiiich  State  Reuben 
Newkirk,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  native. 
The  father,  Shipinan  Newkirk,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, in  1807,  and,  with  his  parents,  removed  to 
Ohio  in  an  early  day,  the  family  becoming  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Fairfield  County.  After  attaining 
to  mature  years,  he  married  Elizabeth  Rice,  a  native 
of  P^airfield  County  .Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Michael 
Rice,  who  was  of  German  descent,  and  came  to  the 
Buckeye  State  in  an  early  day,  from  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  Newkirk  was  a  millwright  by  trade,  and  also 
owned  and  operated  a  flouring  mill  in  Fairfield 
County.  Ilis  death  occurred  in  1852,  at  the  age 
of  forty-five  years.  His  wife  still  survives  him, 
and,  altliough  eight3'-five  j'ears  of  age,  is  an  act- 
ive old  lady,  her  physical  and  mental  faculties  be- 
ing but  slightly  impaireci.  She  resides  with  a 
widowed  daughter  in  Paxton.  In  the  family' 
were  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five  daughters, 
who  grew  to  mature  years:  Rachel,  wife  of  H. 
Propeck,  a  resident  farmer  of  Logan  County,  111.; 
Mary,  wife  of  .James  Work,  who  is  living  in  Hunt- 
ington County,  Ind.;  Hannah  became  the  wife  of 
S.  Moreliead,  but  both  are  now  deceased;  Margaret 
is  the  widow  of  Edward  llathawaj',  and  resides  in 
Paxtfm;  and  George,  who  is  also  living  in  Paxton, 
completes  the  family.     Reuben  is  the  youngest. 


We  now  take  up  the  personal  liistory  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  the  days  of  his  youth  upon  a 
farm  and  received  but  limited  school  privileges, 
his  education  being  mostl}'  acquired  througli  his 
own  efforts.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  removed 
from  Fairfield  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  resided  for  six  years,  and,  during  that  time, 
was  united  in  marriage  on  the  1st  of  July,  1867, 
with  Miss  Sophia  Graham,  daughter  of  A.  D. 
Graham,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Pickawaj'  County, 
and  a  native  of  New  York.  TliS  lady  was  born 
in  Pickaway  County,  and  there  remained  until 
about  a  year  after  her  marriage,  wlien  Mr.  New- 
kirk brought  his  wife  to  Illinois.  The}-  located  in 
Logan  County,  in  September  of  that  year,  and 
there  rented  a  fai-m  for  six  years,  after  which  they 
removed  to  Champaign  County,  where  an  im- 
proved farm  of  eighty  acres  was  purchased.  For 
seven  years  Mr.  Newkirk  engaged  in  operating 
that  land,  and  then  sold  out,  buying  in  tlie  same 
county  a  farm  near  town,  and  one  better  im- 
proved. Two  years  later,  however,  he  sold  it, 
and,  in  1883,  came  to  Ford  County,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres,  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  the  city  of  Paxton. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newkirk  has  been 
blessed  with  two  sons:  Albert,  who  is  nOw  attend- 
ing school  in  Chicago,  and  Gu}'  E.,  a  student  in 
the  home  schools.  The  family  has  a  nice  home, 
which  is  the  abode  of  hospitality,  and  in  social 
circles  they  rank  higii,  their  friends  throughout 
the  community  being  many. 

Since  casting  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen. 
U.  S.  Grant,  Mr.  Newkirk  has  been  a  stalwart  Re- 
publican, but  has  never  sought  or  desired  political 
preferment  for  liimself.  lie  is  a  citizen  who  takes 
an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community,  and  to  its  advancement  and 
progress.  We  see  in  Mr.  Newkirk  a  self-made 
man.  He  started  out  in  life  empty-handed,  liis 
only  capital  being  a  young  man's  bright  hope  of  the 
future  and  a  determination  to  succeed,  but  he  has 
overcome  all  tlie  difiiculties  in  his  patli,  and  has 
accumulated  a  comfortable  competence.  He  is  de- 
serving of  all  the  more  credit,  from  the  fact  that 
he  has  lieen  in  poor  health  nearly  all  of  his  life. 
In     1889,    he    made    a  trip    to  Europe,    visiting 


362 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


France,  Belgium,  England,  and  returned  much 
improved.  Mr.  Newkirk  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  this  volume,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that 
we  record  his  sketch.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  American  Secular  Union. 


ll^ETER   WAGNER,  a  leading  merchant  and 

Jl)  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Gibson   City, 

^  ^    was  born  in  St.  Johnsville,  N.  Y.,  May  3, 

j  \  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  .John  P.  and  Polly 
(Fox)  Wagner.  His  greatgrandfather  on  the 
paternal  side  was  from  Germany  and  settled  in 
New  York,  and  his  grandfather,  Peter  Wagner, 
was  a  prominent  business  man,  having  grist,  saw 
and  fulling  mills,  and  also  a  distillery,  drawing 
custom  from  a  large  section  of  countiy.  During 
the  Revolutionnry  War  he  served  as  a  Colonel. 

John  P.  Wagner,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  and  in  early 
life  engaged  in  mercantile  i)ursiiits,  but  later, 
carried  on  a  farm.  In  the  State  militia  he  served 
as  a  Captain  and  was  always  known  by  that  title. 
In  New  York,  he  wedded  Miss  Fox,  who  was  also 
a  native  of  Montgomery  County  and  of  German 
descent.  They  became  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, but  our  subject  is  the  only  one  living  in  the 
West.  Mr.  Wagner  served  in  a  number  of  official 
positions,  being  Sheriff  of  Montgomery  County 
for  some  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife  lived  to  be 
over  eighty  years  of  age. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest  in  his 
father's  family  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving 
his  education  at  the  common  schools.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age,  he  commenced  learning  the 
bricklayer's  and  plasterer's  trade,  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  P.  C.  Knowles,  an  extensive  contractor, 
and  after  working  for  two  years  he  became  a  part- 
ner in  the  business.  They  did  an  extensive  busi- 
ness, employing  some  fifteen  to  twenty  men. 

The  war  coming  on,  prices  became  good  and  thus 
our  subject  made  his  start  in  the  world.  In  the 
fall  of  1871,  he  came  to  Gilman,  111.,  and  being 
an  expert  workman,  was  employed  to  do  the  fine 
cornice  work  on  the  Redfield  House.     On  the  8th 


of  April,  1872,  he  came  to  Gibson  Cit}',  which  then 
consisted  of  a  few  cheap  houses  and  stores,  with 
plenty  of  corn  cribs.  The  town  was  beginning  to 
grow  and  he  found  his  services  in  great  demand,  and 
here  engaged  in  contracting  until  1880.  About 
1875,  he  bought  out  Dr.  Stevens'  drug  store,  which 
he  has  run  to  the  present  time.  In  1886,  he  also 
opened  a  general  store,  though  he  has  now  divided 
the  stock  and  has  one  room  for  clothing  and  one 
for  dry-goods,  boots  and  shoes,  besides  being  in- 
terested in  farming. 

In  1866,  in  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  Mr. 
Wagner  married  Miss  Mary  Reals,  a  native  of  that 
countj',  but  of  German  descent.  In  religious  be- 
lief, she  is  a  Presbyterian.  Mr.  Wagner  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  but  not  a  politician  in  the 
common  acceptation  of  that  word.  Socially,  he  is 
a  Knight  Templar  Mason  of  Gibson  Lodge  No.  733; 
Gibson  Chapter  No.  183;  Gibson  Council  No.  72, 
Mt.  Olivet  Conimandery  No.  38,  of  Paxton;  and 
as  a  business  man  has  been  very  successful,  having 
secured  a  comfortable  competence  by  his  own 
efforts  and  good  business  ability.  He  is  a  director 
in  the  International  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion, and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  stirring 
and  reliable  business  men  of  Gibson  City,  where 
he  has  now  resided  for  twenty  years. 


I^ANIEL  C.  STONER,  a  worthy  pioneer  of 
I  jY  Ford  County,  was  born  near  Fredericktown 
J^  Md.,  November  27,  1808.  After  the  death 
of  his  father,  his  mother  removed,  the  following 
spring,  to  Dayton,  Montgomery  County,  Ohio. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  Daniel  C.  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  tanner's  trade,  serving  until  nineteen, 
during  which  time  he  received  but  three  months' 
schooling  each  year.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he 
began  teaching  school  and  "boarding  around"  in 
Montgomery  County,  receiving  115  per  month  sal- 
ary, which  was  the  fii-st  money  he  ever  earned.  In 
1828,  he  left  Ohio  and  removed  to  near  La  Fayette, 
Tippecanoe  County,  Ind.,  where  he  began  improv- 
ing a  two-hundred-acre  farm.  In  the  summer  of 
1850,  he    visited  the   region  now  known  as  Ford 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


363 


Count.y  on  a  prospecting'  tour,  and,  being  well 
pleased  with  the  eouiiti y,  purchased  land  situated 
on  sections  3,  4,  9  and  10,  township  23,  range  9, 
east,  amounting  to  seven  hundred  and  forty-seven 
acres,  where  he  established  a  liorae,  erecting  a  log 
house,  to  which  he  moved  liis  family  in  the  fall  of 
1851. 

On  the  6th  of  .Tuly,  1833,  Mr.  Stoner  was  mar- 
ried to  Susan  Ahell,  a  native  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
who  with  her  parents  came  to  Indiana  in  1831, 
and  settled  in  La  Fayette,  where  her  father  worked 
at  the  trade  of  a  merchant  tailor.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoner,  of  wlioni  four 
are  now  living:  John  P'.,  who  resides  in  I'axton; 
Barbara  Ann,  wife  of  N.  B.  Day,  a  merchant  of 
Paxton;  Minerva  C,  wife  of  William  Perdue,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Paxton  I'ownship,  residing 
in  the  city;  and  Reliecca  ,7.,  wife  of  Calvin  C. 
Robinson,  a  resident  of  Kansas. 

While  a  resident  of  Indiana,  Mr.  Stoner  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Militia,  and  during  the  Ind- 
ian scare  at  La  Fayette,  was  on  duty  at  that  place. 
In  the  early  days  of  his  settlement  in  Hiinois,  he 
played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  public  affairs  of 
his  section  of  the  State.  He  took  an  active  part 
in  the  organization  of  Ford  County,  was  appointed 
its  first  Assessor  and  was  chosen  the  first  County 
Treasurer,  serving  from  .June,  185;),  until  the  fol- 
lowing November,  when,  at  the  first  regular  elec- 
tion of  county  oHicers,  he  was  succeeded  by  J.  P. 
Day,  Esq.  Later  in  life,  he  did  not  particiitate 
prominently  in  pulilic  affairs.  He  w.as  an  industri- 
ous, prudent  man,  of  good  business  ability,  and 
accumulated  a  valuable  property. 

In  the  early  days,  when  the  country  had  no 
banks  of  deposit,  Mr.  Stoner  resorted  to  an  original 
method  of  secreting  his  money  to  keep  it  safe 
from  rolibers.  He  bored  two-incli  auger  holes  in 
the  logs  of  his  calim,  in  his  living  room,  in  which 
he  drove  wooilen  [jinsto  support  shelves.  Boring 
the  hole  considerably  deeper  than  the  length  of 
the  inserted  part  of  the  pin,  he  would  shove  into 
it  double  eagles  and  drive  the  i)in  in  its  place, 
thinking  no  robber  would  look  for  mone}'  thus 
hidden.  It  was  noticed  that  in  selling  stock  or 
farm  produce,  he  always  got  his  money  into  gold, 
of  the  required  denomination  if  possible,  but  the 


secret  of  its  hiding  place  w.as  known  only  to  him- 
self and  wife.  It  was  from  these  holes  in  the  wall 
that  he  extracted  the  81,000  which  he  loaned  his 
son-in-law,  N.  15.  Day,  to  help  purchase  a  farm,  as 
told  in  Mr.  Day's  sketch. 

Mr.  Stoner  died,  September  21,  1882,  and  his 
wife  passed  away  the  6th  of  March,  previous.  He 
was  a  man  of  strict  integrity;  enterprising  yet 
conservative,  and  enjoyed  in  a  marked  degree  the 
confidence  .and  resiiect  of  all  who  knew  him. 


-^ 


Cil  jilLLlAM  TRICKEL,  who  is  eng.aged  in 
\/\///  farming  on  section  27,  Patlon  Township, 
V^^  has  long  been  a  resident  of  the  county, 
having  for  a  half-century  made  his  home  within 
its  borders.  He  claims  Oiiio  as  tiie  State  of  his 
nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Pickaway 
County,  on  the  17th  of  October,  182/).  He  is  one 
of  fourteen  children,  six  sons  and  eight  daughters, 
who  grew  to  mature  years  and  became  heads  of 
families.  Three  sons  and  five  daughters  are  yet 
living  at  this  writing.  The  father,  Joshua  Trickel, 
was  Ijorn  and  reared  in  Virginia  and  there  wed- 
ded Mary  Ileaton,  a  native  of  Ohio.  For  a  few 
years,  he  engaged  in  farming  in  Pickaway  County 
and  then  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Danville. 
This  was  in  1827.  After  a  residence  there  of  four 
years,  he  removed  to  Champaign  Countj'  and  lo- 
cated near  Urbana,  where  he  opened  up  and  im- 
proved a  farm,  residing  thereon  for  about  seven 
3ears.  In  1840,  he  came  to  what  is  now  Ford 
County  and  settled  at  Trickel's  Crove,  where  he 
again  engaged  in  agricultural  inirsuits  and  made 
his  home  until  his  death.  His  wife  survived  him 
only  a  few  3ears. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  six  summers  when 
with  his  parents  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  this 
State  he  was  reared  to  manhood.  No  event  of 
special  importance  occurred  during  his  childhood. 
He  had  very  limited  educational  privileges,  as  he 
had  to  go  three  miles  to  school,  and  had  to  walk 
on  crutches,  for  he  was  crippled.  He  remained 
with  his  mother  until  her  death,  and  then  contin- 
ued to  carry  on  the  farm  for  a  year,   when  he  pur- 


364 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


chased  a  tract  of  land  where  he  now  resides.  It 
has  since  been  liis  liome,  and  tlie  improvements 
found  thereon  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift 
and  industry.  He  first  Ijougiit  eighty  acres,  which 
he  cleared,  plowed  and  planted,  also  built  fences 
and  otlierwise  improved  it.  He  afterward  pur- 
chased an  adjoining  forty  acres,  and  subsequently 
another  eighty-acre  tract,  making  in  all  a  valuable 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  is  located  five 
miles  southwest  of  tlie  city  of  Paxton. 

In  Champaign  County,  on  the  7tli  of  January, 
1857,  Mr.  Trickel  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Alexander  Henry,  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  of  Iroquois  County.  The 
lady  was  born  in  Lawrence  County,  Ind.,  and  in 
her  infancy  was  brought  to  Illinois,  where  the 
days  of  her  maidenhood  were  passed.  Twelve 
children  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Trickel,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Sarah  E., 
now  the  wife  of  John  Fitzgerald,  of  Ford  County; 
William  C,  a  resident  farmer  of  this  county;  Ed- 
ward, who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Minnesota; 
Mary,  wife  of  Matt  (Jdell,  of  Paxton;  Ida,  wife  of 
Charles  Anderson,  of  Ford  County;  Thomas  Dud- 
ley, who  aids  his  father  in  operating  the  home 
farm;  and  Harry  Clark,  tiie  >-oungest  of  the  fam- 
ily. Of  tliose  deceased,  three  died  in  infancy-; 
Francis  Marion  died  October  7,  1883,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years;  and  Carny  died  at  the  age  of 
se\^n  months. 

Ml'.  Trickel  is  an  old  Jackson  Democrat  and  a 
stanch  advocate  of  the  principles  of  that  partly. 
He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Martin  Van 
Buren  before  he  had  attained  liis  majority.  He 
commenced  life  a  poor  man,  witliout  capital,  save 
an  enter[irising  disi)Osition,  3'et  is  now  one  of  the 
thrifty  and  well-to-do  farmeis  of  Patton  Town- 
ship. His  success  is  not  due  to  any  good  luck,  but 
is  the  result  of  his  own  industiy,  good  manage- 
ment and  the  exercise  of  correct  business  princi- 
ples. He  is  straightforwai'd  and  honest  in  all  that 
he  does  and  has  the  confidence  of  the  entire  com- 
munity. He  has  long  made  his  home  in  P'ord 
County,  and  has  tluis  been  an  eye-witness  of  al- 
most its  entire  growth,  has  seen  the  advance  of 
progress  and  civilization  and  has  aided  largely  in 
its  development.     Much    is  due    the  early  settlers 


who  bore  all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  pioneer 
life  to  make  homes  in  the  Far  West,  and  were  thus 
founders  of  the  county.  Amcmg  these  was  Mr. 
Trickel  and  we  take  pleasure  in  presenting  this 
brief  record  of  his  life  to  our  readers. 

OIIN  II.  MOXTZ  has  for  seventeen  years 
been  identified  with  the  interests  of  Ford 
County  and  is  a  practical  and  progressive 
agriculturist,  residing  on  section  33,  Lj-- 
man  Township.  A  native  of  Germany,  he  was 
born  in  Hesse  Cassel,  April  13.  1847,  and  is  the 
eldest  in  a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters. 
His  brother  Luther  is  a  stone  and  brick  mason, 
residing  in  Roberts.  He  married  Miss  Yanda 
Sliambrook,  and  they  are  members  of  the  Mctliod- 
ist  Cliurch.  The  father  of  our  subject  crossed 
the  briny  (lee|)  in  185(1,  landing  at  Baltimore, 
whence  he  went  lo  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  where  he 
resided  for  tliuty-seven  years.  He  and  his  wife 
now  make  their  home  with  their  son  John.  They 
are  hale  and  hearty  old  people,  and  are  members 
of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 

Our  subject  was  onl}'  three  years  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  America.  He  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  but  b}'  reading  and 
observation  lias  made  himself  a  well-informed 
man,  who  can  converse  readil.y  and  fluently  on 
the  current  topics  of  the  day.  He  resided  in  the 
Keystone  State  until  he  was  tliirt3"-two  years  of 
age,  when,  in  1870,  he  came  with  his  family  to 
Ford  County,  which  was  then  a  swampy  region, 
containing  more  water  than  land. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1871,  Mr.  Montz  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Hoover,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  daugliter  of  Mich- 
ael and  Susanna  (Etter)  Hoover.  Unto  them  have 
been  born  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Mintie  V., 
Maggie  S.,  Anna  Florence,  Irwin  Y.,  John  II., 
Cliarlie,  Roy  and  Clarence  M.  The  parents  are  de- 
vout members  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Roberts, 
and  Mr.  INIontz  lias  been  a    leader  of  the  choir  for 


A.^ 


Q-#;^^^^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


367 


seven  years.  He  has  also  been  closely  identified 
with  the  .Sunday-Sfhool  work  and  has  acted  as 
delegate  to  the  county  conventionsof  the  Sunday- 
school  many  times.  lie  has  been  Steward  and 
Trustee  of  tiie  church  for  many  years,  and  is  As- 
sistant Suijerintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  His 
consistent  Christian  life  has  won  him  thehigh  reg.ard 
and  confidence  of  all.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stalwart 
Rci)ul)lican  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  George  B.  McClelland.  The  cause  of  edu- 
cation finds  in  him  a  warm  friend, and  while  serv- 
ing for  nine  years  as  one  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
he  has  done  effective  service  for  the  schools  of 
this  community.  Socially,  he  belongs  to  the 
Meadow  JNIound  Grange,  of  which  he  is  now  Sec- 
retary. Of  a  benevolent  disi)Osition,  he  gives 
liberally  to  charities  and  his  aid  is  never  withheld 
from  any  interest  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefil  and  promote  the  general  welfare. 


^  ON.  .JONATHAN  P.  MIDDLECOFF,  presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  the  Paxton 
ISrick  and  Tile  Company  and  of  the  Paxton 
^S^J  Canning  Company,  is  one  of  the  prominent 
business  men  of  Ford  County,  having  resided  in 
Paxton  since  the  pioneer  days  of  the  city.  He  was 
born  in  Richmond,  Ind.,  on  the  20th  of  February, 
1838.  His  parents,  Daniel  and  Theresa  (New- 
comer) Middlecoff,  were  natives  of  Maryland,  the 
father  born  in  1800,  and  the  mother  in  1809.  On 
removing  from  that  State  in  1827,  they  located  in 
Indiana,  where  they  resided  until  1849,  which  year 
saw  them  residents  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  Mr. 
Middlecoff,  Sr.,  carried  on  the  wholesale  grocery 
business  for  many  years,  and  in  1861,  came  to  Ford 
County,  III.,  locating  in  Patton  Townsiiip,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  18C6.  His  wife  still  survives 
him  and  now  resides  in  Paxton. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years  when  he 
i-emoved  with  his  parents  from  Indiana  to  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  attended  the  city  schools  and  later 
pursued  his  educaticni  in  St.  .John's  College  and 
Farmers'  College  of  Ohio.     In    1857,  he  came   to 


Illinois  and  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  Ludlow,  Champaign  County,  where  he  remained 
until  18fi2,  when  he  removed  to  his  farm  in  Ford 
County.  He  then  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Paxton  and  opened  a 
hardware  store,  which  he  carried  on  for  sevei'al 
years.  In  1881,  he  became  associated  with  C.  Bogar- 
dus,  P.  Whitmer  and  F.  L.  Cook  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  drain  tile  and  brick,  under  the  style  of  the 
Paxton  Brick  and  Tile  Companj',  of  which  he  was 
chosen  president  and  general  manager  and  has 
since  continued  to  hold  that  position  up  to  the 
present  time,  covering  a  period  of  eleven  years. 
During  this  time,  the  company  has  prospered  and 
has  built  uji  a  large  and  successful  business,  which 
has  not  only  benefited  the  proprietors  but  has 
proved  a  lasting  advantage  to  the  farmers  in  the 
vicinity.  In  1888,  he  helped  to  organize  the  Pax- 
ton Canning  Company,  of  which  he  is  president 
and  general  manager,  and  which  has  now  been  in 
successful  operation  for  four  years,  and  in  addition 
to  his  manufacturing  interests  above  alluded  to,  he 
has  an  extensive  real-estate  property,  including 
several  valuable  farms  and  city  property. 

In  .January,  1864,  Mr.  Middlecoff  was  married 
in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Fox,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Fox,  the  original  starch  manufac- 
turer. The  lady  is  a  native  of  Cincinnati  and  in 
that  city  her  education  was  acquired.  Three  chil- 
dren were  born  of  their  union,  hut  ail  are  now  de- 
ceased. Alice,  the  eldest,  died  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen months;  Samuel  died  at  the  age  of  twentj^-two 
months;  while  Addle,  who  lived  to  be  an  accom- 
plished and  attractive  young  woman,  died  March 
y,  1891. 

In  polities,  Mr.  Middlecoff  is  a  Republican.  He 
was  several  times  elected  Supervisor  of  Patton 
Township,  serving  as  such  during  the  years  1866, 
1867,  1872,  1877,  and  1878.  The  two  Last  years, 
he  was  chairman  of  the  County  Board.  In  1872, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Twent3--eighth 
General  Assembly,  .where  he  served  on  the  Com- 
mittees on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds,  and 
Corporations,  aI»o  on  the  Committee  on  County 
and  Township  Organizations,  and  proved  a  useful 
and  inlluential  member  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives.    He  has  twice  served  as  Mayor  of   Paxton 


368 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  has  ever  been  active  in  the  promotion  of  the 
citj's  best  interests.  It  was  during  his  second 
term  as  !aa\or  that  the  city  established  its  present 
effleient  s^'Stem  of  water-worlvs.  Mv.  Middlecoflf  is 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Rice  Col- 
legiate Institute  of  Paxton.  A  Knight  Templar 
Mason,  he  holds  meml)ership  with  Paxton  Lodge 
No.  416,  A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter  No.  113, 
R.  A.  M.;  and  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery  No.  38,  K. 
T.  Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  of  Paxton,  of  which  Mr. 
IMiddlecoff  is  a  trustee. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  tell  the  reader  who  has 
perused  tliis  sketch  to  this  point  that  its  subject  is 
a  busy  and  useful  meml)er  of  society;  the  extent 
and  variety  of  his  business  relations  will  indicate 
that.  Tliat  he  is  possessed  of  good  executive  a.nA 
business  aliility  is  conceded  by  all  who  know  him, 
and  that  integrity  and  fair  and  honorable  dealing 
have  won  the  resjiect  of  his  fellow-citizens  and 
also  have  proved  a  powerful  factor  in  ])romoting 
the  substantial  success  in  life  that  has  crowned  his 
efforts. 


^>^<m^-^- 


LBERT  .J.  POOL,  one  of  the  extensive 
land  owners  and  a  representative  farmer 
of  Button  Township,  residing  on  section 
6,  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  this 
State,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  La  Salle  County, 
March  18,  1849.  His  father,  William  Pool,  was 
born  in  England,. June  16,  1824,  and  with  his  father, 
Joseph  Pool,  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1833, 
when  a  lad  of  nine  summers.  The  family  located 
in  Clinton  County,  N.  Y.,  and  after  a  number  of 
years  came  West,  in  1847,  locating  in  La  Salle 
County.  There  the  father  of  our  subject  attained 
his  majority,  and  after  spending  the  summer  here, 
returned  to  the  Empire  State,  where  lie  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Smith,  who  was  born  in 
New  York. 

In  1847,  AVilliam  Pool  and  his  wife,  accompanied 
by  his  parents,  came  to  the  West  and  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  La  Salle  County.  He  there  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  prairie  land, 


upon  which  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an 
improvement  made,  but  he  developed  a  good  farm 
and  made  a  pleasant  home,  although  in  the  earlier 
years  he  bore  all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  frontier 
life.  All  the  supplies  for  the  family  had  to  b^ 
hauled  from  Chicago  with  ox-teams  and  the  farm 
products  taken  there  for  sale.  Mr.  Pool  is  still 
living  on  the  old  homestead,  an  honored  pioneer 
and  highly  respected  citizen  of  that  communit}'. 
He  is  now  living  retired,  his  two  sons  operating  his 
land. 

In  the  usual  niaiiner  of  farmer  lads  our  subject 
spent  the  d.a3's  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  remain- 
ing with  his  parents  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jority. He  received  good  educational  advantages, 
having  been  a  student  at  the  Ottawa  High  School, 
after  which  he  took  a  complete  commercial  course 
and  then  engaged  in  teaching  for  one  year  in  the 
Commercial  College.  He  continued  his  farming 
operations  in  La  Salle  County  until  1873,  wiien  he 
came  to  Ford  County  and  settled  upon  the  land 
which  is  now  his  home.  He  had  purchased  it  in 
1867,  a  wild  and  unbroken  tract,  but  his  arduous 
labors  soon  transformed  the  place  into  a  product- 
ive farm,  the  value  of  which  has  been  greatly  in- 
creased 1)3'  the  many  improvements  placed  thereon. 
Mr.  Pool  now  owns  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight 
acres  of  good  land,  well  tilled  and  fenced,  upon 
which  is  a  neat  and  substantial  dwelling,  good 
barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and  all  the  accesso- 
ries of  a  model  farm. 

In  1872,  in  La  Salle  County,  Mr.  Pool  married 
Miss  Lucy  A.  Crook,  a  most  estimable  lady,  and  a 
daughter  of  Sylvan  us  Crook,  one  of  the  well-known 
pioneers  and  substantial  farmers  of  La  Salle 
County,  where  he  located  in  1837.  By  this  union 
were  born  four  children:  William  C,  who  is  now 
attending  Paxton  College;  Harry  A.,  Rali>li  and 
Ethel.  Mrs  Pool  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Clarence  and  although  not  a  member, 
Mr.  Pool  contributes  liberally  to  its  support  and 
also  gives  freely  of  his  means  to  charitable  and 
benevolent  enterprises.  The  cause  of  education 
finds  in  him  a  warm  friend  and  his  support  is 
never  withheld  from  any  interest  calculated  to 
promote  the  general  welfare.  He  is  indeed  a  val- 
ued citizen  of  the  community  and  one  most  highly 


f 


>^-^--^-7^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


369 


esteemeil  in  this  locality.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
Democrat,  but  of  late  years  has  been  independent, 
voting  for  the  man,  regardless  of  party  affiliations. 
His  residence  in  Ford  County  covers  a  period  of 
almost  twenty  years,  during  which  time  he  has 
won  many  friends  and  the  confidence  and  regard 
of  all  witli  whom  he  has  been  brought  in   contact. 

^SGOOD  THOMPSON  is  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Melvin,  resting  after  many  years  spent 
in  toil  and  labor  which  brought  him  the 
competence  whicii  now  enables  him  to  lay  aside  all 
business  cares.  We  have  in  our  subject  a  native 
of  the  Pine  Tree  State,  who  was  born  iu  Somerset 
County,  on  the  30tii  of  December,  1821.  His 
father,  James  Thompson, was  alsoanative  of  Maine, 
and  was  of  English  descent.  He  married  Sarah 
Bacon  and  they  became  the  parents  of  four  children, 
as  follows:  Timothy,  a  cooper  and  carpenter  bj' 
trade,  who  died  in  1884;  Osgood,  of  this  sketch; 
Lemuel,  who  died  iu  1850;  and  James,  a  resident 
farmer  of  IMaine.  The  mother  was  called  to  her 
final  home  in  1832,  and  a  few  years  'ater  the  father 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Matilda  Stiles,  by  whom  he  had  five  children: 
Sarah,  wife  of  Benjamin  Moody;  Hannah  J.,  wife 
of  Robert  Sehaddock;  John,  a  farmer  of  Maine; 
Mary  E.  is  married  and  lives  in  Maine;  and  Lydia, 
wife  of  Albert  Small;  Arietta  is  married  and  lives 
in  Maine. 

The  educational  advantages  which  our  subject 
received  were  those  afforded  by  the  district  schools 
of  his  native  State,  which  he  attended  until  fifteen 
years  of  age.  He  tlien  began  learning  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  and  made  his  home  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  when  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself,  working  on  a  farm 
by  the  month  and  also  at  carpenter  work.  As  a 
companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey,  he  chose 
Miss  Hannah  W.  Wentwortli,  daugliter  of  Reuben 
and  Sarah  Wentworth,  the  marriage  ceremony  be- 
ing performed  on  the  18th  of  December,  1842. 

The  3'oung  coujile  began  their  domestic  life  in 
the  Pine  Tree  State  where  they  resided  until  1866, 


when  thej'  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  Highland, 
Grundy  County,  Mr.  Thompson  rented  land  and 
began  farming.  The  following  year,  be  Hime  to 
Ford  County,  purchased  eighty  acres  of  raw  land 
in  Wall  township  and  made  some  improvements 
thereon,  after  which  he  returned  to  Grundy  County, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1869.  In  that 
year  he  brought  his  family  to  the  farm  in  Wall 
township,  and  now  devoted  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  its  cultivation.  His  fields  were  well 
tilled  and,  in  consequence,  abundant  harvests  re- 
warded his  efi'orts,  so  that  in  the  course  of  time  he 
was  enabled  to  lay  by  some  money  and  is  now  the 
possessor  of  a  competence.  After  carrying  on 
general  farming  for  some  time,  he  purchased  prop- 
erty in  Melvin  and,  as  before  stated,  is  there  living 
a  retired  life. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  been  born  a 
family  of  seven  children,  namely:  William,  who  is 
a  retired  farmer  of  Mindeu,  Neb.;  Frederick  G., 
district  sergeant  in  one  of  the  police  stations  in 
Chicago;  Ann  B.,  at  home;  RovelloG.,  a  farmer  re- 
siding in  Grund3'  County,  111.;  James  S.,  who  oc- 
cupies the  position  of  overseer  in  the  tile  factory 
of  Melvin;  May,  wife  of  Charles  Vananthro]),  also 
a  resident  of  Melvin;  and  Byron  O.,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Chicago. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  Repub- 
lican, have  long  supported  that  party,  although  he 
has  never  sought  or  desired  public  office.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
he  is  a  worthy  and  respected  citizen  of  Ford  County, 
where  he  has  now  made  his  home  for  about  twentj'- 
three  years.  He  has  lived  the  (juietand  unobtrusive 
life  of  a  farmer  but  his  true  worth  has  been  recog- 
nized by  the  high  esteem  which   is   tendered  him. 


_y 


(^p^IMOTHY  ROSS,  a  grain  merchant  and  a 
/^>;,  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors 
^^^  from  Drummer  Township,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Ford  County  for  twenty-six  years  and  for 
nineteen  years  has  made  his  home  in  Gibson  City. 
Mr.  Ross  is  a  native  of  the   Keystone   State,  born 


370 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  Greene  County  on  the  18th"  of  October,  1846, 
and  is  a  son  of  Abuer  and  INIarinda  (McClelland) 
Ross,  wl#  were  of  Scoteli  and  Irish  descent,  respect- 
ively, but  of  American  ancestry  many  generations 
remote.  His  parents  both  died  while  our  subject 
was  hut  a  child.  He  was  only  seven  \ears  of  age 
when  he  lost  his  mother,  who  died  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  fattier  died  in  Iowa  when  he  was  ten  3'ears 
old. 

Timothy  Ross  was  brought  up  by  an  uncle  in  his 
native  State  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen 
years.  He  then  solicited  and  received  the  amount 
of  his  patrimony,  $200,  with  which  he  determined 
to  gratify  a  craving  to  see  the  West  and  seek  an 
opportunity  to  make  his  way  in  the  world.  In  pur- 
suance of  this  desire,  he  made  his  way  to  Chicago  in 
1866, but  soon  afterward  continued  his  journey  to 
Ludlow,  where  he  made  the  acquaintance  of  Thomas 
Stevens,  an  extensive  farmer  and  prominent  stock- 
man of  Champaign  County.  The  acquaintance 
l)roving  mutually  agreeable,  he  engaged  to  work 
for  ^Ir.  Stevens,  whose  home  was  just  to  the  south 
and  near  the  Ford  County  line.  He  continued 
in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Stevens  until  1869,  when  he 
entered  upon  the  business,  but  still  made  his  home 
with  that  gentleman  for  four  j'ears,  when  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  grain  business,  in  1873.  in 
Gibson  Citj'. 

On  the  30th  of  September,  1875,  Mr.  Ross  was 
united  in  marriage  at  the  home  of  her  father  in 
Drummer  Township,  Ford  County,  to  Miss  Julia 
A.  Stevens,  her  father  being  the  earl}'  friend  and 
employer  of  her  husband.  Mrs.  Ross  was  born  in 
Champaign  Count}',  111.,  and  her  motlier's  maiden 
name  was  Hannah  Catherine.  Four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ross:  Charles  E.,  Beulah  May,  William  Chalmers 
and  Clella,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Gibson  City. 
In  political  sentiment,  our  subject  affiliates  with 
the  Republican  party  and  has  held  a  number  of 
official  positions,  proving  a  faithful  and  efficient 
officer.  He  has  been  School  Director  and  Village 
Trustee  and  was  appointed  Supervisor  for  Drum- 
mer Township  on  the  1st  of  June,  1891,  being 
elected  his  own  successor  in  April  of  the  following 
year,  without  opposition,  for  a  term  of  two  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  present  Village  Board  and 


Director  of  the  school  district.  Socially,  he  is  a 
Mason,  holding  menibershii)  with  Gibson  Lodge 
No.  733  A.  F.  &  A.  INI.;  Gilison  Chapter  No.  183 
R.  A.  M.,  and  Mt.  Olivet  Commander}'  No.  38 
K.  T.,  of  Paxton.  Mr.  Ross  has  a  line  farm  of  two 
luindred  and  eighty  acres,  situated  in  Brown 
Township,  Champaign  County,  which  he  rents. 
He  has  been  in  the  grain  business  for  fourteen 
years  and  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  trade. 
He  is  now  buying  at  four  different  stations  besides 
Gibson  City,  namely:  Harpster,  Guthrie  and  Lud- 
low, on  the  Illinois  Central,  and  Garber  on  the 
Wabash  Railroad.  The  grain  bought  consists  of 
corn  and  oats,  and  the  aggregate  annual  business 
amounts  to  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
bushels.  Mr.  Ross  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  the  county  and  highly  respected  throughout  the 
community. 


OIIN  C.  AMM  is  one  of  the  widely-known 
and  highly  respected  farmers  of  Patton 
j_-^.  Township,  his  home  being  on  section  35, 
'^^  where  he  has  a  valuable  farm.  We  are 
pleased  to  record  a  sketch  of  his  life  in  this  work, 
for  we  know  it  will  be  received  with  interest  by 
his  many  friends  in  this  community.  Mr.  Amm 
was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  on  the  21st  of  Ma}', 
1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Amm,  also  a  native  of 
Bavaria.  The  father  there  grew  to  manhood,  was 
married  and  reared  his  family.  He  never  left  the 
land  of  his  birth,  but  there  followed  farming 
throughout  his  entire  life. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  children, 
eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached 
the  years  of  maturity.  At  the  age  of  six,  he  en- 
tered the  public  schools,  where  he  remained  until 
a  youth  of  fourteen.  In  1853,  when  a  young  man 
of  nineteen  years,  he  bade  good-bye  to  his  old  home 
and  started  out  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  New 
World.  It  was  the  5  th  of  June  that  he  sailed 
from  Bremen,  and  on  the  lltli  of  August,  he  ar- 
rived in  Baltimore,  Md.,  after  a  pleasant  voyage 
of  sixty-seven  days.  He  did  not  pause  long,  how- 
ever,   in  Baltimore,  but  went  directly  to    Preble 


i 


Ji^^/0^^^ 


<9:  e^«-ci-^ 


I'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


375 


County,  Ohio,  where  he  secured  work  in  building 
stone  fences.  He  then  worked  upon  a  farni  bj' 
the  month  for  three  years,  .after  whii'h,  in  185(), 
lie  came  to  Illinois. 

Mr.  Amm's  first  location  in  Illinois  was  made 
in  Shelb.y  County,  where  he  continued  to  work  as 
a  f.irm  hand,  by  the  month,  for  a  year,  when,  in 
1857,  he  went  to  Peoria  County.  Three  years 
Later  we  find  him  a  resident  of  Tazewell  Count}^ 
where  he  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand  for  four 
years.  He  had  been  industrious  and  economical  in 
all  this  time  and  thus  havina:  .accumulated  some 
capital,  in  1864  he  m.ade  his  first  purchase  of  land, 
bu3'ing  an  improved  farm  of  ninety  acres,  which 
he  operated  for  three  years.  On  the  ex[)iratiun  of 
that  time  he  removed  to  Logan  County  and  rented 
a  farm  for  four  years.  It  was  in  1874  that  Mr. 
Amm  came  to  Ford  County  and  bought  a  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acre  tr.ict,  the  same  upon  which  he 
now  resides.  It  was  then  but  slightly  improved, 
but  he  cleared  and  broke  the  land,  planted  crops, 
and  the  fertile  fields  were  soon  3'ielding  him 
abundant  harvest.  He  has  erected  good  buildings 
and  the  Amm  homestead,  which  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated five  miles  from  Paxton,  is  considered  one  of 
the  valuable  farms  in  the  township. 

While  residing  in  Tazewell  County,  Mr.  Aram 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hannah  J., 
daughter  of  .Jesse  and  Emily  M.  (Davis)  Dillon. 
Her  father,  a  native  of  Ohio,  w.as  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Tazewell  Count}-,  where  the  daugh- 
ter was  born.  Their  union  was  celebrated  on  the 
5th  of  September,  186.5,  and  has  been  blessed  with 
a  family  of  five  children:  John  Henry,  wlio  is 
now  married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Champaign 
County;  Leo  Leroy,  who  is  living  on  an  adjoining 
farm  in  Ford  County;  Saphrona  Alice,  Mar}-  and 
Thomas  Davis,  who  complete  the  family.  They 
have  also  lost  two  children:  Theresa  A.,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seven  months;  and  Martin  L.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amm  are  memliers  of  the  Christian 
Church  of  Ludlow,  and  are  highl}-  respected  peo- 
ple, esteemed  for  their  many  excellencies  of  char- 
acter. In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  having  sup- 
ported thatparty  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has  served  for 
16 


nine  consecutive  years  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board,  and  the  cause  of  education  has  found  in 
him  a  warm  and  faithful  friend.  In  the  summer 
of  1891,  he  made  a  trij)  to  (icrmany  and  visited 
his  old  home  and  the  scenes  of  his  youth.  lie 
thus  spent  two  months  very  pleasantly,  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  home. 


AURICE  II.  WE.WER  is  the  owner  of  a 
fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  situated 
on  sections  15  and  22,  Wall  Township,  and 
his  landed  possessions  here  and  elsewhere 
aggregate  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  is  a 
prominent  and  representative  farmer  of  the  com- 
munity and  one  who  has  a  wide  .acquaintance 
throughout  the  countj-.  He  was  born  on  the  19th 
of  August,  1833,  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  .and  is 
a  son  of  Henry  and  Louise  (Si)encer)  Weaver.  His 
father  was  born  in  the  Empire  State,  .lanuary  6, 
1804,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  liimself  and  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  His  death 
occurred  February  22,1846,  and  his  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  cemetery  of  Deerfield  Corners,  Oneida 
County,  where  a  l)eautiful  monument  marks  his 
last  resting  place.  His  wife  was  born  in  New  Eng- 
land, October  6,  1807,  came  to  the  West  in  1874, 
and  spent  her  remaining  days  with  her  son  jNIau- 
ricc.  She  died  July  6,  1888,  and  was  buried  in 
Ijoda  Cemetery. 

Their  family  numbered  six  children,  four  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Catherine  E.,  wife  of  John  K. 
Gray,  a  speculator  and  gardener  of  Oneida  County, 
N.  Y.;  Albert,  who  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war  as  a  member  of  a  New  York  regiment,  died  in 
Ford  County;  George  Henry  died  in  New  York; 
Maria  Louisa,  wife  of  Josejih  Mansfield,  is  living 
in  Toledo,  Ohio;  Maurice  is  the  next  younger;  and 
Joseph  H.,  who  has  also  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits, resides  with  his  brother  Maurice. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  feeling  that  it  will  prove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers,  .as  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known.     Nothing  occurred  to  vary  the  monotony 


376 


POETEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  bis  boyhood  days,  which  were  spent  upon  his 
father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  district 
schools  until  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  a  lad  of  fourteen  ^ears. 
after  which  he  went  to  live  with  one  of  his  uncles. 
On  leaving  school,  he  began  life  for  himself  and 
for  five  years  worked  as  a  farm  hand  at  $8  per 
month.  In  1855,  he  went  to  Ottawa,  III.,  where 
he  worked  upon  a  farm  for  one  year,  and  it  was 
thus  that  he  got  his  start  in  life.  Ho  next  rented 
land  near  Ottawa,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
1865,  when  he  purchased  an  eighty-acre  farm  with 
the  means  he  had  accumulated  through  his  own 
laliors.  He  afterward  sold  out  at  an  advance  and 
then  purchased  sixty-five  acres.  Upon  that  farm 
he  continued  to  make  his  home  until  1870,  when 
he  sold  and  came  to  Ford  County,  purchasing  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  sections  15  and  22,  Wall 
Township.  There  he  has  made  his  home  continu- 
ously since,  covering  a  period  of  more  than  twenty- 
two  years.  He  is  truly  a  self-made  man.  He  com- 
menced life  empty-handed  but  has  prospered  since 
coming  to  this  county,  his  l)usiness  ventures  have 
proved  successful  and  he  is  now  the  owner  of  five 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  all  situated  in 
Wall  Township. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1860,  Mr.  Weaver  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Nancy  Snelling,  who  was 
born  March  8, 1842,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Shaver)  Snelling.  Her  father  was  born 
near  Culpeper  Court  House,  Va.,  March  11,1812, 
and  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner  by  trade,  but  fol- 
lowed farming  through  much  of  his  life.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1840,  and  in  184',>,  attracted  by  the 
discovery  of  gold  in  California,  went  across  the 
plains  with  an  ox-team  and  remained  on  the  Pacific 
slope  for  twenty-two  months.  The  trip  was  very 
successful,  and  he  returned  home  by  way  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Missis- 
sippi River.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat.  His 
wife  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Nancy  (Grove) 
Shaver,  both  of  whom  were  of  German  extraction. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snelling  were  born  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  five  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Mrs.  Weaver,  of  this  sketch ;  .fames,  who  resides  in 
Wall  Townshi|)  and  is  represented  elsewhere  in 
this   work;  David,   who   is   mairied   and   follows 


farming  in  La  Salle  County;  Annis,  wife  of  Hale 
Francis,  a  resident  farmer  of  La  Salle  County; 
George,  who  was  graduated  from  the  Wesleyan  Law 
School  of  rsioomington,  is  now  married  and  en- 
gages in  the  practice  of  his  |)rofession  in  Anthony, 
Kan.  There  are  two  children  now  deceased:  Eliza- 
beth, who  w.as  educated  in  (Jalesburg,  was  a  suc- 
cessful teacher  and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight; 
and  Olive,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  h.as  been  born  a  son, 
John  Henry,  who  aids  his  father  in  the  operation 
of  the  home  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Paxton,  the  Paxton  Collegiate  Institute, 
the  Normal  of  that  place,  and  in  1887  and  1888, 
was  a  student  in  the  State  Normal  University.  He 
has  been  one  of  Ford  County's  successful  teachers 
and  also  taught  in  JIcLean  County.  He  married 
Miss  Allie  Augustine,  a  native  of  Pontiac,  111., 
their  union  being  celebrated  Februaiy  23,  1892. 
The  lady  was  educated  in  the  Normal  University 
of  Normal  and  w.as  a  teacher  of  recognized  ability. 
The  young  couple  are  people  of  high  social  stand- 
ing in  the  community.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  have 
also  had  Miss  Lenora  Gibson  with  them  since  she 
was  five  and  a  half  years  of  age.  .She  is  a  most 
estimable  young  lady  and  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church  of  Wall  Township. 

The  Weaver  household  is  the  aliode  of  hospital- 
ity and  its  members  rank  high  in  social  circles  for 
they  possess  that  true  worth  of  character  which 
entitles  everyone  to  respect.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions, Mr.  Weaver  is  a  Democrat  but  has  never  been 
a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office-seeking.  He  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  James  Buchanan  and 
his  son  voted  first  for  Grover  Cleveland  and  is  a 
warm  advocate  of  the  Democracy. 


ILLIAM  CYRUS  WRIGHT,  a  member  of 
w/  '''"^  '^"^  ^^  Cooper  &  Wright,  dealers  in 
^^  lumber,  of  Roberts,  was  born  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  February  25,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  and  Melinda  (Bayne)  Wright.  The  father 
was  born  in  Biown  County,  Ohio,  January  21,  1808, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


and  in  early  life  engaged  in  carding  wool,  but 
afterward  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which 
occupation  lie  followed  in  Decatin,  Ohio.  In  liS/il, 
he  started  Westward  with  his  family,  their  destina- 
tion being  Washington,  III.  Mr.  Wright  purchased 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  partially-  improved 
land,  but  after  some  years  removed  to  C'enterville, 
Iowa,  in  1883.  and  his  death  occurred  on  the  1st  of 
June,  following.  He  always  voted  with  the  Re- 
pnltlican  party  and  was  a  stalwart  supporter  of  its 
principles.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church.  Siie  was  born  September  14, 
1810,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventj'-five  years. 
Both  patents  were  buried  in  C'enterville,  Iowa. 

Their  family  numbered  seven  children,  four  sons 
and  three  daughters,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Carey  C,  a  retired  farmer  who  resides  with  his  fam- 
ily in  Ottawa,  Kan.;  Eleanor  E.,  deceased;  Samuel 
N.,  who  is  married  and  is  foreman  in  the  round 
house  of  the  Texas  &  Pacific  Railroad,  his  home 
being  in  Dallas, Tex.;  William,  of  this  sketch;  Julia 
A.,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching;  .lolin  T.,  who  fol- 
lows farming  in  South  Dakota;  and  ]\Iargaret  E., 
who  is  also  living  in  Rapids  Cit^'. 

Under  the  parental  roof,  our  subject  spent  his 
boyhood  days,  leaving  home  on  attaining  his  ma- 
jority. He  was  married  October  17,  1876,  the  lad^y 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jennie  C.  Wilson,  a  native 
of  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  and  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Susan  P.  McCannahan.  She  is  a  well-educated 
lady  and  prior  to  her  marriage  engaged  in  teaching. 
Unto  them  were  born  five  children:  Julia  B.,  who 
is  studying  music;  Linnie  P.  and  Morna  E.,  who 
are  attending  school;  Jesse  M.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  four  years;  and  Wilson  Bayne,  who  completes 
the  family. 

Prior  to  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wright  went  to  C'he- 
noa,  in  1870,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Yates 
Township,  where  he  spent  ten  j'ears.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Gardner,  (Jrundy  County,  111.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  his  uncle,  M. 
Bayne.  After  one  year  he  bought  out  his  uncle's 
interest  and  carried  on  business  alone  very  success- 
fully for  five  and  a  half  years.  He  also  had  an  in- 
terest in  a  lumber  yard  in  Winona,  111.  In  1887, 
he  sold  his  business  in  Gardner  to  Harry  Snyder, 
and  on  coining  to  Roberts  bought   out  Lisk  Bros., 


dealers  in  hardware,  lumber,  and  furniture.  He 
continued  to  operate  in  those  lines  until  July, 
1891,  when  he  sold  the  hardware  and  furniture  to 
Landel  it  Son  and  soon  afterward  admitted  A. 
Cooper  toi)artnerslii|)  in  the  lumlicr  business,  whrle 
at  the  same  time  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
agricultural  implement  business  of  Thompson  & 
Co.,  Mr.  Cooper  being  the  company,  and  the  firm 
of  Coojier  A  Wright  now  deal  in  coal,  lumber  and 
agricultural  implements.  They  also  carry  a  full 
line  of  wagons,  Iniggies,  surreys,  carriages,  carts, 
etc.  They  have  about  « 10,000  invested,  and  are 
numbered  among  the  leading  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness men  of  Roberts.  Their  fair  dealing  and  court- 
eous treatment  have  secured  them  a  liberal  patron- 
age. Mr.  Wright  is  recognized  .as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  communit}-  and  ranks  high 
in  business  circles. 


-^ '  '  y  •  I  '  6 


•T^-pi-r^ 


HRISTIAN  JACOB  BUCHNER,  an  early 
settler    of    Ford    County,    and    a    leading 

^^■'  blacksmith  of  Gibson  City,  does  general 
blaeksmithing,  carriage  and  machinery  repairing 
and  horse  shoeing.  He  w.as  born  in  the  State 
of  Wurlemlierg,  Germany,  September  8,  1835,  and 
is  a  son  of  Johannes  and  Christiana  Buchner, 
both  natives  of  that  country.  lie  acquired  his 
education  and  learned  his  trade  in  his  native  land, 
serving  a  regular  apjirenticeship. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1854,  Mr.  Buchner 
emigrated  to  America,  sailing  from  Antwerp  in  a 
sailing-vessel.  They  encountered  several  severe 
storms  and  after  nsuch  discomfort  and  considerable 
hardship,  in  a  voyage  of  forty-five  da^'S,  they 
reached  New  York  City.  On  arriving  in  the  New 
World,  Mr.  Buchner  found  employment  at  his 
trade,  working  in  JSTewark,  N.  J.,  until  May,  1855, 
when  he  went  to  Northumberland,  Pa.,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  same  occupation  for  one  year.  In 
185G,  he  removed  to  Chicago,  being  there  emploj-ed 
for  a  year  in  Wright's  Reaper  Factory,  where  he 
made  the  first  self-rake  used  in  the  country-.  On 
leaving  Chicago,  he  went  to  Champaign,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  building  cattle-guards  from  that 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  EIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


city  to  Danville,  on  the  line  of  the  Great  Western 
Railroad,  now  the  main  line  of  the  Wabash. 

The  winter  of  1856-57,  Mr.  Buclmer  spent  in 
a  shop  at  Homer,  and  the  following  spring  went 
to  Urbana,  where  for  six  months  he  worked  in  a 
machine  shop.  He  then  made  his  home  in  Big 
Grove,  Champaign  County,  until  Ma^'  23,  1858, 
when  he  located  at  Ten  Mile  Grove,  Patton  Town- 
ship, Ford  County,  and  engaged  as  a  journeyman 
in  the  blacksmith  shop  of  AVilliam  Trickel,  and 
continued  in  his  emplo.v  one  j^ear,  when  he  bought 
out  that  gentleman  and  carried  on  business  there 
for  six  years  on  his  own  account.  From  Ten 
Mile  Grove,  he  went  to  Paxton,  where  he  opened 
and  ran  a  shop  for  four  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  he  removed  to  Dix  Township,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm,  which  he  improved  and  culti- 
vated until  April,  1873,  when  he  came  to  Gibson 
City,  engaging  in  his  present  business,  and  has 
since  made  that  place  his  home. 

Mr.  Buclmer  was  joined  in  wedlock,  on  the  12th 
of  April,  1859,  in  Urbana,  Miss  Louise  Lohmann 
becoming  his  wife.  Mrs.  Buclmer  was  born  in 
Hanover,  Germany,  and  is  adaugliter  of  Christian 
and  Caroline  (Pieper)  Lohmann.  Her  fatlier  died 
in  the  old  country,  in  1857,  and  her  mother,  who 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1863,  lives  in  Cham- 
paign, ni.,  aged  ninety-two  years.  Mr.  Lohmann 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Mrs.  Buclmer  came 
to  America  with  her  brother  in  1855,  locating  at 
Chicago. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buchner  were  born  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  John  W.  died  at  the  age  of  twelve 
3'ears;  Viola  C.  died  in  her  second  year;  Louis  A. 
is  Secretary  of  the  International  Building  and 
Loan  Association  of  Gibson  City;  Charles  died 
when  fifteen  months  old;  Edward  F.  is  an  in- 
structor in  Yale  University,  and  Minnie  Etta  is 
pursuing*  post-graduate  course  in  music  in  Gotts- 
chalk  Lyric  School  at  Chicago. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buchner  are  members  of  the 
church  of  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  and  are  act- 
ive workers  in  the  Master's  vineyard.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Republican,  and  while  at  Ten  Mile  Grove 
served  as  School  Trustee  for  two  terms,  and  since 
coming  to  Gibson  City  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Village  Board  and  has  held  the  office  of  Trustee 


for  five  years  in  succession.  He  and  his  wife  own 
a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twent3-  acres, 
situated  in  Dix  Township.  Mr.  Buchner  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  to  the  citizens  of  Ford  and 
adjoining  counties,  as  an  industrious,  hard-working 
man,  who  has,  hj'  the  help  of  his  wife,  acquired  a 
valuable  property.  He  has  always  shown  a  warm 
interest  in  the  growth  and  improvement  of  the 
town,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  fellow-citizens 
for  his  integrity'  and  honesty  in  all  the  affairs  of 
life.  In  }-ears  to  come,  his  children  and  children's 
children  may  well  point  with  pride  to  this  record 
of  the  father,  and  also  of  the  grandfather,  who  is 
entitled  to  the  credit  of  being  the  founder  of  his 
family  in  America. 


€^ 


W?OHN  P.  SMITH  is  the  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Smitli  &  Ha|)l)ron,  grain  deal- 
ers of  Roberts.  He  was  born  in  Canada, 
.July  17,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  James  F. 
Smith,  an  honored  pioneer  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  He  acquired  his  education 
in  the  common  schools,  after  wliich  he  learned 
telegraphy  and  was  employed  as  telegraph  operator 
for  about  seven  years  in  Cornland,  111.,  on  the 
lUinoij  Central  Railroad.  He  commenced  life 
empty-handed,  having  only  an  industrious  dispo- 
sition and  a  pair  of  willing  hands,  but  by  his 
energy,  good  management  and  close  application  to 
business,  he  has  won  success. 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1880,  Mr.  Smith  married 
Miss  Sarah  N.  Day,  a  native  of  Logan  County,  111. 
Three  children  have  been  born  unto  them,  but  the 
son,  Clyde,  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years.  The 
two  daughters,  Edna  and  Delia,  twins,  eight  years 
of  age,  are  attending  school.  The  parents  rank 
high  in  social  circles  and  have  many  warm  friends 
throughout  the  community. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  Republican 
since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Ruther- 
ford B.  Hayes.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
Town  Council  since  its  organization  and  is  now 
President  of  the  Board.  He  w.as  one  of  the  mem- 
bers who  framed  the  constitution  of  the  village  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


379 


Roberts.  He  has  also  been  connected  witli  the 
School  Board  for  some  time  and  has  done  every- 
thing in  his  power  for  the  educational,  moral  and 
social  interests  of  the  community.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and 
take  quite  an  active  interest  in  its  growth  and 
upbuilding,  lieing  especially  active  in  Sundaj'- 
school  work. 

In  the  fall  of  l^M,  Mr.  Smith  embarked  in  the 
grain  business  in  Roberts,  erecting  a  new  elevator 
at  a  cost  of  ^4,000,  and  the  annual  shipments 
amount  to  one  hundred  thousand  bushels.  He 
has  met  with  signal  success  in  his  undertakings 
and  has  won  the  confidence  of  all  as  an  upright 
and  straightforward  business  man.  He  also  handles 
coal,  both  bituminous  and  anthracite.  He  owns  a 
pleasant  and  commodious  home  on  IMain  Street, 
besides  other  property  in  Roberts  and  Lyman 
Townshi]),  and  is  now  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances. He  is  a  worthy  representative  of  an 
honored  pioneer  family  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that 
we  present  his  sketch  to  our  readers. 


^^I@' 


•Q 


\^ 


RANZ    GOTTLIEB   LOHMAN,     who    has 

been  prominently  connected  with  the  edu- 
cational interests  of  Ford  County  and  is  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Roberts,  was  born  of  German 
parents  in  Watertown,  Wis.,  January-  7,  1849.  In 
the  summer  of  1851,  when  he  was  only  a  jear  and 
a  half  old,  Ijoth  his  parents  died  of  cholera,  which 
at  that  time  raged  with  unparalleled  fury.  Young 
Franz  was  now  left  to  the  care  of  his  grandfather, 
a  widower.  Without  doubt  he  loved  his  grand- 
child dearly  and  cared  for  him  tenderly,  but  he 
was  of  such  a  type  that  but  few  pleasures  entered 
into  the  early  life  of  the  3'oung  lad.  Indeed,  it  was 
the  grandfather's  ardent  desire  that  Franz  should 
become  a  German  Lutheran  minister. 

When  our  subject  was  nearly  thirteen  years  old, 
his  grandfather  died,  leaving  some  means  which  he 
had  set  aside  for  the  education  of  his  grandchild.  He 
was  accordingly  sent  to  a  select  school  for  a  j-ear 
and  then  entered  the  preparatory  department  of 
the  Northwestern    University   of   Watertown,   an 


institution  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lutheran 
Synod  of  Wisconsin.  Franz  was  bright  and  stud- 
ious and  before  he  was  seventeen  years  old  he  had 
successfully  passed  an  examination  for  the  fresh- 
man class,  but  the  means  for  furthering  his  educa- 
tion being  now  exhausted,  he  seized  upon  this  op- 
l>ortunitv  as  an  excuse  for  discontinuing  his  studies 
fitting  him  for  the  ministry,  as  he  was  averse  to 
making  that  profession  his  life  work.  So  he  left 
school,  notwithstanding  members  of  the  faculty  and 
private  citizens  proffered  him  aid. 

Mr.  Lohinan  now  entered  the  field  as  a  teacher, 
first  in  the  primary  department  of  a  (4ei'man  paro- 
chial school  in  Watertown,  Wis.,  and  afterward  as 
a  teacher  in  the  grammar  department  of  a  German 
school  in  Milwaukee.  His  health  liecoming  im- 
paired, he  returned  to  Watertown  and  accepted  a 
position  in  a  steam  sawmill,  where  he  had  worked 
during  vacations  and  in  his  bojhood  days.  In 
April,  1869,  he  was  attacked  with  hip  disease, 
which  dislocated  the  hip  joint  and  left  him  in  a 
somewhat  lame  condition.  Thinking  that  the 
climate  in  Wisconsin  was  too  severe,  he  came  to 
Ford  C'ounty,  III.,  where  he  worked  upon  a  farm 
for  several  years. 

In  August,  1878,  Mr.  Loliman  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Florence  Belle  McCann,  and 
by  their  union  have  been  born  two  sons  and  three 
daughters,  namely:  Sherrill  B.,  Leona  A.,  Howard 
A.,  Florence  B.  and  Adelaide  L.  The  parents  are 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  this  community. 

In  the  fall  of  1875,  Mr.  Loliman  again  entered 
the  ranks  of  teachers  and  was  exceptionally  suc- 
cessful in  his  work.  In  .June,  1882,  he  received 
the  nomination  for  Count}'  Superintendent  on  the 
Republican  ticket  and  was  elected  the  following 
November  by  a  large  majority.  Having  faithfully 
served  for  four  years,  he  was  again  elected  in 
1886.  Politically,  he  had  been  a  Republican,  but 
when  the  tariff  was  made  the  issue,  in  1888,  he 
voted  with  the  Democratic  party,  which  drew 
upon  him  the  hatred  of  the  leaders  of  the  party 
which  had  twice  nominated  and  elected  him.  In 
1890,  he  announced  himself  as  an  independent 
candidate  for  County  Superintendent,  and  was 
endorsed  by  the  People's  Convention.  Although 
the  Republican  majority  is  three  to  one,  Mr.  Loh- 


380 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGKAPHICAL   RECORD. 


man  was  defeated  by  only  twenty-five  votes, 
which  fact  indicates  his  personal  popularity,  not- 
withstanding his  withdrawal  from  the  old  partJ^ 
Since  that  time,  he  has  withdrawn  to  private  life. 
He  is  especially  successful  as  an  instructor  and  de- 
serves much  credit  for  what  he  has  done  for  the 
schools  of  Ford  Countv. 


<|  felLLIAM  KEITZMANX  owns  and  operates 
\/\j//  two  hundred  acres  of  arable  land  on  sec- 
W^  tion  9,  Wall  Township.  His  first  purchase 
of  land  in  this  county  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  but  he  has  since  bought  an  addi- 
tional forty-acre  tract.  His  farm  is  one  of  the  best 
in  the  neighborhood.  On  it  is  a  pleasant  home, 
good  barns  and  other  outbuildings  and  neat  rows 
of  liedge  fence.  He  also  has  the  latest  improved 
machinery  and  other  modern  conveniences  found 
upon  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  of  Ger- 
man birth  residing  in  Ford  Count}-.  He  was  born 
in  Prussia,  April  22,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael 
and  Wilhelmina  (Zabel)  Keitzmann.  His  father 
followed  farming  throughout  his  entii'e  life  and 
died  in  the  land  of  his  nativity.  His  mother  came 
to  America  in  1885,  and  spent  her  last  da3'S  in 
Roberts,  Ford  County.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Of  their  seven  children,  Au- 
gust is  now  living  in  Germany;  Julia  is  the  wife 
of  William  Guderjahn,  a  farmer  of  Wall  Township; 
William  is  the  next  younger;  Lewis  is  employed  in 
tlie  tile  factory  in  Melvin;  Augusta  is  the  wife  of 
August  Schultz,  a  farmer  of  Wall  Township;  Gus- 
tave  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  the 
same  township,  and  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Gustavo 
Sabel,  a  resident  farmer  of  L3'man  Township,  this 
county.  All  of  the  children  were  l)orn  in  Ger- 
many. 

The  educational  privileges  which  William  Keitz- 
mann received  were  those  afforded  bj'  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  land,  which  he  attended  until 
fourteen  j'cars  of  age,  after  which  he  worked  as  a 
farm  hand.     He  was  twent3'-seven   years   of   age 


when  he  bade  good-bye  to  his  old  home  and,  ac- 
companied by  Lewis  and  Augusta,  sailed  from 
Hamburg  to  New  York  in  1868,  where  he  arrived 
after  nine  days.  He  came  on  at  once  to  Illinois 
and  made  a  location  in  Marsliall  Count}-,  where  he 
worked  by  the  month  for  three  years.  He  then 
rented  land  and  engaged  in  fanning  for  himself 
for  four  years.  In  1874,  he  purchased  his  present 
farm  as  before  stated.  It  was  then  all  raw  prairie 
land  and  much  of  it  was  under  water.  Horses 
could  swim  where  the  tilled  fields  now  are  and  one 
would  not  then  have  imagined  that  the  ponds 
would  be  replaced  by  waving  fields  of  grain. 
With  $16,  Mr.  Keitzmann  had  begun  life  in  Am- 
erica but  he  also  possessed  an  indomitable  will  and 
energy  and  has  thereby  acquired  a  liaudsome  com- 
petence. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1874,  in  La  Salle 
Count}-,  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Emilia 
Schoenneshoefer,  daughter  of  a  German  phj-sician. 
She  was  born  in  the  Rhine  Province  of  Prussia, 
November  26,  1854,  and  cnme  to  America  in  1867. 
By  their  union  have  been  born  six  children:  Ilil- 
arius,  who  was  born  in  La  Salle  Countj-;  .Uilia, 
Otto,  Freddie,  Emaline,  and  William,  deceased,  at 
the  age  of  five  and  one  half  years,  all  born  in  this 
count}'.  The  parents  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and,  in  politics,  Mr.  Keitzmann  is  a  Re- 
publican, having  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Hayes.  He  has  served  as  School  Director  and  Com- 
missioner of  Highways,  also  as  Pathmaster,  and 
proved  an  efficient  and  competent  officer,  faith- 
fully discharging  his  duties. 

ylLLIAM  BOND,  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Bond  &  Reinhardt,  druggists,  is  one  of 
the  leading  business  men  of  Roberts,  and 
has  been  identified  with  the  history  of  Ford 
County  since  1864.  A  native  of  Manchester, 
Lancashire,  England,  he  was  born  February  4, 
1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Zacharia  and  Mary  (Dixon) 
Bond.  The  family  numbered  nineteen  children, 
of  whom  the  following  are  yet  living:  .John,  who 
IS  married  and  follows   fanning  in   Peach  Orchard 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


381 


Township;  Mary,  widow  of  John  Stone,  and  a 
resident  of  England;  Ellen,  widow  of  Thomas  Old- 
ham, residing  in  Roberts;  Eliza,  wife  of  Josej)h  Bar- 
rington,  a  packer  residing  in  Manchester;  Will- 
iam, who  is  the  eighteenth  in  order  of  birth;  and 
James,  who  is  married  and  is  a  veterinary  surgeon, 
of  Streator,  111.  Tlie  father  was  a  native  of 
Lancashire,  England,  and  a  cabinet-maker  by 
trade.  In  1859,  he  sailed  from  Liverjiool  to  Amer- 
ica, and  after  landing  in  New  York,  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Streator,  where  he  lived  retired 
until  his  death  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  His  wife 
died  in  her  native  land  at  about  the  age  of  tifty- 
six. 

Our  sul)ject  had  only  limited  educational  privi- 
leges, but  tlu'ough  his  own  efforts  he  liecame  a  well- 
informed  man  and  has  ever  been  a  friend  to  tlie 
cause  of  education.  In  his  youtli,  he  learned  the 
trade  of  brick-making,  and  in  September,  1858,  in 
company  witli  his  brother  J.imes,  bade  adieu  to 
his  native  land  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  Amer- 
ica. He  went  to  Livingston  County,  111.,  where 
he  remained  from  1858  until  1863,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  an  honored  resident  of  Ford 
County.  His  success  in  life  has  been  due  to  his 
own  efforts,  and  from  an  humble  position  he  has 
worked  his  way  ujiward  to  one  of  affluence. 

Mr.  Bond  has  been  three  times  married.  His 
present  wife  l>ore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Bar- 
nett.  She  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  their  union 
was  celebrated  in  1873.  Unto  them  have  been 
born  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four  daugli- 
ters,  namely:  Delia,  wife  of  Henry  Stcinman,  a 
merchant;  Fannie,  William  A.,  Arena,  Edwin, 
Jessie  and  an  infant. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Bond  is  engaged  in  the 
drug  business.  The  firm  of  Bond  &  Reinhardt 
carrj'  a  full  line  of  staple  and  fancy  drugs,  chemi- 
cals, oils,  varnishes,  fancy  perfumes,  brushes  and 
a  full  line  of  wall-paper,  paints,  etc.  Their  busi- 
ness amounts  to  about  $2,000  annually,  and,  in 
addition  to  this,  Mr.  Bond  is  a  partner  of  William 
Halm  in  the  wagon  and  f^arriage  making  business. 
They  repair  both  spring  and  lumber  wagons  and 
buggies  and  have  a  good  trade.  Our  subject  owns 
two  hundred  and  sixty-four  .acres  of  imi)roved 
land  in  Lym.an    Townshi|).  which   yields  a  golden 


tribute  to  him  and  adds  not  a  little  to  his  income. 
He  is  an  industrious,  persevering  and  sagacious 
business  man,  and  by  close  attention  to  business 
and  fair  and  honest  dealing  has  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competence. 

Mr.  Bond  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Al)raham  Lincoln  and  has  since  been  an  ardent 
Republican.  He  takes  considerable  interest  in 
political  affairs,  and  by  his  fellow-citizens  has  been 
called  upon  to  serve  for  six  years  as  School  Di- 
rector, and  for  three  consecutive  terms  was  unani- 
mously chosen  Highway  Commissioner.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  Lyman  Lodge  No.  293,  K.  T., 
and  serves  as  Inner  Guard. 


(^^HE  FORD  COUNTY  BANK,  Thompson, 
(f((^^  Blackstock  ifc  Co.,  proprietors,  successors  to 
v>^^  the  First  National  Bank  of  Paxton,  is  the 
oldest  bank  in  the  direct  line  in  Ford  County. 
This  is  a  private  banking  house,  doing  a  general 
lianking  business,  and  is  conducted  under  the  man- 
agement of  Robert  and  Ira  B.  Blackstock.  The 
Ford  County  Bank  was  established,  January  1, 
1866,  by  S.  J.  Toy.  In  August,  1868,  A.  C.  Thomp- 
son joined  Mr.  Toy,  and  the  firm  name  was  Toy  & 
Thompson.  On  the  1st  of  November,  1871,  the 
bank  was  converted  into  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Paxton,  S.  J.  Toy,  A.  C.  Thompson,  Robert 
Blackstock,  Edwin  Rice  and  C.  E.  Henderson  in- 
corporators. The  capital  stock  was  •t50,000.  A.  C. 
Thom[)son  was  made  President  and  S.J.  Toy,  Cash- 
ier. In  the  spring  of  1874,  Mr.  Toy  sold  his  inter- 
est to  J.  M.  Clevenger,  and  Robert  Bl.ackstock  be- 
came Cashier.  The  bank  continued  business  until 
the  10th  of  February,  1876,  when  its  proprietors 
closed  it  out  by  voluntary  liquidation,  after  which 
A.  C.  Thompson,  Robert  Blackstock  and  William 
Blackstock  organized  the  present  Ford  County 
Bank,  of  Thompson,  Bl.ackstock  &  Co.,  successors 
to  the  First  National  Bank.  Business  was  contin- 
ued under  their  management  until  April  15,  1883, 
at  which  time  W.  M.  Blackstock  withdrew  from 
the  firm.  On  the  third  of  May  following,  Edwin 
Rice,  a  citizen  of    Paxton,  bought  an  interest   in 


382 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  bank,  which  has  continued  with  marked  suc- 
cess to  the  present  time,  without  cliange  of  firm 
name.  Mr.  Thompson  and  Mr.  Rice  are  both  now 
deceased,  and  the  present  proprietors  are  Mrs.  A. 
C.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Rice-Miles,  R.  Blackstock  and 
I.  B.  Blackstock.  The  Ford  County  Bank  has  al- 
ways maintained  its  good  name  and  is  widely  and 
favorablj'  known  as  one  of  the  solid  financial  in- 
stitutions of  Eastern  Illinois. 


ARMON  STRAYER,  who  is  living  a  retired 
life  in  Paxtou,  is  one  of  the  well-to-do  citi- 
zens of  Ford  Coiintj'  and  a  man  of  promi- 
nence in  the  community.  A  native  of  Ohio, 
he  was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  September  20, 
1820,  and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  Straj-er.  The  family 
is  of  German  descent  and  was  founded  in  America 
at  an  early  day  by  John  Strayer,  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject,  who  left  his  native  land  and 
became  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania  in  his  youth. 
In  that  State,  he  was  married  and  from  there  re- 
moved to  Virginia  in  1782.  The  father  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  Berkeley  County,  Va.,  June  7, 
1796,  spent  his  boj'hood  days  in  that  State  and 
when  a  young  man  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Harmon,  who  was  born  in  the  Buck- 
eye State  in  1803.  Her  father,  Jacob  Harmon, 
was  also  a  native  of  Germany  and  came  to  the 
United  States  when  a  young  man.  He  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolutionarj'  War  and  was  taken 
prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  but  succeeded 
in  making  his  escape.  Jacob  Strayer  and  his  wife 
began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  (Jhio, 
and  in  1824  removed  to  Indiana,  locating  in 
Fountain  County.  They  settled  in  the  wilderness, 
there  developed  a  farm,  and  aided  in  the  upbuild- 
ing and  growth  of  that  countj'.  It  was  in  185-1  that 
Jacob  Strayer  brought  his  family  to  Illinois,  locat- 
ing in  what  is  now  Ford  County.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  Button  Township,  and  there 
made  a  farm,  upon  which  he  resided  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  January  3,  1869.  His  wife 
survived  him  for  a  number  of  years  and   died   on 


the  22d  of  June,  1883.     Thej^  were  laid  to  rest  in 
Mt.  Olivet  Cemetery'  in  Button  Township. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest  in  a  fam- 
ily of  five  sons  and  four  daughters  who  grew  to 
mature  years.  The  second  in  order  of  birth  is 
Mary,  wife  of  Moses  Stroup,  of  Iroquois  County; 
Susanna  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Robertson,  of  Foun- 
tain County,  Ind.;  ISIilton  makes  his  home  in  But- 
ton Township;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  David 
Robinson,  a  resident  of  Fountain  County,  Ind.; 
.John  M.  grew  to  manhood,  married  and  reared  a 
family,  but  is  now  deceased;  Thomas  B.  has  also 
passed  away;  Josephine  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Har- 
ris, of  Benton  County,  Ind.;  and  H.  S.,  a  resident 
of  Paxtou,  completes  the  family. 

No  event  of  special  impottanee  occurred  during 
the  boyhood  of  our  subject.  He  had  but  limited 
school  privileges  and  spent  his  time  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads,  remaining  under  the  par- 
ental roof  until  after  he  had  attained  his  majorit}'. 
It  was  in  1851  tiiat  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating 
first  in  Champaign  Country,  where  he  entered  a 
quarter-section  of  land  in  the  northeast  portion  of 
tiial  county.  Upon  it  he  built  a  house,  and  broke 
and  fenced  about  thirty  acres  of  land.  In  1855, 
he  sold,  and  settled  on  land  in  Button  Township, 
F"ord  County,  pre-empting  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  He  afterward  extended  the 
boundaries  of  his  farm  by  additional  purchase,  un- 
til he  had  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  and  made 
his  one  of  the  most  desirable  country  homes  in 
that  part  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Stra3'er  came  to  Illinois  a  single  man  but  in 
1858  returned  to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  and  on 
the  29th  of  November  of  that  3-ear  led  to  the  mar- 
riage altar  Miss  Martha  McClure,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Anna  (Watt)  McClure,  who  settled  in 
Ohio  in  an  earl}'  day.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  but 
spent  her  maidenhood  days  in  Indiana.  They  had 
four  children  but  lost  two  in  infancy.  Thomas  B. 
is  the  elder  of  the  two  living  and  Lizzie  A.,  the 
younger,  is  the  wife  of  J.  C.  Martin,  of  Paxton. 
They  have  two  children,  Willie  H.  and  an  infant 
daughter. 

Mr.  Strayer  continued  to  engage  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1886,  when  he  removed  to  Jackson 
County,  ]\riini.,  and  there  opened  up  a  farm  which 


..-™w-»s^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


385 


he  carried  on  for  about  six  years.  He  tlien  sold 
that  land  and  returned  to  Ford  County,  since 
which  time  he  has  made  his  home  in  Paxton, 
where  he  is  now  living  a  retired  life.  In  politics, 
he  was  first  a  Wliig  and  ctist  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Henry  Clay.  He  then  supported  Martin 
Van  Buren,  but  since  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party  he  has  been  fovuid  in  its  ranks.  For 
five  years,  he  has  served  as  Assessor  of  Button 
Township  and  in  18.58  was  Assessor  of  Patton 
Township  wlien  it  Iielonged  to  Vermilion  Count}' 
and  included  all  of  what  is  now  Ford  County.  He 
was  also  Highway  Commissioner,  and  in  eacli  posi- 
tion that  he  h.as  been  called  upon  to  fill  he  has 
proved  an  able  and  efficient  officer.  Tlic  best  in- 
terests of  the  community  ever  find  in  him  a  warm 
friend,  and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  Paxton,  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest. 


=-^-^+^^ 


~^ 


ON.  .lOIIN  H.  COLLIER,  the  pioneer  hard- 
ware merchant  of  Gibson  City,  has  been 
a  leading  Inisiness  man  of  that  place  since 
its  inception.  He  was  born  in  Sangerfield, 
Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  March  29,  1844,  and  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  A.  (De  Forrest)  Collier. 
His  father  was  born  in  Buckinghamshire,  England, 
on  the  3d  of  August,  1820,  and  was  descended 
from  an  old  English  family  of  that  region.  When 
nine  years  of  age,  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to 
America,  the  family  locating  in  Oneida  County, 
N.  Y.,  wiiere  he  was  married  and  made  his  home. 
Five  sons  and  two  daughters  were  born  unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Joseph  Collier,  of  whom  John  II.  is  the 
eldest,  and  in  order  of  birth  the  others  are,  .Tames, 
Chauncey,  Scott,  Sophia,  George,  Martha.  James 
and  Chauncey  were  soldiers  of  the  late  w.ar,  mcm- 
bersof  the  Seventeenth  Illinois  Cavalry;  Chauncey 
died  in  1865  from  wounds  received  on  the  field  of 
battle;  Sophia  became  the  wife  of  Edward  Leiber, 
of  Antioch,  Lake  County,  111.;  and  Martha  is  the 
wife  of  Wall.ace  Arnold,  of  Chicago.  In  18.55,  the 
fainilj-  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
L.ake  County,  where  the  wife  and  mother  died  in 


1860.  The  husband  and  father  survives  and  re- 
sides with  his  son,  John  11.,  in  Gibson  City. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Antioch,  acquiring  a  good  Finglish  edu- 
cation. (Jn  the  29th  of  July,  1862,  when  only 
eighteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  for  the  late  war 
as  a  member  of  Company  D,  Ni:  ety-sixth  Illinois 
Infantry.  The  following  year,  he  was  promoted  in 
regular  order  to  be  Second  Lieutenant,  First  Lieu- 
tenant and  Captain,  a  very  high  rank  considering 
his  j'outh.  At  the  battle  of  Chiekamauga,  on  the 
20th  of  September,  1863,  he  was  wounded  by  a  gun- 
shot in  the  left  tliigli,  and  again  at  the  battle  of 
Nashville,  December  1 G,  1864,  by  a  gun-sliot  wound 
in  the  left  arm.  His  service  was  mostly  in  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland.  He  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice in  1866. 

On  his  return  to  Illinois,  Mr.  Collier  engaged  in 
merchandising  in  Antioch,  Lake  County,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  1871,  which  year  wit- 
nessed his  removal  to  Gibson,  Ford  County,  where 
he,  with  II.  J.  Ring,  opened  the  first  hardware  store 
in  that  place,  later  on  purchasing  Mr.  Ring's  inter- 
est, thereby  becoming  sole  owner.  With  marked 
success,  he  has  carried  on  business  continuously 
since  and  has  one  of  the  most  complete  and  well- 
iissorted  stocks  of  goods  in  the  way  of  general 
hardware  and  farm  implements  to  be  found  in  the 
county. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Collier  is  a  Re- 
publican and  has  held  various  public  offices  of 
honor  and  trust.  In  1873,  he  was  elected  Supervisor 
for  Drummer  Township,  was  re-elected  and  served 
several  consecutive  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  town  of  Gibson, 
has  served  several  terms  since,  and  has  been  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board.  In  1876,  he  w.as  elected  to 
the  Thirtieth  General  Assembly  of  Illinois,  was 
twice  re-elected,  serving  in  the  Thirty-second  and 
Thirty-third  Assemblies,  representing  Ford  and 
Livingston  Counties.  In  1888,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Equalization  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  Ilis  course  in  official  life  has 
ever  been  such  as  to  win  him  the  commendation  of 
alU  concerned  and  has  gained  him  the  respect  of 
even  his  political  enemies.  .Sociall}-,  Mr.  Collier  is 
a  Knight   Templar    iVIason,  belonging    to    Gibson 


386 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Lodge  No.  733,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  Gibson  Chapter 
No.  183,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery 
No.  38,  K.  T.,  of  Paxton.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Lott  Post  No.  70,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  was  First 
Commander.  He  also  enjoys  the  distinction  and 
honor  of  being  a  member  of  the  military  order  of 
the  Loyal  Legion  Commandery  of  Illinois. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1875,  Mr.  Collier  wedded 
Miss  Harriet  McClure,  who  was  born  in  McLean 
Count3-,  111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  H.  and 
PVances  McClure.  Two  children  were  born  of  their 
union,  a  son  and  daughter:  Ben,  born  October  1, 
1878,  and  Kate,  on  the  25th  of  August,  1882.  The 
lady  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Mr.  Collier  is  interested  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
as  well  as  mercantile,  and  is  the  owner  of  a  well- 
improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Drummer  Township.  In  (jursuit  of  the  hardware 
business,  he  ac(|uired  a  comfortable  competence,  for 
he  has  labored  to  please  his  customers,  and  his  deal- 
ings have  been  characterized  b\'  honesty  and  up- 
lightness.  Thus  has  he  won  a  liberal  and  well- 
deserved  patronage. 


J'J*'5''?''5"  i 


if****!- 


"•5**j**5**{**^S^P*4*4*4f 


EREMIAH  CLEM  is  a  practical  and  pro- 
gressive agriculturist  living  on  section  36, 
Button  Township.     He  was  born  in  Warren 

County,  Ind.,  on  tlie  25tli  of  September,  1850, 
and  is  descended  from  one  of  the  old  Revolution- 
ary heroes,  his  paternal  grandfather,  Henry  Clem, 
having  fought  in  the  War  for  Independence.  He 
removed  from  Butler  County,  Ohio,  to  Warren 
Count}',  Ind.,  about  1830.  Tlie  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, Abraham  Clem,  was  born  in  the  former 
county  about  1826,  and  was  therefore  only  four 
years  old  when  he  went  to  the  Iloosier  State.  He 
there  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Margaret 
N.  Stary,  a  native  of  Virginia,  wlio  came  to  Indi- 
ana when  a  young  maiden,  and  there  resided  until 
after  her  marriage.  Her  father,  Nicholas  Star}', 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Warren  Count}'. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Clem  engaged  in  farming, 
and  now  resides  upon  a  farm   adjoining  the    old 


homestead.  He  has  reached  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years  and  is  living  a  retired  life.  In  politics,  he  has 
long  been  a  Democrat,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Their  family  numbered  five 
sons  and  three  daughters,  who  grew  to  mature 
years,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Israel,  is  now  engaged 
in  farming  in  Warren  County;  .leremiah  is  the 
next  younger;  Elmira  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Lowe, 
of  AVarren  Count}-;  Cornelius  is  also  an  agri- 
culturist of  Warren  County;  Louis  makes  his  home 
in  the  same  county;  .losephiue  is  the  wife  of 
Ed  Spencer,  a  farmer  of  Warren  County;  Charles 
aids  in  the  operation  of  the  old  homestead  in  In- 
diana; and  Mary  completes  the  family. 

Jeremiah  Clem,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the 
county  of  his  nativity,  remaining  witli  his  parents 
until  after  he  had  attained  to  mature  years.  He 
received  tlie  educational  advantages  afforded  by 
the  common  schools,  and  after  he  had  attained  his 
majority  began  working  upon  a  farm  for  himself. 
It  was  in  the  siniiig  of  1871t  that  he  first  made  his 
home  in  Illinois,  locating  in  A'ermilion  County. 
He  there  resided  upon  a  farm  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Champaign  County,  where 
he  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  and  upon  tliat  farm  resided  for  about  four 
years.  On  the  exjiiration  of  that  period,  he  came 
to  Ford  County  and  purchased  one  liundred  and 
fifty-two  acres  of  land — an  improved  farm,  which 
is  yet  his  home.  He  has  since  bought  a  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  near  Paxton,  and  a 
flfteen-acre  tract  of  timber  land,  making  in  all  an 
aggregate  of  two  hundred  and  eighty-seven  acres. 
He  keeps  his  farm  well  improved,  his  fields  are 
well  tilled  and  he  is  a  successful  agriculturist. 

In  Vermilion  County,  on  the  29tli  of  December, 
1878,  Mr.  Clem  wedded  Miss  Maria  E.  Campbell, 
who  was  born  in  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  and,  when 
a  maiden  of  fourteen  siunmers,  went  to  Vermilion 
County,  111.,  in  company  witli  her  father,  William 
Campbell,  one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  that 
county.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children:  Auiil  and  Orville  B.  The  family  is  well 
and  favorably  known  throughont  this  community, 
although    their  residence    here  covers  a  compara- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


387 


tively  short  period.  In  politics,  Mr.  Clem  has 
lieen  a  lifeloug  Democrat  anil  takes  a  deep  interest 
in  ti\e  success  and  growth  of  his  party.  He  is  one 
of  the  enterprising  and  substantial  farmers  of  Ford 
County,  and  his  sterling  wortli  and  upright  char- 
acter well  entitle  him  to  representation  in  this 
volume. 


SiIIE  IIIRA3I  SIBLEY  ESTATE,  of  which 
William  A,  Bicket  is  general  manager,  is 
an  important  part  of  the  original  Sullivant 
purchase  in  Ford  and  Livingston  Counties  and 
comprises  twenty-one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
seventeen  acres,  valued  at  $1,326,73,5,  and  is  di- 
vided into  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  well-im- 
proved farms.  Each  farm  has  a  tasty,  roomy  and 
comfortable  tenant  house  and  suitable  farm  and 
outbuildings.  AVell-im proved  roads  run  on  section 
lines,  and  many  hedges  mark  farm  boundaries,  di- 
viding the  land  into  farms  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  each.  These  farms  are  rented  to  a  su- 
perior class  of  tenants  on  shares,  or  for  cash  rent, 
as  the  tenant  may  choose.  Wlien  on  shares,  the 
tenant  gives  for  the  use  of  the  land  two-fifths  of 
the  corn  crop  and  one-third  of  the  small  grain  and 
hay.  The  rents  for  the  year  1891  amounted  iu 
round  numbers  to  $90,000.  The  crops  of  that  year 
were  represented  by  three  hinidred  thousand  bush- 
els of  corn,  two  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  oats, 
and  seeds  and  other  products  not  enumerated. 
Garden  and  field  seeds  are  grown  extensively  but 
not  so  much  so  as  during  the  life  of  the  proprietor, 
who  was  one  of  the  greatest  seed-growers  and  deal- 
ers in  the  Union. 

The  soil  of  these  farms  is  a  black  prairie  loam, 
very  rich  and  fertile,  and  well  adapted  to  general 
farming  and  stock-raising.  A  system  of  tiie  drain- 
ing has  been  extensively  adopted  with  marked 
success,  and  farms  that  were  held  at  from  $12  to 
$15  per  acre  in  Mr.  Sullivant's  day  are  now  worth 
from  $60  to  $80.  Thirt^^  sections  of  the  property 
are  situated  in  the  township  of  Sullivant.  Ford 
County,  and  five  sections  in  Fayette  Township, 
Livingston  County.     The   town   of  Sibley,  .an  in- 


corporated village  of  five  hundred  inhabitants,  is 
situated  in  the  township  of  Sullivant  and  in  the 
geographical  center  of  the  estate.  It  is  astation 
on  the  Wabash  Railroad  and  is  situated  on  the 
main  line  between  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  being 
one  hundred  anil  three  miles  south  of  Chicago  and 
one  hundred  and  eight3'-two  miles  north  of  St. 
Louis.  The  railroad,  then  the  Chicago  &  Paducah, 
was  built  to  this  point  in  1873,  since  which  time 
Siblej'  has  grown  to  be  a  thrifty  and  prosperous 
town.  The  village  has  three  churches  and  four 
religious  societies:  the  Methodist  Episcopal,  Swed- 
ish Evangelical  Lutheran,  German  Lutheran  and 
German  Methodist.  The  town  is  noted  for  its  ex- 
cellent schools.  Social  and  secret  societies  are 
represented  by  the  following-named:  Masonic, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America, 
Good  Templars  and  the  Clover  Club.  The  town 
has  a  good  hotel,  several  mercantile  houses  and  two 
important  manufactories:  the  Illinois  Canning 
Works,  which  have  a  canning  capacity  of  the  pro- 
duct of  one  thousand  acres  of  sugar  corn,  and  the 
drain  tile  works  that  supply  the  farmers  of  the 
surrounding  countiy  with  a  very  necessary  article 
for  improving  their  land.  The  Sibley  property  in- 
cludes the  grain  elevator,  having  a  storage  capac- 
ity of  fifty  thousand  bushels  and  facilities  for 
loading  thirty  cars  a  day,  being  the  largest  on  the 
Wabash  Railroad  between  Chicago  and  St.  Louis, 
with  one  exception. 

The  tenants  of  the  Sibley  estate  are  of  various 
nationalities,  Americans,  Germans,  Swedes,  English, 
Irish  and  French  being  represented,  and  tiie  total 
number  included  in  the  tenant  population  is  about 
an  even  thousand.  The  educational  wants  of  the 
farmers'  families  are  provided  for  by  ten  good 
country  schools  which  are  conducted  under  the 
State  laws  as  district  schools  and  are  governed  Ity 
officers  elected  by  the  people.  A  beautiful  and  in- 
teresting feature  of  the  Sibley  landscape  is  the 
little  lake  adjoining  the  village,  which  is  well 
stocked  with  fish  and  adds  much  to  the  attr.active- 
ness  of  the  place. 

Under  the  careful  and  judicious  management  of 
Mr.  Bicket,  the  estate  has  attained  a  degree  of 
thrift  that  has  not  only  brought  profit  and  large 
increase  in  value  to  the  owners    but  competence, 


388 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


comfort  and  contentment  to  the  industrious  and 
enterprisini"'  tenants.  It  is  safe  to  assert  that  tlieie 
is  not  another  property  of  like  extent  on  the  face 
of  the  globe  that  is  occupied  under  leases  where 
the  tenants  are  as  prosperous,  independent  and 
contented  as  those  on  tlie  Sibley  estate.  The 
causes  for  tliis  happy  result  are  easily  discovered. 
First  may  be  mentioned  the  wonderful  richness 
and  fertility  of  the  soil,  a  plentiful  sup|)ly  of  good 
water,  cheapness  of  fuel  and  salubrity  and  health- 
fulness  of  the  climate;  secondly,  the  convenience 
to  market;  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  wise,  liberal 
and  judicious  policy  of  the  management,  which  af- 
fords every  man  a  fair  leturn  for  his  labor  and  the 
advantages  of  schools  and  churches  for  his  family. 
So  popular  have  the  leases  of  this  property  become 
that  they  are  sought  for  as  most  desirable  by  the 
most  respectable  and  worthy  renters.  For  twenty 
years  the  manager  has  been  weeding  out  the  objec- 
tional)le  tenants  and  supi)lying  their  places  with 
the  wortliy  and  desiralile  lease-holder,  until  at  this 
date  the  land  is  peopled  by  a  model  tenantry.  The 
town  contains  a  good  library  of  well-selected 
books  and  many  elegant  works  of  art,  and  the 
High  School  can  boast  the  most  complete  set  of 
scientific  ajiparatus  for  educational  purijoses  to  be 
found  in  the  county,  all  furnished  through  the 
liberality  of  Mr.  Sibley  and  the  efforts  of  the  pu- 
pils, and  should  be  credited  to  the  broad-minded 
system  of  management,  which  has  been  so  faith- 
fully and  successfully  carried  out  by  the  Board  of 
Education. 


H    ■   ■!  If  ^  rf  .  *    <*  M^' 


'i'jOHN  ORTLEPP  is  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  in  Roberts,  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the 
community.  He  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Germany,  May  14,  1841,  and  is  the  only  son  of 
Johann  and  Elizabeth  (Busch)  Ortlepp.  They  had 
one  daughter,  however.  May,  who  married  A. 
Greenfeldt,  a  boot  and  shoe  maker  b}'  trade,  and 
is  now  deceased.  Johann  Ortlepp  w.as  born  in 
December,  1H17,  was  a  basket-maker  by  trade  and 
a  fine  workman  in  that  line.    In  1872,  accompanied 


by  his  wife,  a  native  of  Hanover,  he  sailed  from 
Bremen  to  New  York  City  and  came  at  once  to 
Illinois.  He  located  in  Iroquois  County,  but  after 
a  year  came  to  this  county  and  has  since  made  his 
home  with  his  son  John.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  bis  wife  also 
belonged.     Her  death  occurred  in  Roberts  in  1882. 

Our  subject  learned  the  butcher's  trade  in  his 
youth  and  was  .also  a  sailor.  While  on  the  high 
seas  he  visited  St.  Petersburg,  London,  Denmark, 
Norway,  Sweden,  Holland,  Belgium,  France,  Spain, 
Portugal,  Scotland,  Ireland  and  Wales.  He  fol- 
lowed a  sea-faring  life  for  nine  years  and  during 
all  that  time  was  never  ship-wrecked.  In  the  fall 
of  1871,  he  bade  adieu  to  his  native  land  and  once 
more  crossed  the  briny  deep,  sailing  from  Liver- 
l)Ool  to  New  York  City.  He  came  at  once  to 
Livingston  County,  111.,  where  he  began  husking 
corn  at  $1  jier  day.  In  June,  1872,  he  resumed 
his  old  trade  of  a  butcher  and  after  working  at 
Fairbury  for  fifteen  months,  came  to  Roberts, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  At  that  time 
there  were  only  four  stores  in  the  village.  For  a, 
year  he  was  emi)Ioyed  in  a  warehouse  and  in  1873 
began  business  for  himself  as  a  butcher,  continuing 
in  that  line  until  1887,  when  he  added  a  stock  of 
groceries  and  attended  to  both  branches  of  trade. 
He  has  recently  purchased  a  stock  of  hardware  and 
a  stock  of  furniture,  and  has  already  secured  a 
liberal  patronage  from  tlie  people  of  Roberts  and 
the  surrounding  community. 

Mr.  Ortlepp  was  married,  June  28,  1884,  to  Miss 
Emma  Twarnoske,  a  native  of  Germany.  Her 
parents  were  natives  of  the  same  place  and  now 
reside  with  their  daughter.  Five  children  have 
been  born  unto  our  subject  and  his  wife:  Lizzie, 
Mary,  Alma,  Ida  and  Lena.  The  parents  are  both 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  the  support 
of  which  they  contribute  liberally,  and  they  have 
also  given  of  their  means  to  other  enterprises  of 
interest  calculated  to  ui>build  the  community  and 
promote  the  general  welfare. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Ortlepp  is  a  Democrat.  He  has 
now  been  a  resident  of  Ford  County  for  many 
years.  He  came  with  a  cash  capital  of  about  i<80() 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  large  general  mercantile 
establishment,  and  in  connection  has  one  hundred 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


391 


and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land  and  his  pleasant 
and  commodious  home  located  on  Maple  fStreet. 
He  is  truly  a  self-made  man.  liy  the  exercise  of 
good  business  principles,  supplemented  by  indus- 
try and  perseverance,  he  has  acquired  a  handsome 
property,  and  tlie  prosperity  wiiich  has  crowned 
his  efforts  is  certainly  well  deserved.  He  is  now 
numbered  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
community  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present 
this  record  of  his  life  to  our  readers. 


■^S* 


EMANUEL  LOWRY,  editor  and   proprietor 
of  the  Gibson  Courier,  is  a  resident  of  Ford 
,.  County    and    has    made    Gibson    City    his 

home  since  1875.  He  was  born  in  ^Somerset  County, 
Pa.,  January  22,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and 
Salome  (Moyer)  Lowry.  The  parents  were  Ijoth 
natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  passed  away  in  that 
State,  greatly  beloved  by  all   who  knew  them. 

Emanuel  Lowry  received  his  primary  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  count}'  and 
afterward  took  a  classical  course  in  Bethany  Col- 
lege, in  West  Virginia,  graduating  in  the  Class  of 
'66.  lie  served  a  regular  apprenticeshij)  to  the 
printer's  trade  in  Somerset,  Pa.,  and  then  spent 
some  years  teacliing  in  the  public  and  normal 
schools  of  the  county.  In  18G0,  he  went  to  Beth- 
any, W.  Va.,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  of 
printing,  devoting  his  leisure  hours  to  study,  and 
111  this  way  working  his  way  through  college.  In 
1870,  he  left  Bethany  and  bought  a  half-interest  In 
a  paper  in  Wadsworth,  Ohio — the  Wadsworth  £!ii- 
terprise,  with  whicli  he  was  connected  for  one  year. 
He  then  sold  out  and  came  to  Illinois,  settling  at 
P'ureka,  and  there  purchased  the  Eureka  Journal, 
in  .January,  1872.  He  conducted  tliat  paper  for 
tliree  years,  and  in  1875  came  to  Gibson,  purchas- 
ing the  Courier,  which  he  has  since  carried  on, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year,  1884-85,  which  he 
spent  at  Pontiac,  111.,  where  he  bought  a  half- 
interest  in  the  Pontiac  Senlind,  which  lie  still 
holds.  The  SvnUnel  is  the  leading  Rei)ublican 
paper  in  Livingston  County  and  is  very  ably  and 
well  conducted. 


A  marriage  ceremony  performed  on  the  24th  of 
September,  1862,  in  Somerset,  Pa.,  united  the  des- 
tinies of  MissPluebe  Colliorn  and  Mr.  Lowry.  Tlie 
lady  is  a  daughter  of  Sylvester  and  Olive  Col- 
born,  and  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Pa.  She 
was  a  sucessful  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
her  native  county  at  the  time  of  her  marriage,  oc- 
cupying a  front  rank  in  her  profession,  and  is  a 
lady  of  culture  and  fine  literaiy  taste,  a  true 
helpmate  to  her  husband  in  his  literary  work. 
Unto  ]Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Lowiy  have  been  born  seven 
children,  but  two  died  in  infancy,  and  one  daugh- 
ter, Emil}',  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-  j'ears.  The 
living  are:  diaries  E.,  who  is  in  the  Courier  office 
with  his  father;  James  P.  and  John  A.,  who  are 
students  in  the  University  of  Illinois  at  Cham- 
paign, 111.;  and  Russell,  the  youngest  of  the 
famil}'. 

Mr.  Lowry  and  liis  wife  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church  and  take  an  active  interest  in  its 
work.  The}-  are  botli  members  of  the  Society  of 
Royal  Templars  of  Temperance,  and  in  active 
sympathy  with  every  movement  which  has  for  its 
object  the  moral  and  intellectual  uplifting  of  so- 
ciety. Mr.  Lowry  is  an  experienced  and  success- 
ful journalist,  and  in  his  hands  the  Courier  has 
been  a  potent  f.actor  in  the  development  of  good 
moral  sentiment  in  tlie  community  and  in  promot- 
ing the  cause  of  temperance.  His  outspoken  ad- 
vocacy of  temperance  sentiment  in  his  paper  has 
done  much  to  crystallize  public  sentiment  against 
the  saloon  and  drive  it  from  the  community 
in  which  he  makes  his  home.  The  good  effects  of 
his  teaching  and  example  will  live  after  him. 


f^-_^  UGH  MEHARRY  was  born  in  Connellsville, 
Pa.,  February  12,  17!I7,  and  the  next  year 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Adams  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  1828,  when  he 
married  Miss  Susan  Ambrose  and  at  once  moved 
to  Montgomery  County,  Ind.,  near  Shawnee  Mound, 
where  he  and  his  new  bride  settled  for  life. 

By  Industry  and  economy  and  the  great  oppor- 
tunity there  offered  for  buying  land  of  a  superior 


392 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


quality  very  cheap,  he  amassed  a  large  fortune. 
His  father  died  before  he  left  Ohio.  About  two 
years  after  the  son  removed  to  Indiana,  his  mother 
also  moved  from  the  Buckeye  State  with  six 
other  sons  and  one  daughter,  and  settled  at 
Shawnee  Mound,  near  Hugh.  The  sisters  and 
brothers  all  married  and  settled  in  the  neighbor- 
liood,  and,  like  Hugh,  were  very  prosperous,  and 
became  wealthy,  notwithstanding  their  large  dona- 
tions to  colleges,  churches  and  benevolent  institu- 
tions. Prominent  among  our  subject's  philanthropic 
deeds  was  the  endowing  of  a  professorship  in  the 
Central  Tennessee  College,  iu  Nashville.  He  also 
contributed  largely  to  the  building  and  endowing 
of  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  111. 

When  this  part  of  Illinois  was  comparatively 
new,  3Ir.  Meharry  came  here  and  secured  a  large 
am<junt  of  land.  On  one  trip  tiirough  this  part  of 
Illinois  which  is  now  Ford  County,  he  remained 
over  night  at  Ten  Mile  Crove  with  .John  Crothers, 
in  a  log  house  yet  standing  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  .John  M.  Hanlcy,  Esq.  During  the  evening,  he 
entered  into  conversation  with  Mr.  Crothers  and 
made  some  inquiries  about  the  health  and  morals 
of  the  people.  Crothers  became  excited,  jumped 
up,  and.  slapping  his  hands  together,  said:  "I  have 
lived  here  for  sixteen  years,  and  I  thank  God  I 
have  never  had  a  preacher  or  doctor  in  my  house." 

Like  his  father,  Hugh  Meharry  raised  a  large 
family,  all  the  members  of  which  he  settled  in  Illi- 
nois on  good  farms,  excepting  one  sou  and  daugh- 
ter, the  former  owning  and  occupying  the  old 
homestead  at  Shawnee  Mound,  and  to  the  latter 
he  gave  fourteen  hundred  acres  of  land  near  Am- 
bia,  Ind. 

When  Mr.  IVIeharr^-  was  about  seventy-three 
years  old,  his  wife  having  died  some  three  years 
before,  he  left  his  old  home  and  came  to  live  with 
his  children  iu  Illinois,  residing  with  his  son,  F. 
Meharry,  and  his  son-in-law,  Rol)eit  Blackstock. 
He  died  in  his  eighty-fourth  year  while  on  a  visit 
to  his  son-in-law,  the  Rev.  .John  A.  Kumler,  in  Be- 
ment,  111.  His  remains  were  brought  back  to  Pax- 
ton,  and  funeral  services  held  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  on  the  27th  of  December,  1881, 
after  which  he  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  family  cem- 


etery at  Shawnee  Mound,  Ind.  He  was  an  active, 
faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  sixty -nine  3'ears,  and  died  in 
the  full  assurance  that  he  was  going  to  join  the 
loved  ones  who  had  passed  before.  Truly  it  can 
be  said  of  him  in  the  language  of  the  Psalmist: 
"Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord,  they 
rest  from  their  labor  and  their  works  do  follow 
them." 

Of  Mr.  Meharr3''s  children  five  are  living  at  this 
writing,  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  sons 
are  Francis,  Charles  W.  and  Alexander,  and  the 
first  two  mentioned  are  residents  of  Ford  County. 
The  daughteis,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Kumler  and  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Adams,  also  reside  iu  Illinois. 


"^  OSKPII  \.  KING,  agent  for  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Uailroad  at  Roberts,  has  filled  his  pres- 
ent position  longer  than  any  other  agent 
between  Gilnian  and  Springfield.  He  was 
born  April  .5.  1851.  His  father,  Vincent  King, 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  was  reared  in  Ohio, 
and  became  a  miller  by  trade.  In  politics,  he  was 
a  Repulilican  and  was  a  friend  to  all  interests  cal- 
culated to  improve  or  upluiild  the  community. 
He  died  when  well  advanced  in  years.  His  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Jane  G.  Stevenson, 
was  reared  in  Ohio,  liut  was  born  in  Kentucky. 
Her  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine.  They 
had  nine  children,  eight  3'et  living:  Richard,  who 
makes  his  home  in  Richmond,  Ind.;  Mary,  wife  of 
Robert  E.  Wead,  a  farmer  of  Xenia,  Ohio;  William, 
a  carpenter  and  joiner  of  Xenia;  .John,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  carpentering  and  superintends  a  sheep- 
ranch  in  St.  Ann,  Cal.;  Ann,  wife  of  Albert  Stra- 
tum, of  Aberdeen,  S.  Dak.;  .James  B.  is  engaged  in 
the  lumber  business  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Olive,  wife 
of  J.  R.  JjOtt,  of  Gibson;  and  .Josei^h,  of  this  sketch. 
Our  subject  was  educated  iu  the  common  schools 
and  spent  his  earl\'  life  with  his  father  in  the  mill- 
ing business.  He  became  a  messenger  boy  at  Cen- 
terville,  Ind.,  and  there  began  learning  the  princi- 
ples of  telegraphy.     After  finishing  school  he  took 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


393 


charge  of  a  night  office,  but  after  a  year  returned 
home.  Three  years  later  he  resumed  telegraphy 
and  in  1874  became  connected  with  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad.  He  has  been  in  the  employ  of 
the  company  since  that  time,  which  shows  that  he 
has  faithfully  dischaiged  his  duties  and  that  his 
services  have  been  very  acceptable. 

In  1876,  Jlr.  King  married  Miss  Nannie  Newman, 
who  died  in  1888,  leaving  one  son,  Clyde,  who 
now  attends  school.  In  1889,  our  subject  wedded 
Miss  Anna  Newman,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a 
daughter  of  William  Inghram  Newman.  He  was 
born  lu  Campbell  County,  Ky.,  June  28,  1820,  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  emigrated  to 
Barcla}',  111.,  in  18G4.  He  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1874,  when  he  became  proprietor  of  the 
Newman  House,  of  Roberts,  and  continued  in  that 
business  for  ten  years.  He  afterward  traded  his 
property  for  land  in  McLean  County.  He  was  a 
stalwart  Republican,  a  well-informed  man,  and  had 
the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact. He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  a  devoted  Christian  gentleman.  His  death 
occurred  in  Roberts,  November  1,5,  1889.  His  wife 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  July  11,  1819,  and  died 
August  16,  1887.  The\'  were  married  September 
1,  1842,  and  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  four  sons  and  three  daughteis  are  yet  liv- 
ing: Edward,  who  resides  in  Sibley,  111.;  RoUa  T., 
who  makes  his  home  in  Englewood,  111.;  Mary  J., 
wife  of  William  B.  Flora,  a  farmer  of  Lj'inan  Town- 
ship, whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  tliis  work; 
Elizabeth  N.,  wife  of  David  C.  Kemper,  of  Deer- 
fteld.  Mo.;  Dick  and  Fiauk,  residents  of  Roberts; 
and  Anna,  honored  wife  of  our  suliject. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  are  parents  of  two  sons,  Roy 
and  Milo  S.  The  mother  is  a  most  estimable  lady 
and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr. 
King  has  always  been  an  advocate  of  Republican 
principles  and  a  stanch  supporter  of  that  party 
since  he  cast  his  lirst  Presidential  vote  for  U.  vS. 
firant.  The  cause  of  temperance  finds  in  him  a 
true  friend  and  he  gives  his  support  to  all  those 
interests  calculated  to  prove  of  i)ublic  benefit  to 
the  communit}'.  He  was  one  of  the  first  memliers 
of  the  Village  Board  and  helped  to  draft  its  by- 
Jaws  and  ordinances.     Socially',  he  is  a  member  of 


Lyman  Lodge,  No.  29.3,  K.  P.,  in  which  he  holds 
the  office  of  Deputy,  and  is  Master  Mason  of  Buck- 
ley Lodge,  No.  264,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Himself  and 
wife  are  pleasant,  genial  people,  who  for  many 
years  have  been  identified  with  tiie  interests  of 
Roberts  and  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  all  who 
know  them.  They  have  a  pleasant  and  commo- 
dious home  on  Green  Street. 


EIS  ARENDS,  a  well-known  German-Ameri- 
can citizen  of  Melvin,  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Noordan,  Hanover,  German}',  on  the  13th 
of  August,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  Onno  and  Ger- 
trude (Feters)  Arends.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  the  same  district  and  there  spent  their  entire 
lives,  both  being  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  his  native  country,  where 
he  also  acqirired  a  common-school  education  and 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade.  He  has  been  twice 
married.  Kie  leaving  the  Fatherland,  on  the  25th 
of  December,  1847,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  to 
Teda  Becker,  a  daughter  of  John  Becker,  and  in 
the  following  March,  having  bade  good-bye  to  the 
old  home,  the  young  couple  emigrated  to  America. 
On  board  tlic  ship,  Mr.  Arends  was  taken  sick  with 
the  prevailing  fever,  and  wlien  they  landed  in 
New  Orleans,  he  was  still  ill  and  had  but  $100  in 
money.  In  hopes  of  improving  his  health,  they 
came  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  Illinois  without 
much  delay  and  settled  in  Peoria,  where  Mr.  Ar- 
ends, having  partially  regained  his  health,  w.as 
emploj-ed  at  his  trade.  Three  years  later,  he  re- 
moved to  Pekin,  but  remained  there  only  two 
years,  when  he  returned  to  Peoria  and  again 
worked  at  his  trade  for  three  years. 

In  1859,  Mrs.  Arends  died,  leaving  four  chil- 
dren: George  T.,  the  eldest,  was  married  to  jMiss 
Telca  Weiss  and  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  lehl  A 
Co.,  bankers  of  Melviii;  Hannah,  wife  of  Gottlieb 
Harsch,  a  resident  of  Chicago,  and  Mary  now  the 
wife  of  John  lehl,  a  banker  of  Melvin.  On  the 
31st  of  December,  1860,  Mr.  Arends  was  again 
married,  the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Pekin. 


394 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


The  bride  was  Mrs.  Mary  Frasius,  widow  of  Peter 
Frasius,  and  a  daugliter  of  Joliau  Poplien.  She 
was  born  in  Wittniont,  Hanover,  German}',  and 
came  to  America  in  tlie  fall  of  1859.  She  luis  two 
children  by  her  former  marriage,  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter: William  Frasius,  who  is  married  and  lives  in 
Kansas,  and  Hannah,  wife  of  Carl  Gaertner,  of 
Youngstown,  Ohio.  Two  children  were  born  of 
the  present  marriage,  but  both  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Arends  was  engaged  in  farming  near  Pekin 
for  a  couple  of  years  and  traveled  back  and  forth 
between  that  city  and  Peoria  at  short  intervals, 
until  finally  he  removed  to  Mason  County,  111., 
and  was  there  engaged  in  farming  until  1870,  when 
he  removed  with  his  family  to  Peach  Orchard 
Township,  Ford  County,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  and  has  also 
an  eighty-acre  tract  not  far  distant.  They  contin- 
ued to  reside  on  the  farm  until  1877,  when,  being 
alone  and  finding  the  farm  work  too  laborious  for 
old  age,  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  Arends  removed  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Melvin,  where  they  have  since  resided  in 
the  enjo.ymcnt  of  well-earned  ease.  This  worthy 
couple  are  members  of  the  German  Methodist 
Church  and,  in  i)olitics,  our  subject  is  a  Kei^ublican. 
He  has  always  been  an  industrious,  frugal  man 
throughout  life  and  has  accumulated  sufficient 
propertj'  to  make  him  and  his  wife  independent  in 
their  declining  years.  Both  are  highly  respected 
in  the  community  where  they  have  so  long  resided 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this  record 
of  their  lives  to  our  readers. 


-OS. 


\2>sL/C'X> 


■SO~ 


I?       EWIS  E.  ROCKWOOD,  Assistant  Cashier  of 


Co.,  of  Gibson  City,  has  been  an  employe 
of  that  company,  as  book-keeper  and  assistant 
cashier,  continuous!}'  since  1883.  Mr.  Rockwood 
was  born  in  La  Salle  County,  111.,  October  15,  1855, 
and  is  a  son  of  .lohn  A.  and  Sarah  J.  (Lewis)  Rock- 
wood.  In  1863,  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Normal,  this  State,  and  there  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  |Hiblic  schools,  completing  his  literary 
studies  in   the  High  School.     He  came  to    Gibson 


City  in  1872,  wlien  it  was  but  a  hamlet  of  a  year's 
growlli,  and  made  his  home  with  his  parents  on  a 
farm  in  Drummer  Township  until  1880,  since 
which  time  he  has  resided  in  the  city.  During  the 
years  of  his  residence  on  the  farm,  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  |)ursuitsand  in  teaching  school,  having 
taught  in  all  nine  terms.  The  two  years  just  pre- 
ceding his  coming  to  Gilison,  he  devoted  his  time 
almost  exclusively  to  teaching,  and  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  that  occupation.  Until  1883,  he  wasem- 
plojed  as  a  book-keeper  by  a  Gibson  grain  firm, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  lie  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  present  position  in  the  bank. 

Mr.  Rockwood  has  been  twice  married,  the  first 
time  in  Paxton  on  the  10th  of  July,  1884,  to  Miss 
Florence  Moffett,  a  daughter  of  S.  R.  Moffett.  Mrs. 
Rockwood  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  accompanied 
her  parents  to  Paxton  in  childhood.  She  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  on  the  1st  of  November, 
1885,  and  her  death  was  deeply  mourned  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  On  the 
9th  of  May,  1889,  Jlr.  Rockwood  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Gibson  to  his  present  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Ida  Baird.  Mrs.  Rockwood  is  a 
native  of  Illinois,  born  in  McLean  County,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  W.  .1.  Baird.  of  Gibson  Cit}-.  One 
child  graces  this  union,  a  son,  Roscoe,  who  was 
born  in  Gibson,  Febru.ary  20,  1890. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Rockwood  easts  his  vote  with  the 
Democracy,  and  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  i)arty 
principles.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Village 
Board  two  terms,  and  now  holds  the  position  of 
President  of  the  City  School  Board.  He  and  his 
wife  hold  membership  with  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  are  earnest  Christian  people.  Our  subject  is  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason,  belonging  to  Gibson  Lodge 
No.  733,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  to  Gibson  Chapter  No. 
183,  R.  A.  M.;  to  Gibson  Council  No.  72;  and  to 
Mt.  Olivet  Cominandery  No.  38,  K.  T.,  of  Paxton. 
He  was  ISIaster  of  his  lodge  in  1877,  1878  and 
1879,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the  fraternity. 

Mr.  Rockwood  h.as  now  been  emplojcd  in  the 
bank  of  Mattinson,  Wilson  A'  Co.  for  nearly  ten 
3'ears,  and  has,  by  the  strict  and  faithful  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  his  position,  grown  in  favor  with 
the  firm,  and  is  honored  with  their  confidence  and 
trust.      His   services    in    the    School    Board    have 


^~e.-'^^^*~\^     ^^/Ck. 


^^^t7- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


397 


helped  to  advance  the  educational  interests  of  the 
city,  which  are  now  grown  to  important  dimen- 
sions, while  his  courteous  liearing-  and  e-orroct  busi- 
ness methods  in  the  discharge  of  liis  duties  at  tlie 
bank  liave  won  for  him  the  respect  and  c<.inlidence 
of  its  patrons. 


•!'==:^*=4' 


;yv  ETKR   LAlvSUN   (deceased)  was  tlie  pioneer 


merchant  tailor  of  Paxton,  and  the  founder 
of  the  clothing  house  of  Peter  Larson  it 
Co.,  the  largest  mercantile  liouse  in  Ford 
County.  He  was  born  in  Olmstad,  .lonkopings 
l>an,  Sweden,  December  12,  \S'd'S,  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  country  and  there  learned 
the  tailor's  trade.  In  1854,  he  emigrated  to  America 
and  made  his  first  location  in  Attica,  Ind.,  wliere  he 
was  engaged  in  business  and  where  lie  was  married, 
in  1857,  to  Miss  Lavisa  Gustafson,  a  daugliter  of 
Jacob  tJustafson.  Tlie  lad^'  was  born  in  Linderas, 
Sweden,  and  came  to  America  in  1853. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larson  was  blessed 
by  a  family  of  six  children,  four  of  wliom  are 
yet  living:  Charles  Albert,  the  eldest,  is  now  at 
the  liead  of  the  mercantile  house  of  P.  Larson  & 
Co.,  of  Paxton,  with  branch  stores  at  Gilison  City 
and  Watseka.  Jacob  Theodore  wedded  Kmily 
Peterson,  and  conducts  the  Gibson  store.  Peter 
Edward  is  the  resident  partner  and  manager  of 
the  branch  store  in  Watseka.  Kmil  and  Ida  Ottilia 
died  in  infancy;  and  Ida  Ottilia,  tlie  second  of  tliat 
name,  resides  with  her  motlier  in  Paxton. 

In  1864,  Mi'.  Larson  came  to  Paxton  and  en- 
gaged in  merchant  tailoring,  also  doing  business  as 
a  dealer  in  ready-made  clothing,  in  company  with 
William  Liudberg  and  John  Nelson,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Lindberg,  Larson  &  Nelson.  From 
1870  until  188.3,  lie  was  alsne  in  business  and  suc- 
ceeded in  building  up  a  large  and  successful  trade. 
In  October  of  the  latter  year,  he  sold  out  to  his 
sons,  C.  Albert  and  J.  T.,  and  C.  A.  Englund,  the 
firm  name  of  P.  Larson  &  Co.  being  retained  for 
business  advantages.  In  1887,  a  younger  brother, 
Peter  E.,  became  a  member  of  the  firm  and,  with 
17 


those  above  named,  constitute  the  companj'.  This 
house  does  a  general  trade  .as  merchant  tailors  and 
dealers  in  ready-made  clothing  and  gents'  furnish- 
ing goods  and  the  aggregate  business  of  the  three 
stores  amounts  to  an  even  ^100,000  annu.ally.  The 
firm  has  succeeded  to  the  good-will  of  the  custom- 
ers of  Peter  Larson  and  still  maintains  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  house  for  selling  good  goods  and  for 
fair  and  honest  dealing.  While  they  have  the 
largest  trade  of  any  house  in  their  line  in  Ford 
County,  they  also  enjoy  a  corresponding  popular- 
ity. The  branch  store  at  Gibson  City  was  opened 
February  27,  1887,  and  tliat  at  Watseka  in  August, 
1891. 

Charles  Albert  Larson  was  born  in  Attica,  Ind., 
F'ebruary  1,  1859,  came  to  Paxton,  III.,  with  his 
parents  in  1864,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  received  liis  business  oducaticm  in  his  father's 
store,  beginning  when  he  was  but  thirteen  j-ears 
old.  In  October,  18«3,  he  became  the  head  of  the 
house  as  previously  stated.  He  was  married  in 
Paxton,  on  the  13th  of  .lanuary,  1887,  to  Miss 
Annie  Larson,  who  was  born  in  Chicago  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  Larson.  Tiie3'  have  one  child, 
a  son,  Clarence  Raymond,  who  was  born  March 
12,  1888. 

Mr.  Larson  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  and  by  his  ballot  he 
supports  the  Republican  party.  He  is  also  a  Di- 
rector in  the  F^irsl  National  Hank  of  Paxton  and 
is  accounted  one  of  the  foremost  business  men  of 
the  citj'. 


l^+^i 


OIIN  NEWMAN  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Newman  it  Peterson,  undertakers  and  deal- 
ers in  furniture,  of  Paxton.  lie  is  a  native 
of  Denmark,  his  birth  having  occurred  on 
the  6th  of  March,  1848.  His  parents,  Hans  and 
Cecelia  Newman,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
same  countrj',  are  both  deceased.  lie  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  his  native  land,  acfpiired  his  educa- 
tion in  its  public  schools  and  learned  the  trade  of 
a  machinist,  at  which  he  worked  until  1869,  when 
he  determined  to  seek  his   fortune    in   Ameriga, 


398 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


Bidding  good-bye  to  home  and  friends,  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  and  came  direct  to  Illinois,  locating 
in  Kankakee.  He  remained  there,  however,  only 
a  short  time,  after  wliicli  he  went  to  Wilmington, 
where  he  was  employed  in  cabinet-making.  Later, 
he  returned  to  Kankakee,  and  thence  came  to  Pax- 
ton  in  1871.  Ills  residence  in  this  city,  therefore, 
covers  a  period  of  twenty-one  years.  In  1873,  he 
formed  the  existing  partnership  with  J.  Peterson. 
This  is  the  oldest  house  in  their  line  of  business  in 
the  count}'  seat  and  one  of  the  most  popular  in 
the  county,  as  their  customers  can  always  depend 
on  getting    well-made  goods  at  reasonable  prices. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  1874,  Mr.  Newman  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Nelson,  the  wed- 
ding being  celebrated  in  this  city.  The  lady  is  a 
native  of  Denmark  and  a  daughter  of  Nils  Nelson. 
Five  children  have  been  born  of  their  union,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters:  Jolin  C,  Cecelia,  Ileniy, 
Hazel  and  Leta,  all  born  in  Paxton. 

Mr.  Newman  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  In  politics,  he  is  a  supporter 
of  Republican  principles,  having  afliliated  with 
that  party  for  many  years,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Paxton  Board  of  Education.  He  also  belongs  to 
Paxton  Camp,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  The 
firm  of  Newman  &  Peterson  has  now  been  in  busi- 
ness nearly  twenty  years,  without  change,  and  is 
classed  as  one  of  the  successful  houses  of  Paxton. 
They  are  enjoying  a  well-deserved  prosperity, 
which  is  the  reward  of  industry,  perseverance  and 
earnest  and  well-directed  efforts. 


=1***+^ 


"^  OHN  S.  JOHNSON,  a  farmer  residing  on  sec- 
tion 26,  Patton  Township,  is  a  native  of 
Sweden,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
10th  of  August,  1841.  His  father,  Jonas 
Johnson,  was  also  born  in  that  country,  there  grew 
to  manhood,  was  married,  reared  his  family  and 
spent  his  entire  life.  Our  subject  was  the  only  son 
and  the  youngest  child  in  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. He  remained  in  his  native  land  until  fi'fteen 
years  of  age,  spending  the  greater  \)a.rt  of  his  time 
in  school,  where  he  acquired  a  good  education.    It 


was  in  1856  that  he  emigrated  to  America  in  com- 
pany with  his  married  sister  and  her  husband. 
They  sailed  from  (Jottenburg  in  June,  and  after 
seven  weeks  spent  on  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic, 
arrived  at  Boston  in  the  latter  part  of  July.  On 
the  loth  of  August  following,  the_v  reached  La  Fay- 
ette, Ind.,  where  Mr.  Johnson  joined  a  brother- 
in-law,  and  worked  for  about  a  year  and  a  half  to 
pay  for  his  passage  to  this  country.  He  also  at- 
tended school  in  the  winter  seasons  for  a  time,  and 
remained  in  La  Fayette  for  about  thirteen  years. 
The  year  1869  witnessed  liis  arrival  in  Illinois, 
and  saw  him  a  resident  of  Ford  County. 

In  this  count}',  in  October,  1879,  Mr.  Johnson 
w.is  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  So- 
phia Johnson,  wiio  was  also  a  native  of  Sweden, 
and  when  a  young  lady  came  to  this  country,  mak- 
ing her  home  with  a  sister  in  Paxton.  Unto  them 
have  been  born  five  chihlren:  Helen  R.,  at  home; 
Eva,  Hannah  and  Norma,  who  are  attending  the 
home  school;  and  Otto  S.,  the  youngest  of  the 
family. 

For  several  years  after  locating  in  Ford  County, 
l\Ir.  Johnson  rented  land,  I)ut  at  length,  having  ac- 
cumulated some  capital  through  his  industr}'  and 
economy,  he  purchased  a  part  of  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides.  This  was  in  1874.  He  became 
the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twent^'-one  acres, 
and  with  characteristic  energy  be  began  its  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement.  The  boundaries  of  his  farm 
he  has  since  extended  by  an  additional  purchase  of 
eighty  acres,  making  in  all  two  hundred  and  one 
acres  of  valuable  land  which  pays  a  golden  tribute 
to  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon  it.  It  is  all 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved. There  is  a  good  home  and  other  neces- 
sary buildings,  and  the  owner  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Patton  Township. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  a  man  who  takes  an  .active  inter- 
est in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  resides,  and  is  a  true  friend  to 
all  educational  and  moral  interests.  He  has  been 
honored  with  several  local  offices  of  trust,  and  to 
those  who  know  him  it  is  needless  to  say  that,  his 
duties  were  ever  faithfully  performed.  Himself 
and  wife  are  church  members,  and  are  well  and 
favorably  known  throughout  this  community.    Mr, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


399 


Johnson  is  a  self-inade  man.  At  the  early  age  of 
fifteen  years  he  began  life  for  himself  and  worked 
his  way  upward,  overcoming  all  dilliculties  and 
obstacles  in  his  path.  He  may  well  be  proud  of  liis 
success,  which  has  licen  achieved  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts. 


<A  I^H.LIAM  A.  HOOVER,  a  successful  dental 
\/\l/l  surgeon  of  Gibson  City,  was  born  in 
^^  Greenville,  Ohio,  .Tanuary  7,  ISfil,  unto 
Frederick  G.  and  Mary  C.  (Cole)  Hoover.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  "NVurtemberg,  Germany,  but 
at  the  age  of  eleven  years  came  with  his  parents 
to  Greenville,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
on  a  farm,  following  that  occupation  through  life. 
In  that  county  he  married  Miss  Cole,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  In  1861,  Mr.  Hoover  enlisted  in  the  service 
for  the  late  war,  becoming  a  member  of  Company 
G,  Fortieth  Ohio  Infantry,  of  which  he  w.as  made 
Corporal.  He  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  thus  laying  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of 
his  country.  Subsequently,  his  widow  wns  again 
married,  becoming  the  wife  of  .John  C.  Hoover,  a 
brother  of  her  former  hvisband.  By  her  former 
marriage,  three  children  were  l)orn, but  our  subject 
is  the  only  one  now  living,  the  two  others  having 
died  in  childhood.  By  the  second  union,  two 
children  were  born:  Charles  G.,  a  dentist  of  Mani- 
towoc, Wis.;  and  .Tohn  L.,  who  is  preparing  him- 
self for  the  same  profession  at  the  Michigan  .State 
University. 

William  A.  Hoover  was  reared  to  nianiiood  on  a 
farm  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  receiving  his 
primary  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
district.  He  afterward  attended  the  Greenville 
High  School  and  completed  his  literary  course  in 
the  lyCbanon,  Ohio,  Normal.  After  teaching  for 
two  years,  he  entered  the  dental  oflice  of  .1.  .J. 
Little,  D.  D.  S.,  of  Greenville,  Ohio,  wliere  he  re- 
mained for  the  same  length  of  time,  and  then  si)ent 
a  jear  in  the  dental  dei)artment  of  the  I'niversity 
of  California.  He  completed  his  professional 
studies  in  1886,  graduating  from  the  dental  depart- 


ment of  the  Michigan  Universitj'.  In  September, 
1886,  he  located  in  Gibson  City,  where  he  has 
since  been  in  continuous  practice,  and  is  numbered 
among  the  enterprising  young  business  men  of  the 
place.  He  h.as  secured  a  large  and  liberal  patron- 
age, which  is  justly  deserved. 

At  Mansfield,  111.,  Mr.  Hoover  led  to  the  mar- 
riage altar,  on  the  29th  of  August,  1888,  Miss  Laura 
E.  Howver,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Ellen 
Ilowver,  who  reside  at  that  place,  where  the}'  are 
widely  and  favorably  known.  Unto  our  subject 
and  his  wife  has  been  born  one  child,  Sibyl  M. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover  are  Presbyterians  in 
religious  sentiment,  and  take  an  active  part  in  the 
work  of  that  church.  Politically,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  is  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  that 
party,  of  which  he  is  a  stalwart  advocate.  In 
social  circles,  he  and  his  wife  rank  high  and  are 
numbered  among  the  worth3'  citizens  of  Gibson. 
He  is  a  Mason,  socially.  He  also  belongs  to  the 
Eastern  Illinois  Dental  .Society.  Dr.  Hoover  is  a 
man  well  versed  in  his  profession  and  justlj^  merits 
the  confidence  and  liberal  patronage  he  receives. 


i'OBERT  STRONG  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  pleasantly 
i  situated  about  four  miles  from  Paxton,  on 
section  22,  Patton  Township,  and  there  in 
connection  with  general  farming  he  also  carries  on 
stock-raising.  Tiiis  is  a  valualile  |)lace,  improved 
with  a  commodious  residence,  good  barns  and  out- 
liuildings  and  all  tiie  other  .accessories  of  a  model 
farm,  and  a  glance  over  the  broad  acres  will  tell  the 
beholder  tliat  the  owner  is  a  man  of  thrift  and  en- 
teri>rise. 

Mr.  Strong  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  jMoni'oe  County,  .January  1',),  1836. 
The  family  is  of  Irish  descent  and  the  original 
ancestors  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  Fair- 
field district  of  South  Carolina,  wheie  Samuel  M. 
Strong,  father  of  our  subject,  and  Robert  Strong, 
the  grandfather,  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812, 
were  born.  The  maternal  grandfather,  .lolin  Weir, 
was   also   a    native   of   South    ("arolina,   and    his 


400 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAIHICAL   RECORD. 


daughter  Lutecia,  who  was  born  in  the  Chester 
district,  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Strong.  After 
their  marriage  they  removed  to  Indiana,  becoming 
honored  pioneers  of  Monroe  Count\'.  They  set- 
tled in  tlie  wilderness  and  in  the  midst  of  the  for- 
est Mr.  Strong  developed  a  farm  which  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death  in  185.5.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  about  twenty  years,  passing  away  in 
1874.  In  the  family  were  six  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, who  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  the 
eldest  of  whom  is  Robert;  .lohn  enlisted  for  the 
late  war  in  the  Eight3'-second  Indiana  Infantry, 
was  taken  sick  and  died  in  the  service  in  Tennessee, 
August  4,  1863;  .James  died  in  Indiana,  in  1890, 
leaving  a  family;  .Jennie  died  in  earl>'  womanhood; 
William  B.  is  a  resident  farmer  of  this  county; 
Rev.  Charles  S.  is  the  minister  of  the  United  Pres- 
b^'terian  Church  in  Lawrence,  Kan.;  Samuel  W.  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Monroe  Count}', 
Ind.,  and  Sarah,  widow  of  .John  Harris,  resides  in 
Colorado. 

The  childhood  and  youtii  of  our  subject  were  spent 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  the  county  of  his  nativ- 
ity. As  soon  as  old  enough,  he  aided  in  its  opera- 
tion and  his  training  at  farm  labor  w.as  much 
more  extensive  than  that  received  in  tiie  school 
room,  his  educational  advantages  being  very 
meagre.  After  arriving  at  years  of  maturity,  he 
remained  upon  tlie  farm  with  his  mother  for  a 
time,  after  which  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  to 
Miss  Martha  .J.  Miller,  daughter  of  .James  Miller, 
a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  a  pioneer  of  Mon- 
roe County,  Ind.  Their  union  was  celebrated  on 
the  13th  of  October,  1859,  and  unto  them  have 
been  boin  four  sons  who  are  yet  living:  Samuel 
O.,  who  operates  a  farm  adjoining  tiiat  of  his 
father;  .James,  who  follows  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Iroquois  County;  .John  T.,  a  farmer  residing  with 
his  father,  and  Charles  D.,  a  lad  of  twelve  years, 
attending  the  home  school. 

For  five  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Strong 
followed  farming  in  Monroe  Ctuuity,  and  in  1864 
came  to  Ford  County,  111.,  since  which  time  he  has 
resided  on  the  farm  which  now  yields  to  him  a 
golden  tribute  for  the  care  and  cultivation  he  be- 
stows upon  it.  He  started  out  in  life  empty- 
l)ande<i  but  has  worked  his  way  upward  to  a  position 


of  affluence,  and  in  connection  with  the  property 
which  he  possesses,  he  has  also  given  to  his  three 
sons  eighty-acre  tracts  of  land.  In  politics,  he  was 
first  a  .Jackson  Democrat,  afterwards  supported  the 
Republican  party  and  later  affiliated  with  the  Green- 
b.ack  party,  but  for  some  3-ears  has  been  identified 
with  the  Prohibitionists.  He  is  a  strong  advocate  of 
temperance  and  gives  his  support  to  the  party  which 
embodies  his  views  on  that  subject.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Paxto'n  and  are  people  held  in  high  re- 
gard by  all  who  know  them.  Their  residence  here 
covei's  a  period  of  twenty-seven  years,  during 
which  they  have  witnessed  much  of  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  county  and  seen  its  ad- 
vancement and  progress. 


•^ 


-:.«.c-W= 


«^ 


(JUIRE  JOHN  MORRIS,  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Insurance  Agent  of  Paxton,  is  a 
pioneer  of  Ford  County,  coming  here  in 
April,  1858,  and  was  the  first  Justice  of 
Wall  Township.  He  was  born  in  Newburg,  near 
Dundee,  Scotland,  July  14,  1830.  His  parents, 
John  and  Euphemia  (Bonie)  IMorris,  were  also  na- 
tives of  the  same  country,  and  there  passed  to  their 
final  rest. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  received  in 
Scotland,  and  he  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in 
1849,  settling  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  He  afterwards 
removed  to  Fowlerville,  twenty-two  miles  from 
Rochester,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  of  a  ma- 
chinist until  1854,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  mak- 
ing a  location  in  Ottawa.  He  opened  a  machine 
shop  in  Henr3',  111.,  which  he  carried  on  for  two 
years,  and  then  went  toFreeport,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed in  the  reaper  works  of  J.  P.  Manney.  In 
1858,  he  came  to  Ford  County,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Wall  Township,  where  he  remained  for 
several  years. 

On  the  1st  of  September,  1854,  in  Fowlerville, 
N.  Y.,  a  marriage  ceremony  was  performed  which 
united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  INIorris  and  Miss  Mary 
Martin,  a  daughter  of  James  Martin.  ISlrs.  Morris 
was  born  in  Scotland,  and  came  to  America  when 


sm^ 


^ 


N 
s 


^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


403 


eight  or  nine  years  of  age.  Six  children  have  been 
born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  but  two  are  now 
deceased.  Johnson  J.  married  IMiss  Jlaggie  Morri- 
son, and  they  reside  in  Paxton;  Mary  E.  is  at 
home;  Hattie,  wife  of  Robert  Moffett,  also  makes 
her  home  in  Paxton;  Annie  became  the  wife  of 
John  McElro}',  but  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in 
May,  1887;  Charles  M.  and  AUie  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Morris  continued  to  make  his  liome  on  his 
farm  in^  Wall  Township  from  April,  1858,  until 
the  fall  of  1876,  when  he  came  to  Paxton,  and  has 
here  since  resided.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  April,  1886,  and  has  held  that  office  con- 
tinuously since,  being  re-elected  on  the  5th  of 
April,  1889.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business,  and  has  been  quite  successful  in  tli.it  line. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  Republiciin,  .and  a  stanch  sup- 
porter of  the  principles  of  that  part3'.  Religiously, 
he  holds  membership  with  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  is  one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens 
of  the  community.  He  stands  high  in  social  as 
well  as  business  circles,  and  is  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing men  of  Ford  County. 

■it/OHN  GEORGE  BERNHARDT  owns  and 
operates  a  finely  improved  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  pleasantly  situated  within  two  miles 
of  Roberts.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citi- 
zens that  Germany  has  furnished  Ford  County.  He 
was  born  February  17, 1833,  and  is  the  fifth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  five  sons  and  one  daughter,  but  he  h.as  no 
account  of  his  brothers  and  sister,  whether  they  are 
living  or  not.  His  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Heinmann)  Bernhardt,  are  both  deceased.  The 
father  died  in  July,  1847,  at  the  age  of  flfty-two 
years.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  possessed 
much  mechanical  genius.  For  sixyeare,  he  served 
in  the  German  army  and  was  in  two  invasions 
into  France.  He  well  remembered  the  three  Bon- 
apartes.  His  wife  died  in  October,  1849,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-three  years.  Both  were  members  of  the 
German  I/Utheran  Church. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon    his  father's  farm,  and  at  the  age  of 


twenty-one  years,  having  determined  to  try  his 
fortune  in  America,  sailed  from  Bremen  to  New 
York,  where  he  arrived  after  a  voyage  of  forty- 
five  days.  He  went  to  Paterson,  N.  J.,  where  his 
brother  John  was  working  at  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  and  there  resided  for  eighteen  months,  after 
which  he  went  to  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  and  later  to 
Chicago.  He  then  removed  to  Putnam  County, 
where  he  began  life  emijty-handed.  In  1868,  he 
came  to  Ford  County,  and  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  raw  prairie  land  near  the  present  site  of  Roberts, 
though  the  vill.age  was  not  then  laid  out,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  a  prominent  resident  of  Ford 
County. 

Mr.  Bernhardt  resjionded  to  the  call  of  his 
adopted  country  during  the  late  war  and  enlisted 
at  Granville,  Putnam  County,  September  27,  1862, 
as  a  member  of  Company  E,  Fourth  Illinois 
Cavalry,  under  Capt.  AVardlaw.  The  regiment  was 
assigned  to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and  ordered 
first  to  Trenton,  Tenn.  They  afterward  went  to 
Jackson  and  then  entered  upon  the  long  marches 
and  raids  which  proved  so  disastrous  to  many  of 
the  brave  boj's.  Sometimes  they  weie  not  out  of 
the  saddle  for  days  together,  but  rode  through 
mud,  rain  and  snow  with  scared}'  anything  to  eat, 
save  what  they  could  pick  up  along  the  route.  In 
the  latter  part  of  January,  1863,  the  regiment  went 
into  winter  quarters  in  Collierville,  Tenn.  Mr.  Bern- 
hardt while  scouting  was  taken  prisoner  but  w.as 
parolled  the  next  da}-.  Feeling  a  sickness  coming 
on,  he  obtained  leave  of  absence,  and  had  hardly 
reached  home  when  he  was  t.aken  seriously  ill  and 
the  doctor  said  there  were  no  hopes  of  his  recover}', 
but  by  careful  nursing  he  at  length  pulled  through 
and  returned  to  his  regiment,  then  in  the  rear  of 
Vicksburg.  He  remained  in  that  vicinity  for  about 
a  year  and  suffered  many  of  the  hardships  and 
privations  of  army  life.  Often  they  had  not 
enough  to  eat.  On  one  occasion,  Mr.  Bernhardt  told 
his  companion  he  would  hold  his  horse  if  he  would 
go  into  a  cabin  near  by  and  get  something  to  e.at. 
His  comrade  returned  with  a  piece  of  corn  bread, 
and  going  on  to  the  next  house  they  secured  a 
bucket  of  stewed  peaches.  Off  this  they  dined,  and 
Mr.  Bernhardt  s.ays  that  no  Christmas  dinner  ever 
tasted  better  tiian  that  lunch.     He  went  with  his 


404 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


regiment  on  the  raid  through  Mississippi,  Alabama 
and  Georgia,  and  when  the  war  was  over  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  in  June, 
1865,  and  was  mustered  out  and  jjaid  off  in  Spring- 
field. 

On  the  20th  of  .Tanuary,  1872,  Mr.  Bernhardt 
married  Miss  Amelia  Smith.  Their  union  was 
celebrated  in  Lyman  Township,  and  unto  them 
iiave  been  born  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  three 
of  whom  are  yet  living:  Charlie,  who  is  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits;  .Tennie  and  George.  The 
mother  died  on  the  18tli  of  Jul^y,  1878,  and  was 
buried  in  the  Roberts  Cemetery.  Mr.  Bernhardt 
was  again  married,  his  second  union  being  with 
Mrs.  Jlaria  (Frcel)ury)  Wagner,  a  native  of  New 
York.  She  was  lirought  to  Illinois  when  a  maiden 
of  three  years  and  educated  in  La  Salle  County.  Her 
father,  Tiiom.as  Freelmry,  was  a  native  of  England, 
and  in  tliat  country  married  Margaret  Harvey. 
Crossing  the  Atlantic,  they  settled  in  the  Empire 
State,  after  which  they  came  to  Illinois,  and  have 
since  been  residents  of  La  Salle  County.  Mrs.  Bern- 
hardt is  a  lady  of  genial  manners  and  presides 
with  grace  over  her  hospitable  home,  where  her 
many  friends  delight  to  gather.  Mr.  Bernhardt 
has  served  for  nine  years  as  School  Director  in  his 
district  and  does  all  in  his  power  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  cause  of  education.  He  also  contri- 
butes liber.ally  to  other  worthy  enterprises  calcu- 
lated to  benefit  and  improve  the  communit}'.  Soci- 
ally, he  is  a  member  of  Meadow  Mound  Grange 
No.  711,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Church,  of  Lyman  Township. 


^M  NDREW  J.  NELSON,  who  is  engaged  in 
@ytj[     general    farming     on    section     4,   Button 
//[  14    Township,  was  born  on  the  1st  of  January, 
<^  1857,  in  Sweden,  of  which  countiy  his  par- 

ents, Peter  and  Lena  (Christina)  Nelson,  were  also 
natives.  The  father  was  a  farmer,  and  with  his 
family  emigrated  to  the  New  World  in  1869,  sail- 
ing from  Gottenburg  in  June.  The  vessel  dropped 
anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  and  he  came  on 


to  Illinois,  reaching  Ford  County  on  the  5th  of 
July.  Purchasing  a  tract  of  raw  land  in  Button 
Township,  he  made  a  home,  and  upon  that  farm 
reared  his  family.  There  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  30th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1891.  His  wife  died  six  da3-s  previous 
and  they  were  laid  to  rest  side  by  side  in  Paxton 
Cemetery,  where  a  monument  has  been  erected  to 
their  mcmoiy.  Mr.  Nelson  was  an  industrious  man 
and  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  was  one  of  tlje  origi- 
nal members  of  the  Swedish  Church,  of  Clar- 
ence. The  family  numbered  four  sons:  August,  a 
substantial  farmer  of  Iroquois  County;  Charles  G., 
who  died  in  this  county  in  1879,  leaving  a  wife 
and  family;  Andrew  J.,  of  this  sketch;  and  John 
A.,  also  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Iroquois  County-. 

Andrew  Nelson  was  a  lad  of  but  twelve  sum- 
mers when  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  land  and  in  Ford  County,  and  he 
gave  his  father  tlie  benefit  of  his  labors  until  about 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  As  a  companion  and 
helpmate  on  life's  journey  lie  chose  Miss  Hattie 
Johnson,  a  daughter  of  A.  J.  Johnson.  .She  is  a 
native  of  Sweden,  and  when  a  child  came  to  Ford 
County.  Tlieir  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Pax- 
ton,  April  18.  1882.  and  three  children  grace  their 
union:  Ellen  .losephine.  .Vrtliur  Gilbert  and  Fred 
Oscar. 

Previous  to  liis  marriage,  Mr.  Nelson  purchased 
a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  upon  which  he  and  his  bride 
began  their  domestic  life.  The  boundaries  of  his 
farm  have  since  been  extended,  until  now  one  liun- 
dred  and  sixty  acres  of  good  land  yield  to  him  a 
golden  tribute.  He  started  out  in  life  empty- 
handed,  but  his  indusliy,  energy  and  enterprise 
stood  him  instead  of  capital,  and  he  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward  until  he  is  now  numbered 
among  the  well-to-do  agriculturists  of  Button 
Township.  His  farm  is  a  model  one,  and  a  valu- 
able one.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  having 
supported  that  party  since  he  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  He  was  elected 
and  served  for  .eight  consecutive  \'ears  as  Constable 
of  Button  Township,  and  proved  an  etllcient  officer. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Swedish 
Church,  of  Clarence,  and  are   people  held  in  high 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


405 


reijiirrl  hy  their  many  friends  and  acquaintances 
througliout  this  comnumity.  Mr.  Nelson  has  siient 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Ford  County,  and  in 
its  history  is  well  deserving  of  mention,  for  he  has 
ever  proved  himself  a  (jublic-spirited  and  valued 
citizen. 


—5- 


m>^^<^ 


-J— 


JAMES  D.  H'DLOW,  in  wliose  honor  the 
village  of  Ludlow,  111.,  was  named,  was 
born  at  Ludlow  Station,  Hamilton  County, 
Ohio,  in  the  old  block  house  that  was  built 
by  his  ancestors  in  the  pioneer  days  of  Cincinnati, 
when  it  was  necessary  to  guard  against  the  attacks 
of  hostile  Indians.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject  drew  the  chain  in  the  survey  for  the 
original  plat  of  Cincinnati  and  erected  the  l)lock 
house  alluded  to  above.  It  continued  to  be  the 
home  of  his  children  and  grandchildren  for  many 
years.  The  site  of  the  old  house  was  within  tiie 
limits  of  what  is  now  the  Twenty-fifth  Ward  of 
Cincinnati,  and  the  station  established  there  bears 
the  family  name  of  Ludlow. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Hamilton  County  and  on  attaining  man- 
hood was  emplo3'ed  on  Covernment  surveys  in 
Tennessee.  In  1856,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated in  Champaign  County,  within  about  six 
miles  of  Paxton.  There  he  established  his  home 
and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1862,  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan 
Middlecoff,  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Bliddlecoff,  and  a 
sister  of  the  Hon.  J.  P.  Middlecoff,  of  Paxton. 
Mrs.  Ludlow  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Ohio.  After 
their  marriage,  the  young  couple  came  to  Illinois 
and  occupied  the  home  Mr.  Ludlow  had  pre- 
pared in  Champaign  County.  In  the  course  of 
time,  a  village,  with  post-oflice,  church  and  schools, 
developed  at  the  site  of  his  settlement  and  was 
given  the  name  of  Ludlow,  by  which  it  is  still 
known. 

Two  sons  and  five  daughters  were  born  unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ludlow:  Samuel,  the  eldest,  who 
married  Miss  Adella  Martin,  a  daughter  of  .James 
Martin,  IS  a  resident  of   Paxton,   wliere  he  is  en-  , 


gaged  in  the  insurance  business;  Belle  died  at  the 
age  of  three  j-ears;  Theresa  is  the  wife  of  John  L. 
Benedict  and  their  home  is  in  Indianapolis,  Ind.; 
Edmund,  who  is  single  and  resides  in  Paxton,  was 
named  for  Edmund  Ludlow,  one  of  the  regicides 
of  King  Charles  I,  of  England,  and  a  memlier  of 
the  Ludlow  family  prior  to  the  settlement  of  the 
Ainciican  branch  in  the  New  World;  Charlotte 
died  in  infancy;  Catherine  is  single;  Clara,  the 
youngest,  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Ludlow  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  in  Cliampaign  County  until  1883,  when  he 
removed  to  Paxton  and  made  that  city  his  home 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  Dth  of  Oc- 
tober, 1886.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
a  consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church,  held 
in  the  higliest  regard  by  all  who  knew  him.  i\Irs. 
Ludlow  survives  her  husband,  and  still  resides  in 
Paxton,  where  she  is  most  highly  respected.  Mr. 
Ludlow  was  a  man  of  most  excellent  character 
and  unquestioned  integrity  and  long  before  mov- 
ing to  Paxton  was  well  and  favorably  known  to 
the  old  settlers  of  Ford  County. 


-   <><•- 


cvo 


\T  AMES  II.  FLAGG,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Ford  County,  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
Clarence,  was  born  in  Maine,  July  29,  1822. 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  America   was 

the  Rev.  Mr.  Flagg,  who  emigrated  from  England, 
his  native  land,  and  became  a  pioneer  Episco))alian 
minister  of  New  Hampshire,  where  he  reared  his 
famil}'.  His  son  James,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  youth  when  he  crossed  the  broad  At- 
lantic. The  father,  Henry  Flagg,  wasltorn  in  New 
Hampshire  in  1784,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  two 
sons  and  two  daughters.  In  Warren,  Me.,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  OIney  Head,  daughter  of  Col.  Henry  A. 
Head,  a  wealth}-  and  prominent  merchant  of  War- 
ren, and  a  native  of  England.  He  located  in 
Waldoboro,  Me.,  where  he  carried  on  business 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  after  which  he  lived  a 
retired  life  in  Bangor.  His  death  occurred  in 
1878,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four  years. 
His  wife  survived  hiin  two  3'ears  and  passed  away 


406 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


in  1880,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  Both  lie 
buried  in  Mt.  Hope  Cemeter}",  where  a  monu- 
ment marks  their  last  vesting  place.  Mr.  Flagg 
was  a  ver}'  active  and  successful  business  man  and 
accumulated  considerable  propertj'.  He  lived  an 
upright  life  and  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  to  the  support  of  which  he 
also  coutril)uted  liberall3'. 

In  the  Flagg  family  were  six  children  who  grew 
to  mature  jears:  Frances  Maria,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Frederick  A.  Jarvis,  of  Castine,  Me.,  but  is 
now  deceased;  Henrj'  J.,  who  was  engaged  in 
merchandising  in  Chicago  and  died  in  that  city  in 
1866;  James  H.,  of  this  sketch;  Kdmund  W.,  who 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Bangor,  Me., 
until  his  death,  when  he  was  laid  by  the  side  of 
his  parents  in  Mt.  Hope  Cemetery;  William  H., 
a  retired  merchant,  of  Bangor;  and  Arthur,  an 
honored  pioneer  of  Ford  Count}',  now  deceased. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Mr. 
Flagg,  whose  name  heads  this  record.  With  his 
parents  lie  went  to  Bangor  when  a  lad  of  nine 
summers  and  in  the  public  schools  acquired  a  good 
education,  which  was  supplemented  by  a  two  years' 
course  of  stud}'  in  South  Boston.  He  afterward 
entered  the  store  of  his  brother  and  engaged  in 
clerking  for  two  years,  but  becoming  tired  of  that 
life,  he  shipped  as  a  common  sailor  before  the  mast 
and  followed  the  high  seas  for  a  period  of  ten 
3'ears.  He  won  promotion  and  finallj'  became 
master  of  a  vessel,  sailing  as  such  for  two  years. 
During  liis  experience  as  a  sailor,  he  visited  many 
of  the  ports  of  Europe,  made  twelve  voyages  to 
the  West  Indies  and  sailed  around  Cape  Horn  on 
the  Pacific  Ocean  to  California.  This  was  in 
1849,  and  the  gold  fever  was  then  at  its  height. 
On  arriving  at  San  Francisco,  the  entire  crew  left 
the  ship,  Mr.  Flagg  with  the  rest,  and  with  others 
he  went  to  Sacramento  and  on  to  Bear  River, 
where  he  spent  about  a  month.  He  then  went  to 
Telona,  where  the  first  discovery  of  gold  was  made, 
and  there  found  einplo\'njent  as  the  keeper  of  a 
toll  gate  at  a  good  salary  and  continued  that 
occupation  for  about  a  year  and  a  half. 

Ill  1852,  Mr.  Flagg  returned  to  his  family  in 
Bangor.  In  Surry,  Me.,  on  the  6th  of  November, 
1846,  he  had  wedded  Miss  Mar}'  Ann,  daughter  of 


Capt.  F.  A.  Garvis,  who  was  captain  of  a  Govern- 
ment revenue  cutter.  He  left  liis  wife  in  Bangor 
while  he  followed  the  sea  and  during  his  stay  on 
the  Pacific  slope.  After  his  return,  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  with  an 
older  brother  he  engaged  in  merchandising  untQ 
1857.  He  then  emigrnted  to  Wisconsin  and  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Mt.  Pleasant, 
Racine  County,  where  he  first  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  After  two  years  he  sold  out  his 
interest  there  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1850,  settling 
in  Button  Township,  Ford  County.  He  first  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land,  and  when  he  had  it 
under  cultivation  bought  an  adjoining  eighty- 
acre  tract.  He  built  a  substantial  and  pleasant 
residence,  good  barns  and  other  necessaiy  build- 
ings, and  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  desirable 
places  in  that  township.  At  length  he  determined 
to  lay  aside  all  business  cares,  and,  in  1889,  went 
to  Clarence,  where  he  is  now  enjoying  the  rest 
wliich  lie  has  so  truly  earned  and  richlj'  de- 
serves. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flagg  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren: Frances  Maria,  wife  of  AV.  T.  Patton,  a  sub- 
stantial and  prominent  farmer  and  stock  dealer  of 
this  county;  James  W.,  a  prosperous  agriculturist  of 
Vermilion  County;  Ella,  wife  of  W.  H.  Goodwin,  an 
enterprising  farmer  of  Button  Township;  Charles 
H.,  a  merchant  of  Clarence;  Carrie  L.,  at  home; 
Frederick  E.,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Button  Town- 
ship; Lyman,  who  also  follow.s  that  pursuit  in  this 
county;  and  Edmund,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Chicago  School  of  Pharmacy  and  is  now  employed 
in  Paxton. 

Mr.  Flagg  has  been  identified  with  the  Repub- 
lican party  since  its  organization,  having  supported 
each  Presidential  nominee  from  Gen.  John  C. 
Fremont  to  Hon.  Benjamin  Harrison.  He  has 
tiiken  quite  a  prominent  part  in  public  affairs  and 
has  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  county,  district 
and  State  conventions.  He  has  held  the  office  of 
Commissioner  of  Highways,  was  Assessor  of  But- 
ton Township  for  several  years,  was  a  member  of 
the  County  Board  of  Supervisors  for  five  years 
and  its  chairman  f(ir  two  years  and  is  now  Justice 
of  the  Peace  of  Button  Township.  The  cause  of 
education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend.     He  believes 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


409 


in  hiring  competent  teachers  in  order  to  have  good 
schools  and,  while  serving  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board,  did  effective.service  along  that  line. 
Himself  and  wife  are  among  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Pleasant  Grove  Methodist  Church  and 
are  active  workers  in  its  interest.  His  life  has 
been  well  and  worthily  spent  and  it  has  also  been 
a  prosperous  one.  At  the  same  time  that  he  was 
winning  his  competence  he  was  also  gaining  the 
high  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  was  brought 
in  contact  and  none  are  more  favorably  known  in 
this  comnuinitv  than  James  H.  Flagg. 


ylLLIAM  B.  HOLMES,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Ford  Count3',  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  Melvin,  111.,  was  born  in  Derltyshiie, 
England,  September  23,  1820,  on  a  farm  which  had 
been  in  the  Holmes  family  for  four  hundred  years. 
His  father,  AVilliam  Holmes,  Sr.,  who  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  married  Miss  Mary  Woniack. 
Seven  children  graced  their  union,  as  follows: 
John,  who  died  March  9,  1881;  Lizzie,  wife  of 
Aaron  Fletcher;  Jane,  deceased,  wife  of  William 
Green;  Charles,  a  carpenter,  now  living  a  retired 
life  in  Danville;  William,  of  this  sketch;  and  Henry 
also  deceased.  The  father  died  December  15,  185',), 
and  the  death  of  his  wife  occurred  in  1842.  The}' 
were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent 
upon  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  his  father 
apprenticed  him  to  a  coach-maker  for  a  term  of 
six  years,  during  which  he  received  no  wages.  He 
continued  that  work  in  Ilngland  until  1849,  when, 
with  the  hope  of  meeting  a  more  successful  busi- 
ness career,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  on  a  sailing- 
vessel  from  Bristol  to  New  York  Citj',  accompanied 
b}'  his  brother  Charles.  Forty-nine  days  they  were 
upon  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic,  and  then  landed 
at  their  destination.  Jlr.  Holmes  started  for  the 
West  by  way  of  AUiany,  Buffalo  and  the  Lakes, 
and,  locating  in  Milwaukee,  began  working  in  a 
sash  and  door  factory,  where  he  was  employed  for 
a  short  time.     Having   purchased  forty    acres  of 


Government  land  in  Fond  du  Lac  County,  Wis., 
which  was  covered  with  heavy  timber,  he  began 
the  development  of  a  farm.  He  built  a  small  log 
cabin,  bought  a  team  of  unbroken  oxen,  and  made 
his  first  attempt  at  agriculture.  He  cleared  several 
acres  of  his  land,  placed  it  under  cultivation,  and 
at  length  sold,  removing  to  Georgetown,  Vermilion 
County,  111.,  in  1852.  His  brother  Charles  was  liv- 
ing there,  and  with  him  he  engaged  in  carpenter 
work  until  1855,  when  he  came  to  what  is  now 
Ford  County,  but  was  then  Vermilion  County,  and 
purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  Gov- 
ernment land  on  section  27,  of  what  is  now  Peach 
Orchard  Township.  He  liroke  ten  acres  and  made 
other  improvements,  including  the  erection  of  a 
house,  after  which  he  returned  to  Georgetown, 
and  two  years  later,  in  1857,  brought  his  family  to 
the  home  which  he  had  prepared  for  them. 
i  This  family  were  the  first  white  settlers  in  that 
township.  They  experienced  many  of  the  hard- 
ships and  privation  of  pioneer  life,  but  as  years 
passed  by,  all  these  obstacles  were  overcome,  and 
the  pioneer  home,  once  unadorned  by  scarcely  more 
than  the  necessities  of  life,  was  provided  with  its 
comforts  and  many  of  its  luxuries.  About  the 
time  of  Mr.  Holmes'  coming,  Joshua  Nicholson  also 
settled  in  that  community,  bringing  with  him  about 
one  thousand  peach  sprouts,  which  he  set  out  on 
his  new  farm,  and  thus  the  name  of  Peach  Orchard 
was  given  to  the  township. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1844,  Mr.  Holmes  w.is 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza,  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  D.  (Bennett)  Wrenn.  Her  fa- 
ther, who  was  born  in  the  city  of  Gloucester,  Eng- 
l.and,  was  a  professor  of  music,  and  a  descendant 
of  Christopher  Wrenn,  the  great  architect  of  Lon- 
don, who  built  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  and  many 
other  noted  buildings.  In  the  Wrenn  family  were 
eight  children:  William,  who  died  in  1845;  Ann, 
who  became  the  wife  of  James  Thorn,  died  in 
1860;  Henry,  who  occupies  a  Government  posi- 
tion in  London;  Eliza,  wife  of  our  subject;  and 
Alfred,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  the  other  three  died 
in  infancy.  The  father  died  in  1855,  and  the 
death  of  the  mother  occurred  in  1844, and  both  are 
buried  at  Bristol,  England.  Mrs.  Holmes  was  born 
in  Bristol,  England,  October  5,  1820. 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren: Henry,  who  died  in  1845;  Bart,  whoengages 
in  buying  and  shipping  horses  in  Melvin,  was  born 
in  Crewe,  Clieshire,  England;  Lizzie,  who  died  in 
1852;  Henry  C.  died  aged  twenty-one  years;  Will- 
iam, an  attorney-at-law,  of  Ellingham,  111.;  .John 
W.,  who  runs  a  dray  and  express  line  in  Omaha, 
Neb.;  Fannie,  the  first  native  white  child  in  Peach 
Orchard  Township,  who  was  born  May  29,  1857,  is 
now  the  widow  of  Paul  Koestner,  and  a  resident 
of  Melvin;  Mary,  who  died  in  1887;  Sarah  E.  and 
Alfred  L.,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
children  were  all  reared  on  the  old  homestead 
farm,  and  those  younger  than  Bart  were  born  on 
this  side  of  the  Atlantic. 

Mr.  Holmes  there  continued  to  reside  until  1888, 
when  he  removed  to  Melvin,  where  he  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life.  He  still  owns  the  farm  upon 
which  he  located  in  1857.  To  its  early  settlers  the 
county  is  indebted  for  much  that  it  is  to-day. 
Among  these  is  our  subject,  who  has  long  been  iden- 
tified with  its  history.  He  resided  in  Peach  Orch- 
ard Township  for  ten  ^-ears  before  there  were  set- 
tlers enough  in  the  town  to  organize  a  Board  of 
Directors.  He  was  one  of  its  first  Supervisors,  was 
Township  Assessor,  Highway  Commissioner,  School 
Trustee,  and  for  about  fourteen  years  served  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat, 
and  a  strong  supjiortei'  of  party  principles.  He 
attends  the  Congregational  Church,  of  which  his 
worthy  wife  is  a  faithful  member.  Throughout 
Ford  County,  Mr.  Holmes  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him  for 
his  sterling  wortli  and  the  upright  life  which  he 
has  ever  led. 


-^] 


-^} 


^+^[ 


ylLLIAM  T.  PATTON,  farmer  and  stock- 
dealer,  resides  on  section  33,  Button  Town- 
ship, his  post-ofiice  being  Clarence,  111. 
He  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Fountain  County, 
October  20,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Jane 
Patton,  who  were  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
county',  and  whose  .sketch  ap[)ears  elsewhere  in  this 
work.     He  came  to  this  county  and  State  with  his 


parents  when  a  lad  of  nine  years,  and  here  grew  to 
manhood.  His  primary  education  was  obtained  in 
the  public  schools,  after  which  he  attended  Illinois 
College  for  a  time,  and  then  took  a  course  in  tiie 
Agricultural  College  of  Champaign.  After  fin- 
ishing his  studies,  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  in 
Ford  County  for  aliout  three  years.  On  tlie  25th 
of  November,  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Fannie  Flagg,  a  native  of  Maine  and  a 
daughter  of  James  H.  Flagg,  of  Clarence,  another 
of  tlie  honored  pioneers  of  Ford  County,  a  sketch 
of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mrs. 
Patton  was  mostly  reared  and  educated  in  Ford 
County. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Patton  settled  on  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  also  deal- 
ing in  and  shipping  stock.  Of  late  years  he  has 
given  most  of  his  time  and  attention  to  the  stock 
business  and  is  the  largest  dealer  and  shiiJi)er  in 
the  eastern  portion  of  Ford  County.  An  enteii>ris- 
ing  and  thorough  business  man,  he  has  been  (piite 
successful  in  the  stock  business.  He  is  the  owner 
of  a  farm  of  about  six  hundred  acres,  all  good  and 
well  improved  land,  located  about  four  miles  south 
of  Clarence  and  adjoining  the  south  line  of  Ford 
County. 

Formerly,  Mr.  I'atton  was  a  Republican  in  (loli- 
tics,  but  of  late  years  he  has  identified  himself  with 
the  Prohibition  party  and  is  an  advocate  of  the 
principles  of  temperance  and  prohibition.  He  was 
candidate  on  the  old  Creenback  ticket  for  County 
Treasurer,  but  was  defeated,  although  he  ran  ahead 
of  his  ticket.  He  was  elected  and  served  as  one 
of  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  his 
county  and  has  also  held  the  office  of  Assessor  and 
other  local  official  positions  in  his  township.  He 
has  served  as  a  delegate  to  county  conventions 
and  is  one  of  the  Central  Committee  of  the  Pro- 
hibition party.  He  is  a  friend  of  education  and 
believes  in  good  schools  and  good  teachers.  For 
3'ears  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patton  have  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren: Ada,  David,  Charles,  Carrie  and  Elsie,  all  of 
whom  are  attending  school.  Mr.  Patton  and  his 
wife  arc  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  official  mem- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


411 


hers.  He  is  an  active  worker  in  lioth  cliiircli  and 
Sunday-school  and  has  served  as  Superintendenl 
of  the  Sunday-school  for  a  nural)er  of  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Pellsville 
Lodge,  I.  O.  ().  F.,  and  also  one  of  the  cliarter  mem- 
bers of  the  lodge  at  CUirence. 

Mr.  Patton  has  been  a  resident  of  Ford  C'ounty, 
and  of  Button  Township,  almost  his  entire  life. 
He  h.as  grown  from  a  child  to  mature  years  among 
its  people  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  its  foremost 
citizens.  No  man  stands  higher  in  pulilic  esteem 
than  does  William  T.  Patton. 


a4'*'5"!',^^-3"5"5"5'r 


--• 5-**->i 


t^^^^i 


f^EY.  OSCAR  V.  IIOLMGIJAIN,  the  efficient 
v^  County  Treasurer  of  Ford  C'ounty,  who 
\V  ranks  among  the  best  citizens  of  Paxton, 
was  born  on  the  11th  of  March,  1852,  in 
the  Parish  of  Simtuna,  near  the  cit3'  of  Westeros, 
one  of  the  oldest,  if  not  the  oldest,  cit3-of  Sweden. 
His  father  was  a  professor  of  music.  Oscar  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  afterwards  entered 
college,  from  which  he  was  graduated  on  the  19th 
of  May,  1871,  at  tlie  age  of  nineteen  years.  He 
also  studied  philosophy  for  a  short  time  in  the  un- 
iversity of  Upsala  and  was  thereafter  admitted  to 
some  of  the  Government  departments  in  Stockholm, 
but  all  of  these  departments  were  crowded  l)y  those 
seeking  preferment,  and  seeing  the  hopeless  task 
of  expecting  to  gain  a  competency  for  man^^  years 
to  come,  Mr.  Holmgrain  resolved  to  try  his  fortune 
in  America,  where  he  believed  that  better  opportu- 
nities were  afforded  young  men  than  in  the  older 
countries  across  the  Atlantic. 

Carrying  out  his  resolution,  he  landed  at  New 
York  on  the  6th  of  May,  1872,  and  went  to  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  where  he  first  obtained  a  position  in 
a  wholesale  establishment  on  Market  Street.  After- 
ward he  was  employed  in  a  jewelry  store  in  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  until  the  spring  of  1879,  when  he  deter- 
mined to  fit  himself  for  tlie  ministry  and  enter 
upon  gospel  work.  To  this  end,  he  made  his  way 
AVestward,  and  as  a  student  entered  Auguslana 
College  and  Theological  Seminary  located  in  Rock 
Island,  III.,  and   while  studying  theology  was  em 


plo3'ed  as  assistant  teacher  in  the  college  depart- 
ment. In  .June,  1882,  he  was  ordained  for  the 
ministry  in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  and 
accepted  a  call  as  pastor  from  the  congregation  in 
Beaver,  Iroquois  County,  111.  He  labored  there 
for  more  than  threes-ears,  or  until  the  fall  of  188,'), 
when  he  removed  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  to  take 
charge  of  the  Elvangelical  Lutheran  Cluuch  in  that 
place.  He  there  continued  his  pastoral  labors  for 
two  years,  when,  in  the  autumn  of  1887,  he  again 
came  to  Illinois,  accepting  a  call  from  the  church 
at  Farmersville,  Ford  Count}',  111.  (Farmersville, 
by  the  wa}',  is  no  village  at  all,  but  merely  a  settle- 
ment without  fixed  boundaries,  covering  some 
eight  or  ten  square  miles  and  situated  some  six  or 
eight  miles  southwest  of  Paxton.  The  settlers  are 
mostl}'  Swedish  and  Norwegian  farmers). 

On  the  24tli  of  June,  1882,  Mr.  Holmgrain  was 
united  in  the  hoi}'  bonds  of  matrimony  with  Miss 
Jennie  Christina  Linderholm,  of  Sterling,  111.,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  two  children:  Elmer 
Frederick,  born  August  21,  1888,  and  Erick  Oscar, 
the  3d  of  March,  1891. 

Entirely  unsolicited  by  him,  in  September,  1890, 
Mr.  Holmgrain  was  nominated  for  the  position  of 
County  Treasurer  on  the  people's  ticket  and  elected 
to  fill  that  position  for  a  term  of  four  years  from 
December  1,  1890.  He  is  proving  a  capal)le  and 
efficient  officer,  ever  prompt  and  faithful  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties.  His  life  has  been  an  up- 
right and  honorable  one,  and  not  only  l)y  the 
people  of  his  own  church  but  by  all  who  know 
him  he  is  held  in  the  highest  rearard. 


^^^USTAVE  FREDERICKSON  follows  farm- 
ing on  section  21,  Patton  Township.  Among 
^J  the  substantial  agriculturists  of  foreign 
birth  who  have  commenced  life  empty-handed 
in  Illinois  and  acquired  a  competence  and  an 
honorable  name,  should  he  mentioned  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Sweden,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1845,  and  his  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm 
in  his  native  country.     He    received   fair  oduca- 


412 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tional  advantages  in  the  mother  tongue,  but  is 
wholly  self-educated  in  English.  When  a  young 
man  of  twenty-tiiree  years,  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1868,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  a  steamer, 
which  dro|ij)ed  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York 
after  seventeen  days  spent  upon  the  Atlantic, 
during  six  of  which  they  encountered  very  severe 
weather.  It  was  on  tlie  22d  of  April  that  Mr. 
Frederickson  first  set  foot  on  American  soil. 

Our  subject  came  direct  to  Paxton  and  joined 
an  uncle  who  had  located  here  some  three  3'ears 
previous,  and  resided  on  a  farm  about  three  miles 
south  of  the  cit}'.  lie  then  secured  employment 
with  M.  L.  Sullivant,  one  of  the  most  extensive 
farmers  of  Ford  County,  at  that  time  employing 
over  four  hundred  men.  Mr.  Frederickson  began 
working  l)y  the  month  and  remained  in  the  employ 
of  this  prominent  farmer  seven  jears,  five  years 
of  which  time  he  was  one  of  the  foremen.  Dur- 
ing that  period  he  lost  only  two  weeks'  time  from 
work,  and  that  was  caused  by  sickness  during  the 
second  year  of  his  service.  In  the  meantime, 
another  important  event  in  his  life  occurred — his 
marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Peterson,  a  native  of 
Sweden,  who  came  to  the  United  .States  when  a 
maiden  of  nineteen  summers.  Their  union  was 
celebrated  on  the  13th  of  October,  1872. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Frederickson  rented  land  and  en- 
gaijed  in  farming  for  himself,  continuing  to  rent 
for  about  ten  years.  During  that  time  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw  land, 
which  constitutes  his  present  farm,  and  placed  it 
under  cultivation,  fenced  and  tiled  it,  and  built 
the  necessary  buildings  thereon.  To  that  farm 
he  removed  in  1887,  and  it  has  since  been  his 
home.  He  has  built  a  commodious  and  substan- 
tial residence  which,  with  the  other  improvements 
on  the  place,  stands  as  a  monument  to  the  thrift 
and  enterprise  of  the  owner.  As  the  years  have 
passed  and  his  financial  resources  have  increased, 
he  has  also  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm, 
until  it  now  comprises  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  in  one  body  on  section  21.  It  is  a  desirable 
and  valuable  place,  and  the  owner  is  one  of  the 
progressive  and  prominent  farmers  of  Patton 
Township. 

In    1884,    Mr.   Frederickson    embarked    in     the 


mercantile  business  at  Henderson  Station,  liut  did 
not  discontinue  farming,  and  carried  on  a  success- 
ful trade  there  for  six  3-ears.  He  also  bought  and 
dealt  in  grain.  In  1890,  he  sold  out  his  business, 
and  has  since  given  his  entire  attention  to  the 
farm  and  stock-dealing.  He  has  been  most  suc- 
cessful in  all  his  undertakings,  and  liis  success  has 
been  all  the  greater  when  we  take  into  considera- 
tion the  fact  that  he  began  life  with  0UI3'  a  pair 
of  willing  hands  to  aid  him  in  climbing  the  hill  of 
prosperity.  He  is  a  man  of  unblemished  charac- 
ter, straightforward  and  honorable  in  all  the  re- 
lations of  life,  and  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  neigh- 
bors .and  friends.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Farmersville  Lutheran  Church, and,  in  politics, 
he  is  a  Republican.  He  takes  quite  an  active  part 
in  local  politics,  and  has  served  for  six  years  as 
Commissioner  of  Highways.  Mr.  Frederickson  in 
manner  is  pleasant  and  courteous,  and  tlie  respect 
tendered  him  by  all  with  wliom  he  comes  in  con- 
tact is  well  merited. 


i^^  ETF.R  RASMUS  is  a  photographer  engaged 
in  business  in  Paxton,  111.,  and  his  life 
record  is  as  follows:  A  native  of  .Sweden, 
he  was  born  in  Gamalstorp,  on  the  12th 
of  September,  1862,  his  parents  being  Ake  and  Ida 
Rasmus,  natives  of  the  same  countiy.  With  his 
parents,  when  a  lad  of  five  years,  he  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  America,  the  family  settling  in  this 
city.  His  father  died  in  1882,  aged  fifty-nine 
years  and  three  months:,  Ijut  his  mother  j'et  sur- 
vives and  is  still  a  resident  of  Paxton. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  In  1885,  he  began 
learning  photography  with  ().  D.  Noble,  of  Paxton, 
with  whom  lie  worked  about  a  year,  and  then  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  worked  a  year,  perfecting 
himself  in  his  business.  He  then  returned  to  Pax- 
ton and  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Noble, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Noble  &  Rasmus.  On  the 
9tli  of    February,    1886,    he  estal>lishcd    a  branch 


\ 


d^iCiyiy-Ci'.^^O'  /  ^ 


>~e...^^~~€^'^\ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


415 


gallery  in  Gibson,  Ford  County,  which  he  con- 
diK'terl  for  two  years,  while  Mr.  Noble  liad  charge 
of  the  one  here.  After  two  years  lie  closed  it  out 
and  returned  to  Paxton,  and,  purchasing  his  part- 
ner's interest  in  the  business,  has  since  carried  on 
the  gallery  alone. 

A  marriage  ceremony  performed  in  Paxton 
on  the  1 1th  of  December,  1890,  united  the  destinies 
of  Mr.  Rasmus  and  Miss  Hannah  K.  .Swanson,  who 
was  Ijorn  in  Pntton  Townsliip,  Ford  County,  and 
is  a  daugiitcr  of  John  and  Emily  Swanson.  llcr 
father  is  now  deceased  and  her  motlier  is  living, 
being  the  wife  of  Gus  Carlson.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rasmus  are  members  of  the  ^Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  and  are  people  of  sterling  worth,  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  this  community.  In  his 
political  views,  Mr.  Rasmus  is  a  Republican,  and  in 
his  social  relations,  is  a  Knight  of  Pytliias,  belong- 
ing to  Gibson  Lodge  No.  123.  His  gallery  has 
been  longer  in  existence  in  Paxton  than  any  other, 
and  he  does  all  kinds  of  work  in  the  line  of  his 
art  in  first-class  style.  The  coming  summer,  he 
designs  makinga  specialty  of  dning  view  work,  in 
the  way  of  farm  and  \\nc  residence  views.  He 
earnestly  desires  to  please  his  customers,  and  his 
efforts  in  tliat  direction,  combined  with  his  courte- 
ous treatment,  have  won  for  him  a  liberal  patron- 
age. 


4^ 


EDWARD    BABCOCK,   who   is 
general  farming  on  secti<jn  G,i 
,-      -'  siiip,  is  numbered  among  the 


"^i^DWARD    BABCOCK,    who   is   engaged    in 

,  Patton  Town- 
early  settlers 
of  the  county.  He  claims  Connecticut  as  tlie 
State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Middlctown,  November  17,  1828.  He  traces  his 
ancestry  back  to  the  Pilgrim  Fatiiers  who  in  an 
early  da^'  settled  in  New  England.  His  grand- 
father, Samuel  Bal)cock,  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Saybrook,  Conn.,  and  his  son,  who  also  bore  the 
name  of  Samuel,  was  there  reared  to  manhood. 
He  learned  tiie  goldsmith's  trade  in  Middlctown, 
following  it  for  some  years.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Jane  Cornwall, 
who  also  belonged  to  one  of  the   pioneer  families 


of  Connecticut.  They  continued  to  reside  in  Mid- 
dlctown throughout  the;  remainder  of  their  lives. 

Our  subject  is  a  child  of  the  second  marriage. 
The  days  of  his  youth  were  passed  in  his  native 
town,  where  he  accjuired  a  fair  education.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen,  he  went  to  New  Jersey,  where  he 
learned  tiie  trade  of  manufacturing  jewelry,  serv- 
ing a  five-years'  apprenticeship  in  Newark.  He 
then  worked  in  the  employ  of  other  firms  in  New- 
ark for  eight  years,  after  which  he  decided  to  emi- 
grate Westward,  and  in  1858  became  a  resident 
of  Marion  County,  Mo.,  locating  on  a  farm.  He 
now  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock- 
raising  for  a  few  years,  but  abandoned  this  labor 
to  enter  the  service  of  his  country.  In  August, 
1862,  he  became  a  member  of  Comjiany  A,  Third 
Missouri  Cavalry,  and  served  on  detached  service 
most  of  the  time,  being  detailed  to  act  as  clerk  in 
the  Division  and  Brigade  headquarters.  He  re- 
ceived his  discharge  in  June,  1865,  at  Little  Rock. 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Babcock  returned  to  Connect- 
icut on  a  visit  to  his  mother  and  sister,  and  there 
spent  a  few  months,  recuperating  his  health,  which 
had  become  impaired  during  his  service.  Tlie  suc- 
ceeding winter  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  this  time 
made  a  location  in  Ford  County.  In  the  spring 
of  1866,  he  was  joined  in  w(  dlock  with  Miss  Anna 
H.  Crane,  daughter  of  Augustus  Crane,  a  native 
of  New  Jersey,  who  had  been  a  partner  of  Mr. 
Babcock  in  Missouri.  The  lady  w.as  also  born  in 
New  Jersey,  where  she  resided  until  thirteen  years 
of  age,  and  then  accompanied  her  parents  to  the 
West,  the  family  locating  in  Ford  County  about 
1865.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babcock  have  been  born 
six  children,  who  are  yet  living,  viz:  Anna,  wife 
of  Byron  E.  JMorgan,a  farmer  of  Iroquois  County; 
Lydia,  who  has  been  liberally  educated;  Augus- 
tus M.,  now  a  student  in  the  Paxton  High  School; 
Jane,  Edward  S.  and  William  F.,  who  are  also  at- 
tending school.  They  lost  their  second  child,  a 
daughter,  Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Babcock  purchased  land 
and  located  in  Wall  Township,  Ford  County'.  He 
bought  an  improved  tr.act  of  eighty  acres  and  also 
eighty  acres  of  wild  land  adjoiniiig,  and  devoted 
his  entire  energies  to  its  cultivation  for  a  number 
of  years.  At  length,  he  sold  and  removed  to  Buck- 


416 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ley,  Iroquois  County,  wliere  he  lived  a  retired 
life  for  some  time  as  his  health  was  greatly  im- 
paired. After  eight  years  spent  in  this  way,  in 
the  fall  of  1889,  he  purchased  his  present  home. 
It  is  a  desirable  place,  comprising  forty  acres  of 
valuable  laud,  situated  witliin  a  half  mile  of  Pax- 
ton.  The  fields  are  well  tilled,  improvements 
kept  up  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm 
may  there  be  seen,  indicating  the  practical  and 
progressive  spirit  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Babcock  was  originally  a  Democrat,  but  at 
Lincoln's  second  election  supported  him  and  has 
since  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  takes  quite  an  active  part  in  politics  and  has 
been  honored  with  several  positions  of  trust,  hav- 
ing served  as  Township  Supervisor,  Clerk,  Treas- 
urer and  Road  Commissioner.  The  cause  of  edu- 
cation has  found  in  him  a  warm  friend  and, 
while  serving  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board, 
he  has  done  effective  service  in  the  interest  of  the 
schools.  His  residence  in  Ford  County  covers  al- 
most a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  he  has  therefore 
witnessed  much  of  its  growth  and  development. 


•^^l 


a:«»H 


!M^^ 


HARLKS  HOWARD  YKOIM A NS,  abstracter 
of  titles,  is  associated  with  the  firm  of  Day 
^z  Brothers,  real  estate  and  loan  agents  of 
Paxton.  His  life  recoid  is  as  follows:  He  was 
born  in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  Decembei-  2, 
1846,  and  is  a  sou  of  .lames  and  Sarah  (Redfield) 
Yeomans.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Delaware 
County,  N.  Y.,  born  in  March,  1815,  and  was  of 
Scottish  ancestry.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  the  first  3ears  of  the  present  century, 
settling  in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.  His  son 
James  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and,  with  his 
family,  removed  to  Kane  County,  lib,  in  1851. 
His  death  occurred  in  Inxjuois  County,  of  the 
same  State,  in  January,  1877.  His  wife  was  born 
near  Delhi,  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  .1.  (J.  Redfield,  and  is  a  lineal 
descendant  of  Theophilus  and  IViseilla  Redfield, 
who    were    members   of  that   historic   band   that 


landed  from  the  •'Mayflower"  at  Plymouth  Rock, 
that  memoralile  21st  of  December,  1620.  She  sur- 
vives her  husband,  and  now  resides  in  (iilman, 
HI. 

Charles  Howard  Yeomans  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents  in  1851,  when  but  four  years  of  age. 
He  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  eujojod  the  advantage  of  the  country  district 
school,  which  was  supplemented  by  persistent 
study  in  spare  hours  out  of  school.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen,  he  found  it  necessary  to  make  an  effort, 
outside  of  the  home  farm,  to  aid  his  father,  who 
was  broken  dowu  in  health  and  liadly  crippled 
financially  through  the  jjanic  of  1857.  At  this 
time  the  lands  along  the  line  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad  were  being  opened  to  settlement, 
and  the  demand  for  labor  was  apparent.  Fitting 
himself  out  with  a  breaking-team  and  plow,  he 
struck  out  a  distance  of  fifty  miles  from  home,  and 
spent  the  entire  season  in  breaking  prairie  near  the 
town  of  Peotone,  Will  County,  which  was  but 
just  starting  into  life.  He  remained  on  the  farm 
until  eighteen  years  of  age,  at  which  time  his 
younger  brothers  were  old  enough  to  operate  it. 
Our  subject  became  impatient  to  secure  an  educa- 
tion. He  had  begun  teaching  school  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  but  had  not  saved  any  money  from 
that  source.  His  first  financial  investment  was 
when  he  was  eleven  years  old.  lie  took  a  scythe, 
went  to  the  marsh  and  put  up  two  loads  of  marsh 
hay,  which  he  hauled  to  market,  and  with  the  pro- 
ceeds purchased  two  steer  calves,  which  he  raised 
and  broke  to  work,  selling  them  when  three  years 
old  for  IKK).  This  mone}'  constituted  his  capital, 
when,  in  the  fall  of  1864,  he  entered  Ripon  Col- 
lege, in  Ripon,  Wis.,  as  a  student.  He  pursued 
his  course  at  college,  interrupted  only  by  terms  of 
school  teaching,  by  which  he  earned  the  necessar}' 
means  to  defray  his  expenses  until  he  was  grad- 
uated, in  June,  1.S71,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
Two  years  ])revious  to  the  time  of  completing  his 
collegiate  course,  being'  in  advance  of  his  class  in 
his  studies,  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  the 
direction  of  the  lion.  Jerry  Dobbs,  a  leading  law- 
yer of  IJipon.  Working  double  time  at  his  liter- 
ary and  legal  studies,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Wis- 
consin   Bar,  October    10,    1870,  one   year    before 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


417 


graduating  from  college.  He  received  the  degree 
of  A.  I\I.  from  the  same  college  in  1879,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  return  to  his  alma  mater  to  deliver 
the  annual  address  before  the  Alumni  Society. 
After  graduating,  he  aeceiitcd  the  iiosition  of 
principal  of  the  Ouarga  graded  schools  for  a 
year,  declining  a  re-appointment  in  order  to  enter 
iijion  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  -Tuly,  1872, 
he  located  in  Gibson,  Ford  County,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the  Illinois  courts  through 
the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State,  in  September, 
1872.  He  had  opened  an  otlice  in  (Jibson  the  pre- 
vious spring,  being  the  first  lawyer  at  that  place, 
and,  from  the  start,  he  took  an  .active  interest  in 
building  up  and  improving  the  little  village  where 
he  resided,  and  made  substantial  improvements. 

On  October  I,  1874,  Air.  Veomans  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mar}'  Kaney,  who  was  born 
in  Peoria  County.  1 11.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Henry  A.  and  Susan  Raney.  JMr.  and  Mrs. 
Yeomans  have  tiiree  children:  Fred  H.,  born  Oc- 
tober 7,  1.^77;  Cora,  November  1,  1880;  and  Nellie, 
February  14,  1884. 

Mr.  Yeomans  contiiuud  to  reside  in  Gibson  un- 
til September  18,  1884,  when  he  was  compelled  to 
sell  out  his  practice  on  account  of  sickness  in  his 
family,  and  try  a  change  of  climate.  Kansas 
seemed  to  olTer  the  advantage  sought,  and  he  re- 
moved to  that  State,  making  his  home  in  (lirard, 
where  he  pursued  the  practice  of  law  until  the 
spring  of  1889,  when  his  family  having  fully  re- 
covered their  health,  he  returned  to  Ford  County 
and  settled  in  Paxton,  which  h.as  since  been  his 
home.  On  cnining  to  this  place,  he  engaged  in 
the  abstract  business,  and  is  also  associated  with 
the  firm  of  Day  Brothers  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness. He  h.as  a  full  set  of  abstracts  for  Ford 
Count}',  and  is  devoting  his  time  princi|)ally  to 
that  and  the  real-estate  business,  pursuing  the 
practice  of  law  only  in  cases  involving  (jueslions 
of  title  to  real  estate. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Yeomans  is  a  Republican,  and 
has  held  a  number  of  offices  of  honor  and  trust. 
For  several  years  he  was  City  Attorney  of  CSibson, 
was  Supervisor  from  Gibson  in  1882,  was  Chair- 
man of  the  Ford  County  lioard  of  Supervisors  in 
1883,  and  was  also  Trustee    of   Gibson.     Socially, 


he  is  a  Knight  Temjilar  Mnson,  a  member  of  Pax- 
ton  Lodge  No.  416,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter 
No.  113,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Olivet  Commaudery  No. 
38,  K.  T.  He  has  served  as  chief  officer  in  all  of 
these  bodies.  Mr.  Yeomans  is  an  indefatigable 
worker,  and  any  business  entrusted  to  his  care  re- 
ceives prompt  and  effective  attention.  His  busi- 
ness career  has  been  characterized  b}'  strict  integ- 
rity and  fair  and  honorable  discharge  of  his  obli- 
gations. 


—J- 


^>^^<m^ 


OSCAR  L.  CAMPBF^LL,  an  enterprising  and 
])ractical  farmer  residing  on  section  26, 
sjwf/  Button  Township,  was  born  on  the  yth  of 
December,  18.50,  in  Northumberland  County,  Pa., 
and  comes  of  an  old  New  F^ngland  family.  His 
grandfather,  James  Campbell,  was  a  native  of  New 
.lersey,and  when  a  lad  of  fifteen  years  removed  to 
the  Keystone  State.  Capt.  Obediah  II.  Campbell, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Northumberl.and 
County,  Pa.,  December  17,  1811,  and  became  a 
carpenter  by  trade, also  working  at  cabinet-making 
in  early  life.  In  the  county  of  his  nativity,  he 
married  Miss  Margaret  L.  Poyer,  also  born  in 
Northumberland  County,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
D.  Poyer.  He  then  worked  at  his  trade  of  car- 
()cntering  and  also  carried  on  his  farm  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  or  until  his  removal  to  the  West  in 
the  winter  of  18.55.  In  that  year,  he  became  a 
resident  of  Indiana, and  the  following  spring  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  what  is  now  Ford  County. 
He  settled  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  the  home 
of  our  subject,  being  one  of  the  first  pioneers  of 
that  locality.  This  place  contained  about  one  hun- 
dred acres  which  had  been  broken  and  fenced,  and 
had  a  comfortable  log  house.  The  same  house, 
with  some  additions  and  changes,  is  still  in  good 
repair  and  is  occujiied  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
and  his  family  to-day.  Mr.  Campbell  f)pened  up 
a  large  farm  and  carried  on  (luite  an  extensive 
business.  The  place  is  located  on  a  pulilic  highway 
which  w.as  extensively  traveled  in  the  early  days 
of  Ford  County,  and  Mr.  Campbell  w.as  "mine 
host"   and  entertained  the  traveling  public  at   his 


418 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


"wayside  inn,"  often  furnishing  accommodations 
to  tliuty  men  and  tlieir  teams  at  niglit.  He  was 
an  old  .laelvson  Democrat  and  adlieiud  to  tlie  prin- 
ciples  and  supported  tlie  measures  of  that  party 
during  liis  life.  He  tooii  quite  an  active  interest 
in  local  politics  hut  never  sought  office  for  him- 
self, lie  won  his  title  by  serving  .as  Captain  of 
Militia  in  his  native  State. 

The  death  of  Mrs.  Canipliell  occurred  on  the  4th 
of  February,  1868.  Mr.  Campbell  survived  his 
wife  some  seventeen  years  and  died  on  the  24th  of 
February,  1885.  He  was  well  known  throughout 
Ford  County  and  was  a  man  of  sterling  character 
and  one  of  its  honored  [uoneers,  esteemed  and  re- 
spected by  all  who  knew  him.  At  his  death,  many 
friends  mourned  his  loss  and  a  monument  has  been 
erected  to  his  memory.  This  worthy  couple  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
Robert  F.,  is  a  carpenter  of  Adair  County,  Mo.; 
Abraham  L.  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Indiana; 
William  A.  is  an  agriculturist  of  Ford  County; 
Francis  M.  resides  in  Chicago;  Josephine  died  in 
Ford  County,  December  5,  1882;  Oscar  L.  is  the 
next  j'ounger;  Henrietta  is  the  wife  of  Daniel 
Moudy,  of  Ford  County;  Ann  Louisa  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  J.  N. 
Swinford;  Lee  Britt,  born  on  the  old  homestead, 
operates  the  home  farm  in  connection  with  our 
subject. 

O.  L.  Campbell  has  spent  almost  his  entire  life 
in  Ford  County,  for  he  was  a  lad  of  but  five  sum- 
mers when  his  parents  here  located.  He  received 
such  educational  advantages  as  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  afforded  and  was  reared  to 
maniiood  upon  the  home  farm.  After  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority,  he  engaged  in  the  flouring 
mill  business  in  Potomac,  Vermilion  Count}',  for 
about  three  j'ears,  after  which  he  returned  to  this 
county  and  in  connection  with  his  brother  leased 
and  carried  on  the  homestead  farm  until  after  the 
death  of  the  father,  since  which  time  it  has  become 
their  property  and  is  now  carried  on  by  them  con- 
jointly. 

On  the  3d  of  .lune,  1886,  Mr.  Campbell  led  to 
the  maniage  altar  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Kirbj-,  daughter 
of  William  Bryan,  who  removed  to  Appanoose 
County,  Iowa,  when  his  daughter  was  a  maiden  of 


nine  summers.  He  was  a  native  of  England  and 
became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Ford  County. 
In  Appanoose  County,  the  lady  was  mostly  reared 
and  educated.  She  became  the  wife  of  Isaac  Kirby 
and  unto  then  were  born  two  children:  Archie  and 
Bertiia  May.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  have 
also  been  born  two  cliildren:   Russell  and  Iva  C. 

iNIr.  Cami)bell  is  a  Democrat  when  (juestions  of 
national  imijortance  are  under  consideration,  but 
at  local  elections  supports  the  man  whom  he  thinks 
will  Ijest  fill  the  ofHce.  His  fellow-citizens  have 
frequently  called  np(jn  him  to  serve  in  positions 
of  (niblic  trust,  he  having  filled  the  ofHce  of  High- 
way Commissioner;  he  is  now  a  member  of  the  School 
Board.  O.  L.  and  Lee  Britt  Campbell  are  among 
the  thrifty  and  enterprising  farmers  of  Button 
Township,  and  are  well  known  throughout  Ford 
County  as  men  of  sterling  worth,  upright  and 
honorable  in  all  Imsiness  affairs  and  deserving  the 
esteem  in  wliich  they  are  held.  They  are  worthy 
representatives  of  an  honored  pioneer  family 
which  has  long  been  identified  with  the  historj-  of 
the  county. 

^|>^ICIIOLAS  M.  KEMP,  a  farmer  and  stock- 
[|  jfj  raiser  residing  on  section  ll,Patton  Town- 
/iyi^  ship,  has  long  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
and  is  well  deserving  of  representation  in  this 
volume.  A  native  of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  born 
in  Fayette  Count}-,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1844, 
and  comes  of  an  old  family  of  New  Jersey.  His 
grandfather,  Charles  Kemp,  a  native  of  that  State, 
became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Fayette 
Count}',  Pa.  He  was  of  German  descent,  the  fam- 
ily being  founded  in  New  Jersey  in  Colonial  days. 
Jacob  Kemp,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
the  Keystone  State,  Novemlier  25,  1821,  and  after 
attaining  to  mature  years  married  Sarah  Parnell,a 
native  of  Fayette  County,  where  her  father,  Israel 
Parnell,  was  a  substantial  farmer.  The  young  couple 
began  their  domestic  life  on  a  farm,  but  after  a 
number  of  years  removed  Westward  in  1856,  locat- 
ing in  Marshall  County,  111.  The  father  is  one  of 
the  honored  early  settlers  of  that  county,  and  is 


-•'•? 


\ 


^-z.-^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


423 


still  living  on  the  old  homestead  there.  He  has 
been  three  times  married, his  first  wife  having  died 
in  Pennsylvania.  In  politics,  lie  is  a  Republican 
and  has  been  honored  with  several  local  positions 
of  trust.  In  the  family  were  three  children  who 
grew  to  mature  years,  Nicholas,  of  this  sketch,  be- 
ing the  eldest.  Sarah  ^I.  is  now  the  wife  of  Will- 
iam GriHin,  a  farmer  of  La  Salle  County,  111.,  and 
Marian  Elizabeth  resides  in  Paxton. 

Nicholas  Kemp  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father 
in  1856,  a  lad  of  twelve  years,  and  grew  to  man- 
liood  in  Marshall  County.  He  received  good  edu- 
cational advantages  and  remained  under  the  paren- 
tal roof  until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority. 
He  began  earning  his  own  livelihood,  however,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen,  when  he  commenced  teaching 
in  the  public  schools  of  Marshall  County.  For  ten 
years,  he  followed  that  profession.  In  May,  1864, 
he  responded  to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  en- 
listing as  a  member  of  Company  Y,  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  with 
his  regiment  through  Kentucky  and  Missouri  and 
participated  in  some  minor  engagements.  He  re- 
ceived his  discharge  in  Chicago  in  the  fall  of 
1864. 

On  his  return  to  the  North,  Mr.  Kemp  turned 
his  attention  to  farming,  which  he  followed  during 
the  summer  season,  while  in  the  winter  months  he 
engaged  in  teaching.  In  the  spring  of  1875,  he 
came  to  Ford  County  and  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  twentj' acres  of  land,  situated  four  miles 
west  of  Paxton.  The  place  was  then  but  sparsely 
improved,  but  it  has  since  undergone  great  changes, 
a  commodious  and  substantial  residence  having 
been  erected,  good  barns  and  outbuildings  built, 
and  the  whole  transformed  into  a  valuable  and 
well-improved  farm.  He  gives  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests,  having  never 
taken  part  in  political  affairs  other  than  casting 
his  ballot  for  Republican  candidates.  However,  he 
served  for  a  number  of  years  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board. 

In  Marshall  Countj-,  111.,  on  the  12th  of  March, 
1865,  Mr.  Kemp  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Catherine  Axline,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  but 
spent  her  girlhood  days  in  Marshall  County,  where 
her  father,  Aaron  Axline,  is  one  of  the  substantial 
18 


farmers  and  an  honored  pioneer.  Eight  children 
have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kemp,  namely: 
Justin  A.,  who  was  graduated  from  a  commercial 
college  and  is  now  employed  in  Paxton;  Luella  B., 
wife  of  R.  A.  McCracken,  of  Paxton;  Perle  A., 
who  was  graduated  from  the  Collegiate  Institute 
and  is  now  employed  in  Paxton;  Edna,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  teaching  music;  Victor,  Willard  and  Myr- 
tle, who  are  attending  school,  and  Ralph  W.,  who 
completes  the  famil}'. 

The  parents  and  the  three  eldest  children  are 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Pax- 
ton, and  Mr.  Kemp  is  a  member  of  the  Paxton 
Grand  Army  Post.  He  was  appointed  crop  re- 
jjoiter  for  tiie  county  by  the  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture for  the  ^-ears  1891  and  1892.  Throughout 
Ford  and  adjoining  counties,  Mr.  Kemp  is  well  and 
favorably  known  as  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
progressive  farmers  of  this  community  and  a  man 
of  unblemished  character  who  deserves  the  high 
esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 


\T/ OHN  lEHL,  senior  member  of  the  private 
banking  firm  of  lehl  &  Co.,  of  Melvin,  and 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  and  most  enter- 
prising men  of  that  place,  was  born  in  Bald- 
enheim  Alsace,  France, now  a  province  of  Germany, 
on  the  13th  of  January,  1839.  His  parents,  .lohn 
and  Barbara  lehl,  were  natives  of  the  same  province, 
and  the  mother  bore  the  same  family  name  as  her 
husband,  but  was  not  related  to  him  prior  to  her 
marriage. 

Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  emigrated  from  Alsace 
to  America  with  his  parents  in  1850,  when  a  lad 
of  eleven  years,  and  settled  in  Deerfield  Township, 
Lake  County,  111.,  where  the  parents  remained  for 
some  3ears,  the  father  carrying  on  a  farm  until 
1888,  when  he  removed  to  Northfield  Township, 
Cook  Count}',  111.,  where  he  still  makes  his  home. 
He  was  born  on  the  20th  of  May,  1809,  and  his 
wife  in  Ajjril  of  tiie  same  3-ear.  Her  death  occurred 
in  Dearfield,  in  April,  1852,  at  the  age  of  fort}-- 
three  years.  In  their  family  are  three  living  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Barbara,  who  was  born  Blarch  17, 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1836,  married  Phillip  Laesser  and  resides  in  North- 
field,  Cook  County,  111.;  Salome,  born  July  28, 
1842,  became  the  wife  of  David  llorenberger,  and 
makes  her  home  in  Deerfield,  Lake  County,  111. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
fatlier's  farm  and  acqviired  his  education  partly  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  country  and  partly  in  the 
American  public  schools.  On  attaining  his  majority, 
he  left  liome  and  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farm 
hand.  In  1864,  he  commenced  farming  in  his  own 
interest  in  Marshall  County.  111., where  he  continued 
to  reside  for  four  years,  or  until  1868,  when  he  re- 
moved to  a  farm  of  one  liundred  and  sixty  acres 
which  he  had  purchased  the  jear  previous  in  Peach 
Orchard  Township,  Ford  County.  There  he  spent 
several  years  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising 
with  marked  success,  and  in  1873,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Messrs.  Frasius  and  George  T. 
Arends  at  Melvin,  under  the  firm  name  of  Frasius, 
lehl  &  Co.,  dealers  in  grain,  seeds  and  coal.  The 
firm  continued  business  without  change  until  1876, 
when  Mr.  Frasius  sold  out  to  his  partners  and  with- 
drew from  the  business.  The  firm  name  was  then 
changed  to  lehl  &  Co.,  and  those  gentlemen  con- 
tinued operations  until  November,  1890,  when  they 
sold  out  and  established  the  private  banking  house 
of  lehl  ife  Co.,  of  Melvin.  It  was  the  first  banking 
house  in  that  place  and  is  still  conducted  by  its 
original  proprietors.  Messrs.  lehl  and  Arends  have 
invested  extensively  in  farming  lands  in  Ford 
County,  buying  farms  from  time  to  time,  until  tlieir 
aggregate  possessions,  in  common,  amount  to 
eleven  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  while  Mr.  lehl 
has  one  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixt3'  acres  which 
he  owns  individually'.  "Witii  the  exception  of  an 
eighty-acre  tract  in  Wall  Township  and  a  quarter- 
section  in  Sullivant  Township,  their  possessions  all 
lie  in  Peach  Orchard  Township.  It  is  all  arable, 
rich  farming  land  which  has  increased  in  value 
very  rapidly  witliin  the  last  few  years. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  1871,  in  Peach  Orchard 
Township,  Mr.  lehl  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Arends,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Grove- 
land  Township,  Tazewell  County,  111.,  on  the  5th  of 
November,  1854.  Iler  parents  are  Tels  and  Teda 
Arends.  Six  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  lehl,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living:   Teda  Jo- 


hanna, the  eldest,  was  born  JuneSO,  1872, and  died 
March  15,  1875;  John  George,  born  April  17,  1875, 
died  April  8,  1879;  Johanna  Alvina  was  born 
November  25,  1877;  George  Teis  February  20, 1880; 
Clara  Marj',  June  4,  1884;  and  Edwin  Albert  on 
the  27th  of  October,  1887. 

Airs.  lehl  is  a  member  of  the  German  Methodist 
Church,  which  Mr.  lehl  also  attends,  although  he 
does  not  belong.  He  is  a  Reimblican  in  politics 
and  is  the  present  Su|)ervisor  in  the  County  Board 
from  Peach  Orchard  Township.  He  was  also 
chosen  a  member  of  the  village  Board  of  Trustees 
on  its  organization,  holding  the  position  until 
April,  1892.  The  second  year  after  Peach  Orchard 
was  organized,  he  was  chosen  Assessor  and  served 
one  term.  His  life  has  been  well  and  worthily 
spent  and  his  career  has  been  a  useful  one.  He 
started  out  empty-handed,  but  liy  industry,  integ- 
rity and  the  exercise  of  good  business  judgment, 
has  acquired  a  large  property,  and  vvon  a  foremost 
place  among  tlie successful  and  cnteiprising  citizens 
of  Ford  County.  His  counsel  and  advice  in  busi- 
ness and  political  matters  is  sought  and  respected 
by  his  fellow-citizens,  by  whom  he  is  held  in  high 
esteem. 


WjILLIAM  E.  McMULLEN,  a  horticulturist, 
has  been  a  resident  of  Gibson  City  since 
„  „  the  spring  of  1876,  and  of  Illinois  since 
1851.  He  was  Jjorn  in  D;ide  County,  Mo.,  Octo- 
ber 15,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Janes)  Mc^IuUen.  His  father  was  born  in 
Pendleton  County,  Va.,  on  the  26th  of  May,  1816, 
and  was  descended  from  an  old  Virginia  family  of 
Scotch  origin.  When  seven  years  of  age,  Samuel 
McMuUen  removed  with  his  parents  to  Eaj'ette 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  w.as  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  there  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Janes,  a  daughter  of  Edward  Janes,  a 
soldier  of  the  War  of  1812.  Her  brother  Henry 
was  a  pioneer  of  Wisconsin  and  was  the  founder 
of  the  city  of  Janesville,  which  bears  his  name. 
Mrs,  McMuUen  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Ohio, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


425 


In  18-il,  Mr.  McMullen  leraoved  with  liis  famil}^ 
to  Darle  Count)',  Mo.,  but  returned  to  the  old 
home  iu  Ohio  seven  j'ears  later.  From  there  they 
came  to  Illinois  in  1851,  settling  near  Lexington, 
in  MoLeau  County,  where  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject bought  a  farm,  and  there  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock-raising  successfully  until  age  necessi- 
tated his  retirement  from  active  life,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Lexington,  where  he  now  resides.  His 
estimable  wife  departed  this  life  on  the  3d  of 
August,  1887,  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her. 

William  E.  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits  and  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  district  schools.  No 
event  of  sjiecial  importance  occurred  during  his 
e.irly  life  until  his  enlistment  with  the  boys  in 
blue  for  the  late  war,  on  the  7th  of  August,  1862. 
He  entered  tlie  service  as  a  member  of  Comijany 
E,  Ninety-fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served 
until  mustered  out,  .July  19,  1865,  after  the  close 
of  the  war.  His  regiment  was  in  the  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps  and  his  principal  field  of  service  was 
on  the  frontier.  They  were  first  ordered  to  Mis- 
souri, and  thence  to  Arkansas  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of. Prai- 
rie Grove,  Ark.,  December  7,  1862;  took  part  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg  from  .June  11  until  its  sur- 
render July  4,  1863;  and  was  next  ordered  to 
Louisiana,  where  he  took  part  iu  the  skirmish  at 
Morgan za  Bend,  after  which  he  went  to  New  Or- 
leans and  joined  Gen.  Banks'  fleet  on  the  expedi- 
tion to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  River,  in 
Texas.  In  October  of  that  year,  they  took  pos- 
session of  Brownsville,  in  that  State,  and  were  on 
garrison  duty  at  that  point  until  August,  1864, 
when  tlie}^  returned  to  New  Orleans  and  joined 
the  siege  of  Ft.  Morgan,  Ala.  From  their  camp  at 
that  point  they  made  a  raid  west  of  Mobile.  In 
April,  1865,  he  took  part  in  the  siege  and  capture 
of  Spanish  Fort  and  Mobile.  After  taking  pos- 
session of  that  cit3%  the^'  returned  to  Texas  and 
were  stationed  at  Galveston  until  mustered  out. 
On  leaving  the  service,  Mr.  McMullen  returned  to 
his  home  in  McLean  County  and  engaged  in 
farming. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1866,  our  subject  was  mar- 
ried, in  Bloomington,  111.,  to  Miss  Ada  J.  Trim- 
mer, a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  A.  (Stretch) 


Trimmer.  Mrs.  McMullen  was  born  in  McLean 
Countj',  where  her  people  had  settled  in  1840. 
Her  father  was  born  near  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  was 
of  French  descent  on  his  father's  side,  and  of  Ger- 
man on  the  mother's,  her  maiden  name  being 
Van  Dolah,  and  that  of  her  mother  was  Lanter- 
man.  Mr.  Trimmer  was  a  stanch  Republican  in 
politics  and  a  personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 
He  was  accidentally  shot  and  killed  while  on  his 
way  to  the  polls  to  east  his  vote  for  the  "IMartyr 
President"  on  the  6th  of  November,  1860.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  McMullen  made  their  home  in 
Fa^'ette  County,  Ohio,  previous  to  coming  to  II li 
nois,  and  the  mother  still  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  McLean  Count}-. 

Nine  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  iVlc- 
Mullen,  of  whom  six  are  living:  Otho  J.,  Eflie  A.; 
Lnla,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six'and  one-half  years; 
Stella;  Orville,  who  died, aged  two  years  and  three 
months;  Burtus  A.,  Noah  E.;  Nellie  O.,  who  died 
when  one  j'ear  old;  and  Nettie  A.,  who  is  the 
youngest. 

In  the  fall  of  1867,  Mr.  McMullen  quit  farming 
and  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  in  Towanda, 
111.,  but  sold  out  in  1869,  and  resumed  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Cheney  Grove.  In  1875,  he 
again  gave  up  farming  and  removed  to  Bloom- 
ington, where  he  spent  one  ^ear  in  a  wholesale 
house,  after  which  he  came  to  Gibson  City.  Tlie 
first  year  there  he  was  employed  in  a  grocery 
store,  then  carried  on  a  farm  for  three  years,  and 
for  the  next  two  years  was  engaged  in  the  dra}-- 
ing  business,  after  which  he  was  appointed  Post- 
master under  President  Arthur.  He  received  his 
commission  in  February,  1883,  and  served  for  four 
years,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
market  gardening  and  the  growing  of  small  fruits. 
He  has  a  valuable  tract  of  eight  acres,  lying  almost 
contiguous  to  the  northern   boundary  of  the  city. 

In  politics,  Mr.  McMullen  is  a  radical  Repub- 
lican and  has  served  two  terms  on  the  Gibson 
City  Board,  and  has  been  Tax  Collector  for  one 
term.  He  has  proved  a  faithful  and  etticient  pub- 
lic officer  and  has  gained  the  respect  of  the  entire 
community.  He  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  holding  membership  with  Lott  Post 
No.  70,  of  Gibson  City.     In  their  religious  views, 


426 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMuUeii  affiliate  with  the  church 
of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  The  record 
shows  Mr.  McMullen  to  be  a  patriotic,  enterpris- 
ing and  reputable  citizen.  In  the  discharge  of 
oflicial  duty,  he  was  ever  prompt,  correct  and 
obliging,  and  in  liis  business  relations  his  integ- 
rity is  above  question,  and  his  general  course  has 
been  such  as  to  command  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  all  who  know  him. 


-^1^ 


'ji7  OCKHAKT  B.  FARRAR,  M.  U.  No  otlipr 
I  (^  physician  has  so  long  resided  in  Paxton  as 
/*'— ^^,  the  gentleman  whose  name  lieads  this 
sketch,  and  although  he  now  forms  no  business 
acquaintances,  practically  living  a  retired  life,  he 
yet  lias  a  wide  acquaintance  throughout  Ford  and 
adjoining  counties.  In  this  communit}^,  to  say  one 
does  not  know  Di.  Farrar  is  almost  to  argue  oneself 
unknown.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Langdon, 
Sullivan  County,  N.  H.,  August  29,  1822,  and 
comes  of  an  old  English  family  that  traces  its  an- 
cestry back  to  the  time  of  the  Norman  conquest. 
The  date  of  its  settlement  in  America  is  1640. 
Isaac  Farrar,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Massachusetts,  August  10,  1719. 

George  Farrar,  father  of  the  Doctor,  was  born  in 
the  Baj'  State  in  176.5,  there  grew  to  manhood  and 
acquired  his  education.  He  was  twice  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Abigail  Graves,  a  native 
of  Saybrook,  Conn.,  born  November  8,  1781.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  New  England  and  a  pioneer 
of  New  Hampshire.  George  Farrar  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1825,  when  the  Doctor  was  a  mere  child,  and 
his  wife  passed  away  May  13,  1861. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  mother  until  a 
lad  of  nine  years,  when  he  spent  one  >'ear  in  the 
home  of  an  uncle  and  then  began  farm  work,  which 
he  followed  for  six  years,  attending  school  during 
the  winter  season.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  left 
the  farm  and  became  a  student  in  some  of  the 
higher  schools  and  academies  of  his  native-State, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  teaching  during  the 
winter  seasons,  while  in  the  summer  he  further 
pursued  his  studies.     At  length  he  determined  to 


engage  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  to  this  end 
took  a  course  of  lectures  at  Woodstock,  VI.  Af- 
terward he  took  a  second  course  in  the  Berkshire 
Medical  College,  of  Pittstield,  Mass.,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  the  fall  of  1848.  The  Doctor 
first  opened  an  office  in  Ilollis,  N.  H.,  where  he 
prosecuted  his  chosen  profession  for  three  3-ears, 
removing  from  there  to  Manchester,  Mass.,  where 
he  continued  for  a  similar  period.  Dr.  Farrar  then 
took  a  supplemental^  course  of  medical  lectures 
and  hospital  observations  at  New  York  and  Phila- 
delphia in  the  winter  of  1854-55.  The  following 
year  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Iroquois 
Count}-,  where  he  bought  land  and  improved  and 
opened  up  a  farm,  following  agricultural  pursuits 
for  about  two  and  a  lialf  years.  He  then  aban- 
doned fai-ming  and  in  1858  came  to  Paxton,  then 
a  village  of  about  half  a  dozen  residences  and  two 
stores.  He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession 
and  worked  up  an  extensive  business,  extending 
over  a  radius  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  in  all 
directions.  Once  more  he  abandoned  this  work,  in 
1869,  in  which  year  he  went  to  Ann  Arbor  and 
for  two  terms  was  a  student  in  the  law  department 
of  the  State  LTuiversity,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1871.  He  then  returned  to  Paxton,  and  to 
the  practice  of  law  devoted  his  energies  for  three 
years,  after  which  he  once  more  resumed  medical 
practice.  In  the  meantime,  he  had  made  a  study 
of  homeopathy  and  now  combined  its  practice 
with  that  of  allopathy,  being  governed  b^'  his 
judgment  concerning  the  case  under  consideration. 

Dr.  Farrar  has  been  three  times  married.  On 
the  25th  of  April,  1849,  in  New  Hampshire,  he 
wedded  Miss  Frances  Maria  Graves,  also  a  native 
of  the  Granite  State  and  a  daughter  of  Caleb  P. 
and  Rebecca  Graves.  She  died  in  Paxton,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1863,  leaving  a  daughter,  Ellen,  whose 
death  occurred  at  the  .age  of  six  years. 

On  the  22d  of  June,  1864, -the  Doctor  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Ellen  M.  Kirkaldie,  a  native 
of  Michigan,  and  her  death  occurred  April  2,  1874. 
There  was  also  one  daughter  born  of  this  union, 
Ellen  M.,  born  March  30,  1874.  She  was  left 
motherless  when  only  tliree  days  old.  She  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Paxton  and  on  the  12th  of 
October,  1889,  in   her  sixteenth  year,  became  the 


^0i-^^    /xf-^aAA 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


429 


wife  of  George  W.  Crossman,  of  Garland,  Tex.  She 
was  called  to  her  final  home  April  28,  1891.  On 
the  4th  of  Noveml)er,  1875,  in  Chicago,  Dr.  Farrar 
married  Laura  E.  Stearns,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and 
a  lady  of  intelligence  and  culture.  She  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Clii- 
cago,  of  the  Class  of  '72. 

The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  niemljers  of  the 
Congregational  Church  and  throughout  this  com- 
munity are  held  in  high  regard.  The  Doctor  is 
not  now  engaged  in  active  practice  but  is  living 
retired.  He  owns  some  valuable  land  in  and  ad- 
joining the  city,  and  the  property  he  acquired 
in  former  years  is  sutHeient  to  keep  him  comforta- 
bly tluough  his  remaining  days.  He  has  alwaj's 
been  a  great  reader  and  has  quite  an  extensive 
library.  Among  the  ))ioneers  of  the  county,  Dr. 
Farrar  is  numljered,  and  few  have  a  wider  acquaint- 
ance and  none  are  held  in  higher  regard  in  the 
community  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


"lYJ  OHN  KARR,  who  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  Paxton.  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State, 
but  has  long  been  a  prominent  citizen  of 
_  Ford  County.  He  was  born  in  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  Ma}'  22,  1820,  and  is  a  son  of  Rob- 
ert Karr,  who  was  a  native  of  W.ashington  County, 
Pa.  Tiie  Karr  family-  is  of  Scotch  extraction,  but 
the  mother  of  our  subject  was  of  Irish  descent.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Endsley,  and  she  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  In  the  family  were  seven  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom  is  our  subject;  Isabella, 
the  next  younger,  is  the  wife  of  .Jolin  i\IcKinscy,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Michigan;  Nancy  is  the  widow 
of  .lames  McKinsey,  a  farmer  of  Summit  County, 
Ohio;  Andrew  lives  near  the  old  homestead  in 
Ohio;  Roliert  follows  agricultural  pursuits  in  Wall 
Township,  this  count}-;  Mary  .1.,  who  liecame  the 
wife  of  John  Duncan,,  died  in  18(').");  Matilda, 
the  wife  of  Alonzo  Bradley,  resides  in  Michigan. 
The  father  of  these  children  was  called  to  his  final 
rest  in  1881,  but  the  mother  passed  away  in  1840. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  United  Presbyte- 
rian   Church    and   were    highly   respected    people. 


After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  the  father  married 
Martha  Young,  by  whom  he  had  three  children: 
Elizabeth  A.  is  married  and  living  in  Summit 
County,  Ohio;  Martha  H,  wife  of  John  Dougharty, 
of  Coshocton  County,  Ohio;  James  A.  is  deceased. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  received  the  educational  advantages 
afforded  by  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  remained  at  home  upon  his  father's  farm 
until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  to 
earn  his  own  livelihood.  He  began  for  himself  by 
learning  the  blacksmith's  trade,  and  for  many 
years  followed  that  occupation.  As  a  companion 
and  helpmate  on  life's  journey,  he  chose  Miss  Mary 
Klingelsraith,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Mary  Kling- 
elsmith,  her  father  being  of  German  descent.  Their 
union  was  celebrated  June  14,  1849,  and  unto 
them  were  born  six  children,  as  follows:  Mitchel  A., 
who  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Sioux  County, 
Iowa;  James  C,  who  follows  farming  in  Sioux 
County,  Iowa;  Robert  A.,  a  retired  agriculturist  of 
Paxton;  Alexander  S.,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Sioux  County,  Iowa,  and  George 
Washington,  also  a  retired  farmer,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Paxton;  Thomas  M.  died  in  infancy. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Karr  erected  a  black- 
smith shop  which  he  carried  on  in  connection  with 
general  farming,  and  in  the  county  of  his  nativit}- 
he  continued  to  make  his  home  until  the  autumn 
of  1858,  when  he  came  West  by  te.am,  making  his 
first  location  in  Carrol  County,  near  Camden,  Ind. 
Mr.  Karr  there  rented  land  and  made  his  home  for 
about  a  year,  after  which  he  went  to  Iroquois 
County,  111.,  and  resided  upon  a  rented  farm  for 
two  years.  He  then  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  good  farming  land,  but  two  years 
later  sold  out  and  came  to  Ford  County.  Again 
he  made  a  purchase  of  land,  this  time  becoming  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Button 
Township,  to  which  he  afterward  added  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  and  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing until  1878,  when  lie  rented  his  land  and  came 
to  Paxton. 

In  1876,  Mr.  Karr  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  12th  of  March 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  (ilenn  Cemetery,  of  Paxton. 
In  June,  1877,  he  w.as   again   married,  his  second 


430 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


union  being  witli  Margaret  Simmons.  His  marriage 
has  been  blessed  b}'  one  daugliter,  Sadie  E.,  who  is 
still  with  her  parents.  They  have  a  pleasant  home 
in  Paxton  and  arc  surrounded  by  many  friends 
who  esteem  them  highly  for  their  man}'  excellen- 
cies of  cliaraeter. 

On  his  removal  to  the  city.  Mr.  Karr  opened  a 
grocery  store  and  engaged  in  business  in  that  line 
for  two  j'ears,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  farm, 
m.aking  it  his  home  until  1888.  In  tiiat  year,  he 
purchased  propertj'  in  Paxton,  again  rented  his 
farm  and  once  more  came  to  the  city,  where  he  is 
now  living  a  retired  life,  resting  in  the  enjoyment 
of  the  fruits  of  former  toil.  In  liis  political  atHl- 
iations,  he  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  served  his  town- 
ship as  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  fourteen 
years,  a  fact  which  indicates  his  faithfulness  to 
duty  and  the  trust  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow- 
townsmen.  "With  the  United  Presbyterian  Church 
he  and  his  wife  hold  membership,  and  in  all  public 
interests  calculated  to  benefit  the  community  he 
bears  a  share.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Ford 
County  for  a  third  of  a  century  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  its  most  worthy  citizens. 


'"    •    *S- 


aARL  F.  CARLSON,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  18,  Patton  Town- 
'  ship,  was  born  in  Sweden,  on  the  22d  of 
August,  1834,  and  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer's 
lads  was  reared  to  manhood.  He  also  acquired  a 
fair  education  in  his  native  tongue.  After  he  had 
arrived  at  man's  estate,  he  was  married,  in  June, 
1857,  to  Miss  Louisa  Nelson,  who  was  born  and 
reared  in  Sweden.  The  wedding  tour  of  the 
young  couple  consisted  of  the  voj'age  to  America, 
for  they  had  determined  to  try  their  fortune  in  the 
New  World,  of  whose  advantages  and  privileges 
they  had  heard  much.  They  took  passage  on  a 
sailing-vessel  at  Hamburg,  and  after  nine  weeks 
and  three  days  spent  on  the  broad  Atlantic,  a 
pleasant  voyage  was  ended  by  their  arrival  in  New 
York.  They  at  once  started  "West  by  way  of  Al- 
banj',  going  by  rail  to  Buffalo,  across  the  Lakes  to 
Detroit  and  thence  b}'  rail  to  Chicago. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  made  their  first  location 
in  Marshall  Count}',  where  the}'  had  acquaintances 
living.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  epoch 
in  their  lives.  They  both  began  working  for  an 
American  farmer,  and  after  a  year,  Mr.  Carlson,  in 
company  with  others,  went  to  Kansas,  took  a  claim 
in  Butler  County,  and  built  a  log  house,  and 
there  remained  for  a  few  weeks.  He  then  returned 
to  his  wife  and  was  again  employed  by  the  farmer 
before  mentioned,  clearing  and  developing  land, 
while  the  wife  did  the  work  of  a  domestic.  Thus 
two  years  passed,  during  w.hicli  time  Mr.  Carlson 
purchased  a  team  and  Ihe  iniiilements  necessary  for 
farming.  He  then  rented  land  in  Putnam  County, 
but  afterwards  returned  to  Mai'shall  County,  where 
he  continued  to  operate  a  rented  farm  until  1863. 
In  that  year  he  came  to  Ford  County  and  bought  a 
tract  of  railroad  land  of  eiglity  acres,  the  greater 
part  of  which  was  in  its  primitive  condition,  but 
be  at  once  began  breaking,  fenced  it  and  built  a 
small  liut  comfortable  home.  After  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  paying  for  this  farm,  he  made  a  purchase 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  a  half  mile  west, 
and  since  that  time  has  also  bought  one  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  acres  adjoining  his  home  farm. 
"We  can  see  from  this  that  Mr.  Carlson  has  pros- 
pered. There  were  many  hardships  to  be  borne, 
many  ditliculties  to  be  overcome,  but  helalioredon 
untiringly  and  the  success  which  is  the  reward  of 
persistent  effort  at  length  came  to  him.  lie  now 
owns  four  hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres  of  val- 
uable land,  well  improved.  The  little  home  has 
long  since  been  replaced  by  a  commodious  and 
substantial  residence;  good  barns  and  other  out- 
buildings have  been  erected,  and  over  |i2,00()  worth 
of  tiling  has  been  put  on  the  place.  He  also  owns 
residence  property  in  Elliott. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  have  been  born  six 
children,  who  are  yet  living:  August,  who  is  now 
married  and  operates  one  of  his  father's  farms: 
Betsy,  wife  of  AVilliam  AVestland,  a  resident 
farmer  of  this  county;  Amanda,  wife  of  Albert 
Froid,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  Frank,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  follows  agricultural  pursuits  in  Patton 
Township;  Albert  and  Lynda  at  home.  They  also 
lost  four  children:  Mary  S.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  fourteen    years;    Ida,   who   died   at  the  age  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


431 


twelve  years;  Albert,  whose  death  occurred  at  the 
age  of  ten,  dying  of  smallpox  in  March,  1874,  and 
Ludwick,  who  was  drowned  in  the  creek  near  his 
home  in  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlson  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  and,  in  i)olitics,  he  is  independent, 
voting  for  the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  qualified 
to  fill  the  office,  regardless  of  party  affiliations. 
He  has  helped  to  make  Ford  County  what  it  is  to- 
day, and  his  enterprising  and  progressive  si)irit 
has  made  him  one  of  its  valued  citizens.  His  life 
may  well  serve  to  encourage  others  who,  like  him- 
self, have  to  begin  empty-handed,  depending  only 
on  their  own  exertions.  He  may  truly  be  called 
a  self  made  man,  for  his  success  is  due  entirely  to 
his  own  efforts,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  wealthy 
men  of  the  communit}'.  In  his  intercourse  with 
his  fellow-men,  he  has  ever  been  straightforward 
aud  honoralile,  thus  winning  the  confidence  of  all. 


♦^I^€- 


-eV- 


RUMAN  D.  SPALDING,  of  the  firm  of 
ijj^N  Eggleston  &  Spalding,  dealers  in  lumber, 
"  grain  and  coal  of  Gibson  City,  is  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State.  He  was  born  in  Lcwiston, 
Niagara  Count}',  on  the  l;jth  of  Jlarch,  1839,  and 
is  a  son  of  Sterne  and  Caroline  (Dewey)  Spaldii.g. 
The  parents  were  also  natives  of  New  York,  in  which 
State  they  were  reared  and  married  and  there  re- 
sided until  the  spring  of  1858,  when  they  removed 
to  Steuben  County,  Ind.  It  was  in  March,  1860, 
that  they  left  their  home  in  that  county  and  be- 
came residents  of  Palmyra,  Lenawee  County, 
Mich.,  where  the  father  died  in  1871.  The  mother 
still  survives.  She  came  to  (Tibson  in  1873,  and 
resides  with  her  sou,  Truman  D.,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-three  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  man  of  nine- 
teen years  when  he  left  his  native  State  and 
with  his  parents  went  to  Indiana,  where  he  taught 
school.  He  also  accompanied  tiiem  on  their  re- 
moval to  Michigan.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  High  School  and  at  the  Commercial  College, 
of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  In  1862,  he  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  secured  a  position  with  a  lumber  firm,  aud 


was  thus  employed  as  shipping  clerk,  foreman  and 
salesman  until  March,  1871,  when  he  came  to  Gib- 
son, then  a  railwaj'  station  only  just  established 
and  with  onlj-  five  houses  in  the  place.  After  sat- 
isfying himself  that  this  was  a  favorable  location 
for  a  lumber-yard,  he  returned  to  Chicago  and  on 
the  1st  of  April  following  came  to  Gibson  as  a 
permanent  settler,  opening  a  lumber-yard  in  this 
place.  He  hauled  his  lumber  from  Paxton  during 
the  following  summer,  for  the  railroad  was  not 
completed  until  the  succeeding  September.  The 
first  car  unloaded  at  Gibson  was  freighted  by  Mr. 
Spalding  on  tlie  Illinois  Central  Railroad  and  con- 
tained his  household  goods  and  some  lumber.  It 
was  unloaded  on  the  4th  of  September,  1871. 

The  firm  of  which  Jlr.  Spalding  was  a  member 
was  composed  of  the  following  named  gentlemen: 
Truman  D.  Spalding,  \V.  H.  Simms  and  E.  H.  Eld- 
ridge,  and  the  firm  was  styled  Spalding,  Simms  & 
Co.  After  two  years,  Mr.  Simms  bought  out  Mr. 
Eldridge's  interest  and  the  firm  name  was  changed 
to  Simms  &  Spalding,  under  which  title  business' 
was  continued  until  August,  1878,  when  Mr. 
Spalding  purchased  his  partner's  interest  and  was 
alone  in  business  until  1880,  when  George  S. 
Eggleston  bought  an  interest  and  the  existing 
firm  of  Eggleston  &  Spalding  was  organized. 
These  gentlemen  are  extensively  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  drain  tile,  which  industiy  they  es- 
tablished in  Gibson  in  1880.  They  are  also  buy- 
ing and  shipping  gniin  at  otherstations  than  Gib- 
son, including  Guthrie  and  Ilarpster  on  the  Illi- 
nois Central,  and  at  Garber  and  Proctor  on  the 
Wabash  Kailroad,  having  elevators  at  Guthrie, 
Garber  and  Gibson;  they  also  continue  to  handle 
lumber  and  other  building  material. 

On  the  19th  of  April,  1868,  Mr.  Spalding  was 
married  in  Fremont,  Ind.,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Wealthy  R.  Dewey,  a  native  of  Mon- 
roe, Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Truman  C.  Dewey. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  two  sons:  Harry 
L.  and  Fred  M.  The  last-named  is  a  student  in 
the  civil  engineering  class  of  the  University  of 
Illinois  in  Chaiui)aign. 

Mr.  Spalding  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Hepublicau  party,  l)eing  a  Blaine 
Republican,  and  is  the  present  Mayor,  being  elected 


432 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD.- 


011  the  anti-license  ticket  in  1891  and  again  in 
1892;  he  also  was  the  first  to  hold  that  olfice  on  the 
organization  of  the  town  in  1872.  Socially,  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Royal  Templars  of  Temperance, 
of  Gibson  City  Council,  No.  32,  and  has  been  Sec- 
retary and  Treasurer  of  that  body.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  enterpris- 
ing business  men  of  Gibson  City,  and  has  always 
borne  a  conspicuous  part  in  aiding  all  worthy  pub- 
lic enterprises  that  are  calculated  to  improve  and 
develop  tlie  city  and  county.  His  course  has  ever 
been  that  of  an  upright  business  man,  whose  in- 
tegrity and  good  name  liave  been  above  reproach. 
In  the  spring  of  1873,  the  Gibson  District  Fair 
Association  was  organized,  with  Dr.  J.  E.  Davis, 
President;  J.  H.  Collier,  Treasurer;  and  T.  D.  Spald- 
ing, Secretary,  which  office  he  held  for  two  years. 
He  was  then  elected  Treasurer  for  the  next  year  and 
tiie  following  year  General  Superintendent.  In 
1880,  he  was  appointed  Township  School  Treasurer, 
which  office  he  has  held  continuously  since. 
In  January,  1881,  at  a  meeting  of  the  State  Tile- 
makers'  Association,  held  at  Springfield,  111.,  he 
was  elected  Secretary  of  the  association,  and  re- 
elected again  in  1882  and  1883  and  in  1890  was 
elected  President  of  the  association.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  in  the  township  to  advocate  the  making 
of  gravel  roads  and  it  was  through  his  efforts  tiiat 
tiie  first  appropriation  of  $300  was  made  for  mak- 
ing a  trial  piece  of  road,  in  1883,  of  one-half  mile. 
So  great  was  the  success  of  the  piece,  that  the  town- 
ship now  has  about  fifteen  miles  of  good  gravel 
road. 


ylLLIAM  POWELL,  the  only  merchant  in 
Gibson  City  that  carries  on  an  exclusivel}' 
boot  and  shoe  store,  is  a  native  of  Kos- 
ciusko County,  Ind.,  born  November  14,  1841. 
His  grandfather,  Philip  Powell,  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Indiana,  to  which  State  he  emigrated 
from  Kentucky.  The  fatlier  of  our  subject,  who 
also  bore  the  name  of  William  Powell,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky  and  bj^  occupation  was  a  farmer.  On 
reaching  manliood  he  returned  to  Kentucky  and 
there  married  Miss  Sarah  Kelso,  who  was  a  native 


of  that  State.  Returning  to  Indiana,  they  made 
that  their  home  until  the  death  of  the  wife  and 
mother,  soon  after  which  Mr.  Powell  removed  to 
Darke  County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
stock  business.  In  1856,  he  came  to  McLean  County, 
111.,  and  later  went  to  Clarke  County,  Iowa,  but 
came  again  to  the  former  county,  passing  his  last 
days  there  with  our  subject. 

William  Powell,  Jr.,  was  only  six  years  of  age 
when  his  mother  died,  and  some  two  j^ears  later 
went  to  live  with  an  uncle  in  Fayette  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  made  his  home  for  some  time, 
working  on  the  farm  and  attending  the  district 
scliools  of  the  neighborhood.  In  1856,  he  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Illinois  and  also  went  on  with 
him  to  Iowa.  When  the  gold  excitement  at  Pike's 
Peak  ran  high  in  1860,  he  journeyed  thither,  but 
after  mining  a  short  time  he  returned  the  same 
year  to  Iowa  and  afterward  located  in  McLean 
County,  this  State. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1864,  !\Ir.  Powell  was 
united  in  marriage  witli  Miss  Elizaljeth  E.  Bunn,a 
daugliter  of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Wilej')  Bunn.  Mr. 
Bunn  was  born  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  and  his  wife 
was  a  native  of  Switzerland  County,  Ind.  Botli 
were  earlj-  settlers  of  McLean  County,  111.,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated.  On  their  arrival  in 
that  county,  tlie  country  was  almost  an  unbroken 
prairie  and  game  of  all  kinds  was  ver}'  plentiful. 
Mr.  Bunn  has  the  distinction  of  having  hauled  from 
Chicago  the  lumber  to  Iniild  the  first  schoolhouse 
and  the  first  church  in  Martin  Township,  McLean 
County.  He  was  a  farmer  b}'  occupation  and  a 
man  of  sterling  worth.  He  passed  away  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six,  and  his  estimable  wife  was  fifty-four 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  Mrs.  Powell 
is  the  oldest  of  their  ten  children,  two  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  and  is  a  native  of  McLean  County, 
born  on  the  19th  of  August,  1844. 

Soon  after  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powell, 
they  located  in  Martin  Township  of  her  native 
county,  purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixt}- acres  of 
land,  mostly  on  credit,  and  devoted  their  united 
efforts  to  its  payment  and  improvement.  Assisted 
by  his  estimable  wife,  our  subject  became  one  of 
the  sul)stantial  farmers  of  tlie  community,  where 
he  was  widely  and  favorablj-  known.     In  1886,  he 


Q 


o 


PORTRAIT  AND  BICGRAPIIJCAL   RECORD. 


435 


removed  to  Gibson  Cit3'  and  engaged  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  trade,  carrjing  a  full  and  complete  line 
of  the  latest  styles.  Notwithstanding  strong  op- 
position, lie  has  built  up  a  good  trade  and  is  one  of 
the  successful  merchants  of  the  place. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powell  were  born  eiglit  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  are  still  living,  as  follows: 
Lucius  M.,  Lydia  E.,  Wiley  K.,  Shelby  C.  and 
Bertie  E.  Mr.  Powell  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
Christian  Church  and  his  wife  a  Methodist  in  re- 
ligions belief.'  In  political  sentiment,  he  is  an  un- 
compromising Prohibitionist  and  while  in  JIcLeau 
County-  held  a  number  of  otticial  positions,  includ- 
ing that  of  Collector,  School  Director  and  others. 
Not  a  little  credit  is  due  our  subject  and  his  worthy 
wife,  for,  beginning  life  in  limited  circumstances, 
they  have  by  their  own  efforts  accumulated  a  val- 
uable property  to  leave  to  their  children;  but  bet- 
ter than  all  they  will  leave  them  the  priceless  heri- 
tage of  a  good  example.  The}-  stand  high  in  social 
circles  and  have  manv  friends  in  this  communily. 


-^^ 


^SCAR  HENRY  DAMON,  a  retired  merchant 
of  Gibson  City,  is  a  native  of  the  old  ( Jranite 
^^^  State.  He  was  born  in  Hanover,  N.  II.,  May 
24,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Chloe  A. 
(Lawrence)  Damon.  The  founder  of  the  fan;ily 
in  the  United  States  was  Deacon  .lolin  Damon,  wlu) 
emigrated  from  Reading,  England,  to  Reading, 
Mass.,  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
His  son  Samuel  emigrated  to  Dedhain,  Mass.,  and  in 
the  line  of  descent  w.as  followed  b_v  Samuel,  Eben- 
ezer and  Ik'ujamin.  The  last-named  married  Anna 
Pratt  and  removed  to  Ashby,  jM.ass.  Their  son, 
Benjamin,  wedded  Eannie  .lasef  and  afterward 
became  a  resident  of  Kirby,  Xi. 

The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Ashby, 
Mass.,  November  4,  180C,  .and  wedded  Chloe  A. 
Lawrence,  in  Lyndon,  Vt.,  November  5,  1832.  .She 
was  born  in  Kirb3',  that  State,  March  1,  1812,  and 
is  descended  from  John  Lawrence,  of  Asliton  Hall, 
in  Derliy,  England,  and  ^Nlary  Townle3',  of  Town- 
ley  Hall,  ^Manchester  County.  This  young  cou|)le 
eloped,  came  to  the  United  States  about  1712,  and 


are  said  to  have  located  in  Massachusetts.  Large 
estates  were  left  by  both  families,  and  rightfully 
belong  to  their  heirs,  but  as  the  young  couple  did 
not  keep  up  correspondence  with  their  relatives  in 
England,  it  is  now  dillicult  to  prove  who  are  the 
rightful  heirs. 

The  father  of  our  suliject  in  early  life  engaged 
in  merchandising  and  subsequently  traveled  for 
the  Fairbanks'  Scale  Co)npany,  of  St.  .Johnsbury, 
Vt.  Going  to  Lawrence.  JNIass.,  he  there  resided 
for  some  six  years  and  aided  in  the  construction 
of  the  Pacific  Woolen  .ind  Cotton  Mills.  In  1856,  he 
emigrated  to  Adams  County,  Wis.,  .and  some  four 
years  later  to  La  Salle  County,  111.,  where  he  died 
in  1871.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred  in  1890, 
at  the  home  of  our  subject.  In  their  family  were 
six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters:  Dr.  O. 
B.  Damon,  who  was  acting  Assistant  Surgeon  in 
the  navy  for  four  years  during  the  late  war,  is  now 
a  practicing  physician  of  Chicago;  Albert  O.,  who 
went  out  as  a  private  of  Battery  K,  Second  Illinois 
Light  Artillery,  was  detailed  as  Post  Ordnance  Ser- 
geant at  Columbus,  Ky.,  and  later  promoted  to  Ad- 
jutant of  the  Fourth  Heavy  Artillery,  United 
States  Colored  Troops,  is  in  business  at  Olympia, 
Wash. 

Oscar  II.  Damon  is  the  second  child  of  the  family 
in  order  of  birth.  He  received  a  common-school 
education  and  when  twenty  years  of  age  began 
life  for  himself.  He  visited  AVisconsin  and  Iowa, 
after  which  he  returned  to  the  East,  and  in  1859 
joined  his  brother  in  a  mercantile  business  in  Rut- 
land, 111.  To  the  interests  of  his  store  he  devoted 
his  attention  until  the  15th  of  October,  1861,  when 
he  laid  .aside  all  business  cares  and,  respond- 
ing to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  enlisted  in 
Battery  K,  Second  Illinois  Light  Artillery.  A 
month  longer  and  he  would  have  served  three 
years,  when  he  was  discharged,  September  14,  1864, 
at  Natchez,  ISIiss.,  on  account  of  ill  health. 

Returning  to  La  S.alle  County,  Mr.  Damon  again 
engaged  in  merchandising  in  Rutland,  and  was  ap- 
pointed P(jstmasterat  that  place.  In  1866,  he  went 
to  Canada  and  embarked  in  the  drug  business  at 
Coaticook,  (Quebec,  where  he  continued  operations 
for  nine  years,  when  he  was  forced  to  sell  out  on 
account  of  ill  health.     After  spending  two  years 


436. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


on  tlie  Pacific  Slope  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he 
remained  until  1878.  That  year  witnessed  his  ar- 
rival in  Gibson  City,  where  he  came  to  look  after 
and  improve  his  lands. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  186G,  Blr.  Damon  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Lott,  widow 
of  J.  B.  Lott.  Mr.  Damon  is  an  Elder  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  His  wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  Church, 
of  which  she  is  a  Trustee,  and  teacher  in  the  Sun- 
day-school, and  takes  an  active  part  in  benevolent 
and  charitable  works.  In  politics,  Mr.  Damon 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  has  served  as  Town 
Clerk  and  as  a  member  and  Presidentof  the  Village 
Board.  He  is  Secretary  of  the  Count3'  Sunday- 
school  Association,  and  is  an  active  worker  in  Lott 
Post,  No.  70,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Gibson  City,  having 
served  two  terms  as  Post  Commander  and  being 
now  Post  Adjutant.  Bj'  his  own  efforts,  he  has 
made  a  competence,  and  by  his  upright  life  and 
sterling  worth  has  won  the  highest  regard  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  His  duties  of 
citizenship  have  ever  been  faithfully  performed 
and  he  has  lieen  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
him. 


— !- 


"^^SSS. 


i>-^^<i 


COLBERT  B.  STRAUSS,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 

/(^^j^  longest  established  physicians  in  Gibson 
V^^  City,  was  born  m  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
November  6,  1845.  Four  generations  remote, 
the  Strauss  family  came  from  Germany  to  Amer- 
ica. The  father  of  our  subject  was  bom  in  Bucks 
Count}-,  Pa.,  in  August,  1813,  there  grew  to  man- 
hood and  learned  the  trade  of  a  harness-maker. 
AVhen  a  young  man,  he  removed  to  Wayne 
Countjf,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Effa  Woodruff,  a 
lady  of  Elnglish  descent  and  a  native  of  New 
Jersey.  In  the  fall  of  1866,  they  came  to  Paxton, 
111.,  where  Mr.  Strauss  engaged  in  farming  and 
subsequently  carried  on  his  trade.  In  1872,  he 
and  his  wife  removed  to  Hoopeston,  Vermilion 
County,  where  they  still  reside  at  the  ages  of 
seventy-nine  and  seventy-six  years,  respectively. 
Both  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
arc   highly  regpected    people.      In    politics,   Mr. 


Strauss  was  a  Democrat  until  the  rise  of  the  Re- 
publican party  to  which  he  has  since  adhered.  In 
their  family  are  seven  living  children,  two  of 
whom  are  physicians — our  subject  and  Louis  M., 
the  latter  practicing  in  Hoopeston. 

Dr.  Strauss,  whose  nan}e  lieadsthis  record,  is  the 
eldest  child.  He  received  a  High-School  edu- 
cation in  Fredericksburg  prior  to  the  war,  and  in 
August,  1862,  enlisted  in  Company  D.  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twentieth  Ohio  Infantiy,  being  not 
quite  seventeen  vears  of  age  at  the  time.  The 
regiment  was  called  to  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf.  The  first  engagement  of  importance  in 
which  he  participated  was  under  Gen.  Sherman  at 
Mcksburg,  and  he  also  took  part  in  the  capture  of 
Arkansaw  Post,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  battle 
of  Jackson  and  the  Red  River  campaign.  While 
ascending  the  Red  River  to  Alexandria  on  trans- 
ports, the  "City  Belle"  was  destroyed  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  regiment  was  captured,  but  Mr. 
Strauss,  with  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven, 
escaped  on  the  opposite  bank.  They  got  together, 
and,  under  cover  of  night,  crossed  the  stream  in  a 
skiff,. reaching  Alexandria  the  next  day.  What  was 
left  of  this  regiment  was  consolidated  with  the 
Forty-eighth  Ohio  and  was  in  the  campaign  that 
resulted  in  the  fall  of  Mobile.  Subsequentl}%  they 
were  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Four- 
teenth Ohio  Regiment  and  were  sent  to  Texas. 
The  Doctor  was  mustered  out  on  the  lltli  of  Octo- 
ber, 1865,  at  Houston,  Tex.  He  had  been  ]h-o- 
moted  to  Sergeant  JIajor  in  1864,  but  the  records 
were  burned  with  the  "City  Belle,"  destroying  all 
evidence  of  his  promotion. 

On  being  discharged  from  the  service,  Mr. 
Strauss  returned  to  Fredericksburg,  Ohio,  and 
there  attended  an  academy.  The  following  year 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Paxton,  111.,  and  for 
some  nine  years  was  engaged  in  teaching.  In  the 
meantime,  he  had  determined  to  engage  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  and  studied  to  fit  himself  for 
that  work  under  Dr.  J.  M.  Waters,  formerly  of 
Gibson  City.  After  three  years'  private  study,  he 
attended  lectures  at  the  Rush  Medical  College,  and 
in  1878,  on  examination,  was  licensed  to  practice 
by  the  State  Board  of  Health.  Thereupon  he  lo- 
cated in  Gibson  City,  where  he  has  since  engaged 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


437 


in  the  prosecution  of  his  profession,  to  which  he 
devotes  his  entire  time  and  attention  with  most 
excellent  results. 

In  Paxton,  in  March,  1869,  tlie  Doctor  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  Miss  Anna  George,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  unto  them  were  born  two  sons:  Vernon, 
an  art  student  in  Chicago;  and  liryson,  wlio  is  em- 
ployed in  the  Mattinson  &  Wilson  15ank,of  Gih- 
son  City.  The  mother,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  died  in  August,  1872.  In 
October,  1878,  the  Doctor  wedded  Sarali  E.  Mc 
Keever,  and  they  have  three  children :  Ethel  M., 
Elizabeth  W.  and  Charles  E.  Tlie  parents  are  botli 
active  workers  in  the  Presbyterian  Cliurch,  of 
which  Dr.  Strauss  is  an  Elder. 

Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  is  a  member 
of  Lott  Post  No.  70,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is  Sur- 
geon; also  belongs  to  the  Central  Illinois  Medical 
Society.  For  fourteen  years  lie  has  lieen  in  active 
practice,  and  is  accounted  one  of  tlie  leading  jihysi- 
eiansand  surgeons  of  the  county. 


eHRlSTOPHER  ANDERSON,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Roberts,  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  liusiness,  is  a  native 
of  Scotland.  He  was  born  in  Sanquhar,  Dumfries- 
shire, Scotland,  April  28,  1842,  and  was  the  sixth 
in  a  famil}'  of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are 
yet  living,  namely:  Mary,  wife  of  Alexander 
Smart,  late  of  Rutherglen,  Scotland;  .lames,  who 
resides  near  Glasgow,  Scotland;  Christopher,  of 
this  sketch;  .Teanie,  wife  of  George  Campbell,  a 
banker  of  Piper  City.  The  father,  Adam  (Good- 
let)  Anderson,  was  born  December  14,  1801),  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education  and  was  a  mining  engi- 
neer by  profession.  He  married  Martha  Hamilton, 
daughter  of  Capt.  James  Hamilton,  who  was  a  vol- 
unteer in  the  British  army.  Mr.  Anderson  died 
October  15,  1886, and  his  wife  passed  aw.iy  in  1858. 
Our  subject  spent  the  first  six  years  of  his  life  in 
his  native  county  and  then  went  to  Morrison's 
Haven,  his  father  being  the  manager  of  coal  mines 
belonging  to  Sir  George  Grant  Suttie.  Cliristo- 
pher  acquired  his   education    in    the    Musselburg 


grammar  school,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  began 
serving  an  apprenticeship  in  the  Audit  Account- 
ant's office  of  the  Edinburgh  &  Glasgow  Railroad 
Company  at  Glasgow,  where  he  remained  for  five 
3'ears.  He  then  joined  his  fatlier  in  the  coal  inter- 
ests, going  to  Dumliartcmsliire,  where  he  remained 
until  his  emigration  tt>  America.  He  sailed  from 
Glasgow  on  the  4th  of  -July,  1866,  for  Montreal, 
where  he  arrived  after  a  voyage  of  fourteen  days, 
and  then  went  to  Ciiicago,  and  thence  to  INIarshall 
County,  111.,  where  he  spent  the  autumn  with  an 
uncle.  During  that  time,  he  purchased  one  liun- 
dred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Lyman  Township, 
Ford  County,  and  in  1872  entered  into  partnership 
in  general  merchandising  with  ,1.  A.  Monteliusand 
George  Campbell,  in  Roberts,  111.  There  were 
only  four  stores  in  the  village  at  that  time  and 
about  eight  residences.  Mr.  Anderson  continued 
to  engage  in  general  merchandising  until  1881, 
when  he  purchased  the  banking  business  of  J.  B. 
Meserve  &  Co.,  and  has  been  actively  engaged  in 
general  banking  since  that  time.  While  a  merchant, 
he  also  dealt  extensively  in  grain.  In  1883,  he 
established  the  Roberts  brick  and  tile  factory, 
which  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire  in  February, 
1855.  The  following  spring,  in  company-  with  John 
Kenward,  he  rebuilt  the  factory  and  tile  works, 
and  their  stock  is  now  worth  110,000.  They  are 
doing  an  excellent  business,  which  is  constantly 
increasing.  Mr.  Anderson  does  a  general  banking 
business,  both  foreign  and  local,  and  is  President 
of  the  Roberts  Exchange  Bank,  of  which  liis  daugh- 
ter, Miss  Maggie,  is  the  efficient  cashier,  having 
served  in  that  position  since  1886. 

Mr.  Anderson  led  to  the  marri.age  altar  Miss 
Jlarj^  Goodlet  Martin,  who  was  Ijorn  in  Peoria 
County,  September  21,  1851.  Tlieir  union  was 
celebrated  October  12,  1869,  and  unto  them  have 
been  born  one  son  and  nine  daughters:  Maggie, 
cashier  in  her  father's  bank;  Martha,  who  attended 
the  Rice  Collegiate  Institute  and  is  now  pursuing 
a  classical  course  of  study  at  Ferry  Hall,  Lake 
Forest,  111.;  Georgie,  wlio  is  visiting  and  studying 
at  Helensburgh,  Scotland;  Jlary,  Bethia,  Jeanie, 
Anne,  Marian,  Flora  and  Adam.  Mrs.  Anderson 
was  born  in  Peoria  County  and  was  reared  in  Mar- 
shall Count}',  111.     Her  father,  John  Martin,  was  a 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


native  of  Dumfriesshire,  and  a  stonemason  by 
trade.  He  died  December  9,  1887,  in  his  seventy- 
third  year.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Margaret  Anderson,  died  April  22,  1880,  in  her 
sixty-ninth  year. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  a  volunteer  in  tiie  Nineteenth 
Lanarkshire  Killenien  and  afterward  joined  the 
4  A  Battalion,  Lanarkshire  Kegiineut,  by  which  he 
was  presented  with  a  medal  for  his  excellent  .skill  as 
a  marksman.     This  medal  reads  as  follows: 

Presented  by 
Major  Hozier 
1862. 
"Won  by 
Color  Sergeant  Christopher  Anderson 
Ninety-fifth  Company 
4  A  Battalion 
L.  R.  V. 

In  iiolitics,  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  Democrat  and 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Horace  Greeley. 
He  has  taken  quite  a  prominent  part  in  political 
affairs  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
for  many  years.  He  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  fifteen  years  and  is  holding  the  office  at  the 
present  time.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Chui'ch  and  are  classed  among  the 
prominent  and  influential  citizens  of  this  commu- 
nity-. They  have  a  beautiful  home,  situated  at  the 
corner  of  Maple  and  Green  Streets.  Both  in  busi- 
ness and  social  circles,  Mr.  Anderson  ranks  high. 
He  is  sagacious  and  far  sighted  and  his  success  in 
life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts. 


ENJAJnN  F.  MASON,  a  well-known  citi- 
zen of  Paxton,  claims  New  York  as  the 
Strife  of  his  nativity,  but  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  has  made  his  home  in  Paxton. 
Oswego  County  was  the  place  of  his  birth  and  the 
date  June  15,  1832.  His  parents,  Benjamin  F.  and 
Polly  (Porter)  Mason,  were  natives,  respectively, 
of  New  Hampshire  and  New  York  and  were  of 
English  descent.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  as  follows:  Phwbe,  wife  of  Joseph  Myers, 
a  farmer  residing  in  Oswego  County,  if.  Y.;  Betsy, 
wife   of   George  Raymond,  also  a  farmer  of  that 


county;  Loraine,  wife  of  J.  Daniel  Gardner,  an 
agriculturist  of  the  Empire  State;  Emily,  deceased; 
Granville,  who  died  in  1879;  and  Ashbel,  who 
died  in  1854.  The  father  of  this  family-  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  in  1878.  having  long  sur- 
vived his  wife,  who  passed  away  in  1833. 

As  our  subject  was  only  nine  months  old  when 
his  mother  died,  he  was  taken  to  the  home  of  an 
uncle,  where  he  remained  for  some  j-ears.  He  at- 
tended the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
and  acquired  a  good  business  education.  He  be- 
gan life  for  himself  when  quite  young,  working  as 
a  farm  hand,  and  was  also  employed  in  a  sawmill 
and  shingle-mill,  or  at  other  pursuits,  whereby  he 
might  earn  an  honest  dollar  and  thus  provide  for 
his  own  maintenance.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he 
began  serving  an  apprenticeship  to  the  blacksmith 
trade  in  Pulaski,  N.  Y.,  and  was  thus  emplo^-ed 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war. 

In  the  meantime,  on  the  5th  of  October,  1851, 
Mr.  Mason  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza 
J.,  daughter  of  William  and  Fannie  A'anderiioff. 
When  tiie  war  broke  out,  he  left  his  h(mie  and  fam- 
ily, enlisting  at  the  first  call  lor  troops.  He  had 
watched  with  interest  the  progress  of  events,  and 
resolved  that  if  the  South  attempted  secession  he 
would  strike  a  blow  for  the  preservation  of  the 
Union,  so,  in  April,  1861,  he  became  a  member  of 
Company  G,  Twenty-fourth  New  York  Infantry. 
His  fiist  active  service  was  at  the  second  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  and  he  participated  in  many  other  en- 
gagements until  discharged  from  the  service  on 
the  29th  of  May,  1863,  when  he  returned  to  his 
native  State.  The  following  October  he  again  en- 
listed as  a  private  of  Company  G,  Twenty-fourth 
New  York  Cavalry,  but  was  soon  promoted  to  be 
Quartermaster-Sergeant  of  his  regiment,  and 
served  as  such  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he 
was  honorably  discharged  on  the  26th  of  June, 
1865. 

Mr.  Mason  immediately  thereafter  returned  to 
his  old  home  in  New  York  and  engaged  in  black- 
smithing,  continuing  business  there  until  the 
spring  of  1869,  when  he  came  to  Paxton.  Here 
he  opened  a  smithy,  and  continued  business  in  the 
line  of  his  trade  until  the  autumn  of  1885,  when 
he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Ford  County  on  the  Re- 


<yuJ^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


441 


publican  ticket,  liolding  the  oltice  for  four  years. 
He  was  also  one  of  tlie  first  Board  of  Aldernu-n  in 
the  city  of  Paxton,  and  in  both  positions  proved 
liiinsolf  a  capable  official,  wortliy  of  the  confidence 
and  trust  re|)osed  in  liiiii.  Socially,  lie  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order,  the  Odd  Fellows'  society 
and  the  (Irand  Army  Post  of  Paxton,  and,  |)oliti- 
cally,  is  a  stalwait  Ke])ulilican,  adhering  closely  to 
the  principles  of  that  i)arty. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mason  were  hmn  nine  rhil- 
dren,  but  they  have  lost  six  of  the  number.  The 
living  are  Mary  F.,  Nora  B.  and  Ilarr^-  W.  The 
eldest  is  now  the  wife  of  David  McCracken,  a 
breeder  of  fine  horses  and  cattle  in  Patton  Town- 
ship. The  family  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  tliis  community  and  well  deserving  of 
representation  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Mason  w.as  a 
faithful  soldier  during  the  late  war  and  is  a  val- 
ued citizen,  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 


^ 


z^ 


4^^  AVEN  ANDERSON,  a  dealer  in  lumber  and 
^^^    coal,   of  Sibley,  was  born  near  Lund,  Swe- 

vL^m)  '^'^"'  ^"  ''''^  ''^''  "^^  January,  1844,  and  is  a 
son  of  Andrew  and  Carrie  (Lnnquist)  An- 
derson, both  natives  of  Sweden.  In  the  family- 
were  four  children,  our  subject  being  the  eldest: 
Hannah  is  now  the  wife  of  Charlie  Hosine;  Peter 
C.  is  an  agriculturist  of  Noble  Couuty,  Minn.,  and 
Lewis  is  also  a  farmer  of  that  county. 

Mr.  Anderson,  wiiose  name  lieads  this  record, 
acquired  a  common-school  education  in  his  native 
land  and  attended  High  School  one  term.  lie  was 
reared  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  he  came  to 
America.  When  twent}'  years  of  age,  he  deter- 
mined to  try  his  fortune  in  this  country.  lie  crossed 
the  Atlantic  from  Liverpool,  England,  to  New 
York  City  in  the  sailing-vessel,  "North  America," 
landing  on  the  4th  of  July,  1864,  with  only  ^S  in 
his  pocket.  The  first  man  he  met  was  a  recruiting 
officer  who  offered  him  $300  to  enlist,  but  he  re- 
fused and  came  on  to  Chami)aign  County,  111.  The 
first  letter  he  received  from  iiis  parents  in  the  old 
country  cost  bim  12.02.  He  remained  in  Champaign 


County  until  the  year  18(58,  when  he  came  to  Ford 
County  and  began  working  upon  the  Sullivaiit  es- 
tate by  the  month.  He  was  thus  employed  until 
1876,  and  during  the  last  six  years  of  that  time  held 
the  position  of  foreman.  The  forty  thousand  acres 
of  the  Siillivant  estate  were  then  almost  unim- 
proved, and  he  aided  in  la.ying  out  tlie  section  lines 
and  the  highways  of  SuUivant  Township.  At  that 
time  there  was  not  a  house  in  Sibley.  In  1876, 
Jlr.  Anderson  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming 
for  himself  for  a  i)eriod  of  six  years,  after  which  he 
went  to  Sibley  and  opened  a  lumber  yard  and  coal 
office.  He  is  still  engaged  in  that  line  of  trade, 
and  is  doing  an  excellent  business.  His  annual 
sales  amount  to  $10,000,  and  of  his  success  he  may 
well  be  proud,  for  it  is  all  due  to  his  own  efforts. 
In  addition  to  the  business  already  mentioned,  he 
is  agent  for  the  Equitable  Trust  Company  of  New 
London,  Conn.,  and  also  agent  for  a  number  of 
the  substantial  insurance  companies,  and  has  done 
quite  a  large  volume  of  business  in  this  line. 

On  the  25th  of  December,  1874,  Mr.  Anderson 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Jliss  Lottie,  daughter 
of  August  and  Mary  Swanson.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children  who  are  yet  liv- 
ing: Carry,  Albert,  George  and  James.  They  have 
also  lost  three:  Albert,  Sophia  and  Oscar.  The 
parents  are  both  members  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  and  have  done  much  for  its  upbuilding 
and  growth.  Mr.  Anderson  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  church  in  Sibley.  In  the  summer  of 
1889,  he  commenced  the  project  of  erecting  a 
house  of  worslii|),  which  was  com|)leted  in  1891. 
Through  the  unflagging  zeal  and  efforts  of  our 
subject,  a  beautiful  church  worth  $2,000  was  com- 
pleted. He  has  held  the  offices  of  Deacon  and  Sec- 
retary. 

Mr.  Anderson  holds  membership  with  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  was  Secretary  of  Sibley  Lodge 
No.  761,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  for  about  five  terms,  and  at 
this  writing  is  Worsliipful  Master.  He  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  lie 
has  since  been  a  supporter  of  Republican  principles 
and  has  been  honored  with  various  offices  of  public 
trust.  He  held  the  olfice  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  sixteen  consecutive  years,  was  Assessor  for  four 
}-ears,  served  as  Collector  for  five  years,  filled  the 


442 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


position  of  Township  Clerk  for  a  term  of  two  years, 
was  one  of  the  Directors  of  the  public  schools  of 
Sible3- for  nine  years,  and  for  seven  3"ears  has  been 
Notary  Public  and  is  still  holding  that  office.  That 
he  has  faithfully  performed  the  duties  of  these  va- 
rious positions  is  well  indicated  by  his  long  con- 
tinued service  in  each  office.  He  is  recognized  as 
a  valued  citizen  of  the  community,  and  is  a  pulilic- 
spirited  and  progressive  man  who  does  all  in  his 
power  for  the  ui)building  of  the  county  and  to 
promote  the  general  welfare. 


I 


"if  AME8  F.  SMITH  has  been  a  resident  of 
Lyman  Townshi|>  longer  tlian  an}'  other  of 
its  present  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Can- 
ada, near  tlie  city  of  Prescott,  April  15, 
1821.  and  was  the  second  in  a  familv  of  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  three  of  whom  are  jet 
liviiio.  Tlie  parents  were  Peter  and  Electa  (Bar- 
ton) Smith.  The  father  was  a  Scotch  Highlander, 
born  in  Inverness-shire.  He  followed  farming 
throughout  his  entire  life  and  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three  years.  Emigrating  to  America,  he 
landed  at  Nova  Scotia  and  thence  went  to  Can- 
ada, where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Piesbjtcrian  Church  and 
was  highly  regarded  by  all.  His  wife  has  also 
been  called  to  her  final  rest.  The  surviving  mem- 
l)ers  of  their  familj-  are:  James,  of  tliis  sketch; 
Alexander,  who  is  married  and  follows  farming 
in  the  village  of  Kem|)tville,  Canada;  and  Mary, 
wife  of  William  Fraser,  a  Scotchman  l)y  birth, 
now  engaged  in  farming. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools,  being  under  tlie  instruction  of 
AVilliam  Bower  f(u-  twelve  years.  Tlie  three  R"s 
constituted  the  curriculum  of  study  in  those  days, 
but  they  were  well  drilled  in  those  branches, 
especiallj'  in  mathematics.  When  ^Ir.  Smith  left 
school  he  had  a  good  education  in  the  common 
branches.  On  the  8th  of  November,  1849,  he  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Eliza  McKelvej-,  a  na- 
tive of  St.  Lawrence  Count}',  N.  Y.,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Jane  (Carson)  McKelvey.    Her 


father  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and,  on  emigrat- 
ing to  America,  located  in  Southern  Illinois, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  about  thirty-seven 
years,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  sixty- 
seventh  \earof  his  age.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Reformed  Presbj'terian  Church. 
Mrs.  Smith  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  for  about  seven  terms  engaged  in  teaching  in 
New  York,  having  to  "lioard  'round"  among  the 
scholars  of  the  district. 

Seven  children  were  born  unto  our  sulijeet  and 
his  wife.  The  eldest,  the  Rev.  William  A.  Smith, 
was  educated  at  Wabash  College,  of  Crawfords- 
ville,  Ind.,  and  at  Lane's  Theological  Seminaiy. 
He  married  Miss  Lula  Keats,  a  native  of  Missouri, 
and  is  the  pastor  of  the  Presliyterian  Church  of 
Savanuah,  that  State.  He  has  traveled  through 
tlie  Holy  Land,  visiting  many  of  the  scenes  of 
Bible  history,  and  in  his  journeyings  also  went  to 
]\It.  Vesuvius,  Pompeii,  Glasgow,  Rome,  Paris, 
London  and  Naples.  After  his  return,  he  com- 
piled a  work,  entitled,  "From  Occident  to  Orient," 
which  he  dedicated  to  his  mother  in  the  following 
words:  "To  the  mother  whose  tender  care  and 
prayerful  interest  have  ever  followed  me  through 
childhood's  little  griefs,  the  temptations  of  young 
manhood,  tiie  joj's  and  sorrows  of  more  mature 
years  and  the  perils  of  travel  in  foreign  lands;  as 
well  as  to  the  multitude  of  personal  friends  with 
whom  we  have  been  more  or  less  associated  iu 
times  past,  is  this  little  volume  affectionately 
inscribed  by  the  author."  The  Rev.  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
scholar  of  [)rofouiid  thought,  and  has  the  highest  re- 
gard of  his  people  and  the  esteem  and  confidence  of- 
all  who  know  him.  The  next  child,  Jane,  is  the  wife 
of  A.  T.  Light,  an  agriculturist.  John  P.,  who  was 
educated  iu  the  common  schools  and  at  the  Valpa- 
raiso School  of  Telegraphy  and  Book-keeiiing,  acted 
as  Station  Agent  at  Cornlaud,  on  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  for  nearly  eight  years,  Init  is  now 
an  enterprising  l)usiness  man  of  Roberts,  111., 
dealing  in  grain,  coai  and  farm  implements.  He 
married  Miss  Sadie  Day,  a  native  of  Illinois. 
Mary,  wife  of  Ransom  ISIontague,  is  a  teacher  of 
abilit)'  and  her  husband  is  a  farmer  of  North  Da- 
kota. Margaret,  who  obtained  a  teacher's  certifi- 
cate at  the  age  of  fifteen  and  successfullv  followed 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


443 


that  profession  in  Forrl  County,  is  now  tlie  wife 
of  William  Curry,  in  Patton  Township.  David, 
wlio  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  dry-pressed 
brit'k  in  Brunswick,  Mo.,  married  Miss  Alice 
Swanick;  who  died  recently.  James  R.  is  asso- 
ciated in  business  with  his  brother  in  Brunswick, 
Mo.,  as  president  of  the  Urunswick  Hrick  and  Tile 
Company. 

Not  long  after  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  determined  to  try  their  fortime  in  the 
West  and  went  to  Southern  Illinois,  but  after  ten 
days  spent  in  au  uninviting  region  they  con- 
cluded to  go  back  to  Canada  and  located  at 
Queen's  Bush,  where  Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  mer- 
eliandising.  Tliat  venture,  however,  proved  a 
failure  for  ho  was  unable  to  make  collections.  On 
the  2d  of  May,  1859,  he  went  to  Onarga,  111.,  and 
thence  came  to  Lyman  Township,  where  he  made 
a  claim  of  half  a  section  of  land.  After  six 
months,  his  wife  joined  him  with  their  five  little 
children.  There  were  nian\-  hardships  and  priva- 
tions to  be  borne.  Prairie  fires  were  a  source  of 
terror  to  the  early  settlers  and  the  home  and 
premises  were  always  plowed  around  to  keep  the 
flames  from  crossing  to  their  land.  On  one  oc- 
casion, Mr.  Smith  was  in  the  dooryard  when  a 
pack  of  prairie  wolves  came  rushing  upon  him. 
He  ran  into  the  house,  shut  the  door  and,  going 
upstairs,  opened  the  window  and  fired  upon  the 
animals,  but  failed  to  drive  them  away.  In  the 
morning  he  found  that  the  wolves  had  broken 
into  his  hen  house  and  destroyed  all  of  his 
chickens  but  two.  Deer  were  plentiful,  and  on 
one  occasion  he  saw  a  drove  of  twenty -seven. 
Many  of  the  towns  and  villages  had  not  sprung 
into  existence.  The  first  school,  called  the  Mars- 
den  School,  was  located  on  section  2,  and  its  pa- 
trons came  from  the  whole  township. 

The  cold  winter  of  1862-63  is  never  to  be  for- 
gotten. On  the  last  day  of  1862,  Mr.  Smith  went 
to  school  for  his  son,  taking  buffalo  robes  and 
shawls  to  protect  him,  but  a  terrible  blizzard 
came  on,  and  it  was  almost  impossible  to  keep 
from  freezing.  Many  did  lose  tlieir  lives  on  that 
memorable  night.  In  politics,  Mr.  Smith  has  been 
a  stalwart  Republican  since  he  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential  vote   for  Abraham    Lincoln.     For   fifteen 


years  he  served  as  School  Director,  and  the  cause 
of  education  has  ever  found  in  him  a  warm  friend. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presliyterian 
Church  and  are  kindly,  l)enevolent  people,  from 
whose  door  the  [loor  are  never  turned  empty- 
handed.  Their  U[)right  lives  have  won  them  the 
love  of  all,  and  none  are  held  in  higher  esteem 
than  these  honored  pioneers.  They  are  now  liv- 
ing retired  in  Roberts,  where  they  have  a  nice 
home,  and  are  also  the  owners  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Lyman  Township. 


-^^ 


WAN  I.  HOLMQUEST,  a  carpenter  and 
joiner  of  Paxton,  whose  residence  in  Ford 
County  covers  the  long  period  of  twenty- 
nine  years,  is  a  self-made  man  who,  b3' 
his  own  efforts,  has  worked  his  w.ay  upward  from 
a  humble  position  to  one  of  prominence.  A  na- 
tive of  Sweden,  he  was  born  on  the  1st  of  May, 
1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Swan  .Tohnson,  who  spent 
his  entire  life  in  that  countiy. 

Our  subject  had  but  limited  school  privileges, 
his  education  having  been  mostly  acquired  since 
he  has  attained  to  mature  years.  He  learned  the 
trade  of  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  his  native  land, 
serving  three  years  as  an  api)rentice  and  working 
four  years  at  his  trade  ere  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica. He  was  also  married  in  his  native  land,  in 
April,  1854,  and  soon  afterward  brought  his  young 
bride  to  this  country.  They  boarded  a  vessel  at 
Gottenburg,  and  at  Liverpool  took  passage  on  a 
Western-bound  sailing-vessel,  which  at  length 
dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  on 
the  10th  of  August,  after  seven  long  weeks  spent 
upon  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic,  during  which 
they  encountered  some  severe  weather.  Mr.  Holm- 
quest  made  his  first  location  at  Hempstead,  L.  I., 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  a  few  months 
and  then  engaged  in  carpentering. 

About  a  year  later,  in  August,  1855,  our  sub- 
ject removed  to  Chicago  and  followed  his  trade 
in  the  employ  of  the  Rock  Island  IJailroad  Com- 
pany, working  at  bridge  construction  and  the 
building  of  depots  for  about  four  years.     He  then 


444 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


engaged  with  a  bridge  constructing  company  and 
was  sent  Soutli,  worliing  in  Alabama  and  Missis- 
sippi for  about  two  years,  after  which  he  returned 
to  his  home  and  family  in  Chicago  and  resumed 
carpenter  work,  following  the  same  in  tiiat  city  for 
a  period  of  three  years.  In  December,  1863,  Mr. 
Holmquest  came  to  Paxton,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  for  two  years,  and  in  1866  removed  to  a 
farm  which  lie  had  purcliased  ere  becoming  a 
resident  of  Ford  Count3'.  He  greatl}'  improved 
his  land,  residing  tiiereon  for  two  yeais,  when  he 
sold  out,  going  to  Champaign  County,  where  he 
purchased  another  farm.  After  continuing  its 
cultivation  for  two  years,  he  rented  his  land  and 
returned  to  Paxton,  where  he  resumed  carpenter 
work,  which  he  followed  until  the  autumn  of 
1869. 

In  that  year,  J\lr.  Holmquest,  accompanied  by 
his  wife,  returned  to  their  native  land,  and  spent 
many  happy  hours  in  visiting  the  scenes  of  their 
jouth  and  renewing  old  acquaintances.  They  re- 
mained in  Sweden  for  about  a  3'ear,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1870  again  came  to  their  adopted  coun- 
trj',  where  Mr.  Holmquest  resumed  agricultural 
pursuits  on  his  farm  in  Champaign  County.  After 
three  years  he  again  rented  his  land,  came  with  his 
family  to  Paxton  and  embarked  in  carpenter  work 
in  this  city,  where  he  has  resided  most  of  the  time 
since.  He  has  sold  his  farm  in  Champaign  County 
and  purchased  land  in  Ford  County,  near  Paxton, 
which  he  still  owns — a  valuable  and  well-improved 
farm.  He  has  built  for  himself  some  eight  resi- 
dences in  this  cit}',  most  all  of  which  he  has  since 
sold. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Holmquest  is  a  Democrat.  He 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  the  Hon.  Stephen 
A.Douglas,  then  supported  Abraham  Lincoln,  but, 
since  the  war,  has  renewed  his  allegiance  to  the 
Democratic  party  and  supported  its  men  and 
measures.  He  has  held  several  local  offices  of 
honor  and  trust,  was  elected  and  served  six  3-ears 
as  Township  Commissioner,  and  for  j-ears  has 
been  a  member  of  the  School  Board.  The  cause 
of  education  and  other  worthy  interests  have  al- 
ways received  his  hearty  co-operation  and  sup- 
port. He  and  his  wife  and  family  are  members  of 
the  Swedish  Mission    Lutheran  Church,  of  which 


he  was  one  of  the  original  members.  The  suc- 
cess which  has  crowned  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Holm- 
(juest  has  been  but  the  just  reward  of  his  labors, 
for  he  has  striven  long  and  earnestl3'  for  success. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmquest  were  born  five 
children:  Thomas  Heniy,  who  acquired  a  good 
education  and  now  occupies  a  responsible  posi- 
tion with  the  McCormick  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  Chicago;  Charles  G.,  who  is  working  at 
the  tinner's  trade  in  Chicago;  and  Elleh  Chris- 
tina, a  j'ouug  lad^-  at  home.  The  sons  are  both 
married  and  have  families.  Two  children  died  in 
infancy. 


"iri  OHN  SKOG  is  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  Patton  Township.  He  resides 
on  section  18,  and  his  landed  possessions 
airoregate  some  four  hundred  acres.  There 
he  has  made  his  home  since  March,  1871,  or  for  a 
period  of  twentj'-one  j'cars.  A  native  of  Sweden, 
he  was  born  on  the  18th  of  May,  1832,  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  that  country.  lie  had  but  limited 
school  privileges  and  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  spent  in  the  usual  manner  of  far- 
mer lad.". 

In  1865,  he  bade  good-b3'c  to  his  old  home,  and, 
with  the  determination  of  trying  his  fortune  in 
the  New  World,  sailed  for  America.  He  took  pas- 
sage on  a  vessel  at  Gutenberg,  and  in  the  latter 
part  of  June  arrived  in  New  York.  Among  his 
fellow-passengers  on  that  V03'age  wag  a  3'oung  lad3-, 
Miss  Clara  Pearson,  also  a  native  of  Sweden,  and 
in  the  month  of  December  following  their  arrival 
they  were  united  in  marriage,  in  Menard  County, 
III.  In  that  count3f,  Mr.  Skog  was  emplo3-ed  as  a 
farm  iiand  for  about  seven  months  and  then  rented 
land  for  two  years.  In  1870,  he  came  to  Ford 
County  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Patton  Township, 
upon  which  he  located  in  March,  1871.  It  then 
comprised  only  eighty  acres  and  was  but  slightl3^ 
improved.  He  at  once  began  its  cultivation,  also 
rented  other  land,  and  in  partnership  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Gus  Pearson,  bought  and  fanned 
another  tract.     He  is  now  the  owner  of  four  hun- 


'-e^y.  w,    '^■ 


a^. 


./  ^^  / 


0^0X^1'      G^^UOzo^. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


449 


(Ired  acres  of  aralilo  laud  and  his  farm  is  consid- 
ered one  of  the  liucsl  in  tliat  locality.  The  home 
is  a  substantial  rcsidcuce,  there  are  yood  barns  and 
other  outbuildiuLi^s  and  the  iniprovenieiits  that  are 
found  on  a  model  farm  are  not  lacking  on  the 
>Skog  homestead. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs  Skog  have  been  born  six 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Jt)hn  K.,  aids  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  tlie  home  farm;  Freda  is 
the  wife  of  Ephraim  Carlson,  a  resident  of  Hender- 
son Station;  Edward,  Clara,  Amandus  and  Ueda 
are  all  at  home.  They  also  lost  four  children  in 
early  childhood.  Mr.  Skog  anil  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Lutheran  Cluirch,  and  in  social 
circles  they  rank  high,  being  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  this  comnuinit}'.  Their  home 
is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  their  many  friends 
are  sure  to  receive  a  hearty  welcome  as  the}'  cross 
its  threshold. 

In  his  political  afliliations,  Mr.  Skog  is  a  Rei)ub- 
lican,  having  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  that 
part3''s  principles  since  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Gen.  Grant.  However,  he  has  never  sought  or 
desired  public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  en- 
tire time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests. 
From  a  humble  position  in  life  he  has  worked  his 
way  upward  to  one  of  affluence,  overcoming  all 
obstacles  in  his  })atii  and  surmounting  all  difiicult- 
ies  by  his  indomitable  will  and  energy.  In  all  his 
business  dealings,  his  associates  have  found  him 
straightforward  and  honorable,  and  as  a  man  of 
sterling  worth,  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


^^  EORGE  T.  ARENDS.a  member  of  the  firm  of 
III  (— -,  lehl  &  Co.,  bankers  of  Melvin,  was  born  in 
'^^i  Peoria,  111.,  August  9,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of 
Teis  and  Teda  (Becker)  Arends,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Gerinanj%  and,  leaving  the  Father- 
land, emigrated  to  America  in  1847.  They  landed 
in  New  Orleans,  La.,  where  they  spent  one  month, 
and  then  came  North,  making  location  in  Peoria, 
111.,  where  the  mother  died  when  George  T.  was  a 

19 


child.  The  father  was  afterward  again  married 
and  with  his  family  came  to  Ford  County  in  1870, 
settling  in  the  township  of  I'oach  Orchard.  Our 
subject  spent  the  da^-s  of  his  lioyhood  and  ytiuth 
in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  and  attended 
the  district  schools.  He  began  business  for  him- 
self in  1872,  becoming  a  member  of  the  lirm  of 
Frasius,  lehl  &  Co.,  dealers  in  grain,  feed  and  coal 
in  Melvin.  That  (inn  continued  until  1876,  when 
Mr.  Frasius  retired  and  the  business  was  continued 
b}'  Messrs.  lehl  and  Arends  until  the  fall  of  1890) 
when  they  sold  out  their  elevator  .and  stock  and 
engaged  in  banking,  establishing  the  first  bank  at 
Melvin.  They  do  liusiness  under  the  firm  name 
of  lehl  &  Co.  This  firm  owns  seven  farms,  aggre- 
gating eleven  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  one  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  Wall  Towiishiii  and  another  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  SuUivant  Township,  all  their 
land  is  in  Peach  Orchard  Township.  The}'  began 
business  as  private  bankers  on  a  large  real-estate 
security  and  by  their  long  residence  here,  and  by 
the  reputation  they  have  made  as  men  of  strict 
integrity  and  correct  business  principles,  they  have 
secnred  the  confidence  and  good-will  of  the  public. 
While  the  bank  is  _yet  new  and  the  business  in 
consequence  not  large,  the  institution  is  a  much- 
needed  adjunct  to  the  business  facilities  of  the 
town  and  will  no  doubt  rapidly-  grow  in  importance 
as  its  advantages  are  realized. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  1874,  ]\Ir.  Arends  was 
united  in  marriage  in  the  town  of  L^'man,  Ford 
County,  to  Miss  Talea  Weiss,  who  was  born  in 
Osefriesland,  Hanover,  Germany,  September  5, 1851, 
and  is  a  daughter,  of  William  and  Dina  Weiss.  She 
came  to  America  with  her  parents  when  fifteen 
years  of  age.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arends,  five  of  whom,  three  sons  and 
two  daughters,  are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Teda 
Talea,  born  August  29,  1877;  Andrew,  July  24, 
1879;  Hannah,  May  8,  1885;  Frederick  G.,  Novem- 
ber 1, 1887;  Albert  T.,  June  17,  1890.  Three  died 
in  childhood:    Willie,  Dina  E.  and  an  infant. 

With  the  German  Methodist  Church  of  Melvin, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arends  hold  membership  and,  in  his 
political  afliliations,  our  subject  is  a  Republican  but 
has  never  sought  or  desired  official    preferment. 


450 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


He  has  made  his  home  in  Melviu  since  1872,  or  for 
a  period  of  twenty  consecutive  years,  and  is  liiglily 
respected  as  an  upriglit  and  successful  business  man. 

ATTHEW  SPEED] E,  a  retired  fanner  re- 
siding in  Gibson  Cit>',  and  one  of  the  earl- 
iest settlers  of  Ford  County,  was  born  in 
Glenfoot,  Parish  of  Abernethy,  Perthshire, 
Scotland,  February  14,  1819,  his  parents  being  An- 
drew and  Ellen  (Crighton)  Speedie.  On  both  sides, 
the  families  had  lived  in  that  neigliborhood  for 
over  three  iiundred  years.  The  father  followed 
weaving  in  the  winter  and  seineing  fish  in  the  sum- 
mer. He  was  a  wortliy  man,  and  became  well-to- 
do.  Both  himself  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  Their  death  occurred  in  the 
Old  Countrv  at  the  ages  of  eighty-four  and  seventy- 
four  years,  respectively.  In  their  family  were  ten 
children,  seven  sons  and  three  daughters,  but  only 
two  are  now  living.  These  two  were  tlie  only  ones 
who  came  to  the  United  States.  David,  who  lives 
in  Talbot  Count}',  Md.,  has  been  an  extensive 
landscape  gardener,  but  is  now  a  farmer.  Another 
son  of  the  above  worthy  couple,  Alexander,  be- 
came the  most  extensive  fisherman  in  Scotland, 
paying  a  yearly  rental  of  $55,000.  A  third  son, 
William,  a  teacher  by  |)rofession,  died  in  Canada. 
The  remainder  of  tlie  family  spent  their  lives  in 
their  native  land. 

Our  subject  was  tlie  eighth  ciiikl  in  order  of 
birth.  He  acquired  a  common-school  education, 
and  when  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  entered  upon 
a  three  3-ears'  apprenticeship  at  the  wagon  maker's 
trade.  His  term  having  expired,  he  then  served 
three  years  at  the  millwright  and  carpenter's  trade. 
For  that  six  years"  work  he  received  only  his  board  i 
and  had  to  furnish  bis  own  tools  and  pay  his  tui- 
tion in  school.  He  worked  as  a  journeyman  until 
his  emigration  to  the  United  States. 

On  the  I2th  of  June,  1840,  Mr.  Speedie  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Elizabeth  .Jack,  who  died 
on  the  28th  of  February,  1844,  leaving  one  child, 
Andrew,  who  is  now  a  farmer  of  Dix  Township. 
On  the  11th  of  June,  1847,  he  wedded  Isabella  Col- 


ston, a  native  of  Fifeshire,' Scotland,  born  October 
10,  1820.  She  is  one  of  nine  children,  six  sons 
and  three  daughters,  whose  parents  were  Thomas 
and  Rachel  (Baxter)  Colston.  She  is  the  eldest  of 
the  three  children  that  are  now  living,  and  is  the 
only  one  of  her  family  that  came  to  the  United 
States. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Speedie,  accompanied  by  his  wife 
and  children,  sailed  for  America,  and  after  a  stormy 
voyage  of  forty -two  daj-s,  during  forty  days  of 
which  our  subject  was  sea-sick,  they  landed  at 
Pictou,  Nova  Scotia.  There  was  a  hogshead  of 
brandy  on  board,  and  of  this  the  captain  and  first 
mate  (lartook  too  freely,  being  intoxicated  during 
nearly  the  entire  voyage,  and  had  it  not  been  for 
the  second  mate,  all  on  board  would  have  been 
lost.  After  some  five  months  spent  in  Nova  Sco- 
tia, Mr.  Speedie  went  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  but  not 
getting  into  business  there,  he  obtained  the  posi- 
tion of  engineer  at  Fall  River,  Mass..  and  for  six- 
teen years  was  employed  as  millwright  for  the 
Globe  Printing  Company.  About  1855,  his  brother 
David  came  to  Ford  County  and  purchased  a  quar- 
ter-section of  land  for  himself  and  our  subject  at 
$8  per  acre.  In  1865,  Matthew  Speedie  removed 
to  Logan  County.  111.,  where  he  left  his  family  un- 
til he  could  break  a  part  of  his  land  in  this  county 
and  build  thereon.  It  was  in  1866  that  he  re- 
moved to  his  farm,  which  he  still  owns,  having 
bought  his  brother's  interest  in  the  same.  He  laid 
the  first  tile  in  Ford  Count}-,  paying  835  per  thou- 
sand for  three-inch  tile,  and  made  his  place  one  of 
the  best  farms  in  this  part  of  the  State.  He  con- 
tinued its  cultivation  with  good  success  until  1887, 
when  he  removed  to  Gibson  City,  to  enjoy  a  well- 
earned  rest. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Speedie  were  born  four  chil- 
dren: David,  who  is  now  a  farmer  of  Dix  Town- 
ship; Isabella  J.,  wife  of  John  S.  Martin,  a  resi- 
dent of  Allen  County,  Kan.;  William  T.,  who  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Dix  Township;  and  INIary 
E.,  wife  of  Jacob  Preston,  a  resident  of  Gibson 
City. 

Mr.  Speedie  has  been  a  life-long  Republican,  but 
has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office- 
seeking.  In  the  cause  of  Christianity,  he,  his  wife 
and  all   the   children   are  zealous    workers,  being 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


451 


members  of  the  Presbyterian  Cliiurh,  in  wliioli  lie 
is  a  Ruling  Elder.  Not  only  by  profession,  but  by 
consistent  ('liristi.an  lives,  tliey  haveset  fortli  tlieir 
faitii  m  (iod  and  the  trutlis  of  the  Bible.  Few  set- 
tlers have  k)nger  resided  in  Ford  County  tlian  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  .Speedie,  and  for  tlieir  true  worth  none 
are  more  highlv  esteemed. 


E^ 


ROF.  P:1)WARI)  A.  GARDNER,    County 

III  Superinti'iident  of  Sciiools  of  Ford  C'oiinty, 
and  a  well-known  citizen  of  Paxton,  was 
born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  De- 
cember 29,  18(il,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Jane 
(Hill)  Gardner.  His  father,  who  was  of  Scotcli- 
Irish  descent,  was  born  in  the  same  county  as  the 
son,  and  is  still  engaged  in  farming  in  Westmore- 
land County,  of  which  place  the  mother  was  also  a 
native. 

Prof.  Gardner  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  the  neigliborhood  near  his 
home,  and  afterward  attended  Mariile  Academy, 
of  Markle,  Pa.,  and,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  was 
engaged  in  teach.ing  school.  In  1883,  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Ford  Count}-.  Not  con- 
tent with  the  advantages  he  had  already  received, 
he  took  a  course  of  study  at  the  Paxton  Normal 
and  Collegiate  Institute,  now  the  Rice  Collegiate 
Institute,  and  afterward  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  this  county.  He  was  very  successful  as 
an  instructor.  For  one  year  he  was  Principal  of 
the  Elliott  School,  and  for  two  years  was  Principal 
of  the  Caldwell  School,  Kansas.  After  teaching  two 
3^ears  in  the  Paxton  High  School,  he  was  chosen 
Principal  of  the  same,  which  position  he  held  two 
years.  In  November,  1890,  he  was  elected  to  the 
otHce  of  County  Superintendent,  and  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  the  office  in  December  of  that 
year.  There  are  one  hundred  and  seven  schools 
under  his  supervision,  and  he  is  proving  himself 
fully  competent  to  have  them  in  charge. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1891,  in  his  native 
county  in  Pennsylvania,  Prof.  Gardner  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Jliss  Eva  Alice  Ross,  a  daughter  of 
George  W.  and  E  ther  A.  (Irwin)  Ross. 


Mr.  Gardner  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason.  He 
is  a  member  and  the  present  Master  of  Paxton 
Lodge  No.  416,  A.  F.  A  A.  M.;  and  is  a  member 
and  officer  of  F^ord  Chapter  No.  11.3,  R.  A.  M. ;  also 
belongs  to  Mt.  Olivet  Commander}-  No.  38,  K.  T., 
all  of  Paxton;  and  of  Gibson  Council  No.  72,  R.  & 
S.  BI.;  also  of  Paxton  Camp  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men ot  America.  Himself  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Paxton. 
Prof.  Gardner  is  an  experienced  educator,  having 
been  a  te.acher  for  eleven  3-ears,  during  which  time 
he  was  principal  of  several  graded  and  High 
Schools.  During  his  administration  of  the  office 
of  County  Superintendent,  he  has  proved  himself 
very  capable  and  attentive  to  the  duties  of  the 
position,  whereliy  he  has  won  much  [)i'aise  and 
personal  popularity. 


lf|_^  ARRY  LEA  GREGORY,  of  the  firm  of  H. 
|/  L.  Gregorj'  &  Co.,  dealers  in  dry-goods, 
cloaks,  boots,  shoes,  carpets,  etc.,  is  num- 
bered among  the  leading  business  men  of 
Gibson  Cily.  He  is  a  native  of  Marshall  Countj^, 
111.,  born  on  the  9tli  of  F'ebruary,  18.57,  and  is  a 
son  of  Harrison  and  Mar}-  (Sivers)  Gregory,  who 
emigrated  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  among  the  early 
settlers.  The  father  was  a  well-to-do  farmer,  mak- 
ing that  calling  his  life  work.  About  the  year  1867, 
he  removed  to  Henry,  Marshall  County,  111.  Him- 
self and  wife  have  both  passed  to  their  final  rest, 
leaving  six  children  to  mourn  their  loss,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  They  were  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens,  worthy  the  resijcct  of  all 
\\iio  knew  them. 

Our  subject  is  the  ^^oungest  of  their  family,  and, 
until  ten  years  of  age,  spent  his  time  on  a  farm, 
and  in  attendance  at  the  district  schools,  where  he 
received  his  primary  education.  After  the  removal 
of  his  parents  to  Henry,  he  attended  the  public 
schools,  where  he  completed  his  literary  training. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  commenced  clerking  in 
a  store  and  for  fourteen  years  continued  with  one 
establishment,  thus  showing  by  his  continued  ser- 
vice that  his  duties  were  well  and   faithfully  per- 


452 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


formed.  In  1887,  be  came  to  Gibson  City,  and  on 
the  10th  of  November  of  that  year  began  business 
under  the  style  of  the  firm  given  above,  and  now 
has  an  excellent  trade.  During  the  five  years  which 
have  passed  since  the  opening  of  liis  present  store, 
he  lias  increased  his  stock  until  it  is  one  of  tlie 
largest  carried  in  the  city,  and  his  store-room  ex- 
ceeds any  other  in  size,  being  25x110  feet. 

Prior  to  leaving  Henry,  Mr.  Gregory  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Ida  Jones,  a  native  of  Mar- 
shall County,  their  union  being  celebrated  on  the 
1st  of  May,  1878,  and  she  is  one  of  the  estimable 
ladies  of  Gibson  City.  Unto  this  worthj^  couple 
have  been  born  three  children:  J.  II.,  p]thel  Lea 
and  Kirk  W.,  all  of  whom  are  still  living.  Mrs. 
Gregory  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Chuich, 
and  an  earnest  and  devoted  worker  in  the  cause  of 
Christian!  t}'. 

Politically,  Mr.  Gregory  affiliates  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  of  which  he  is  a  stalwart  su|)porter, 
but  has  never  sought  or  desired  any  official  recog- 
nition, preferring  to  devote  his  time  to  his  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  been  quite  successful.  He  is 
one  of  the  self-made  men  of  Gibson  City,  having 
accumulated  what  he  has  by  his  industry,  perse- 
verance and  good  management.  He  may  well  be 
classed  among  the  leading  merchants  of  that  place. 

'^ M ^ — 

"^  OSEPH  WHORRALL,  one  of  tlie  prominent 
and  influential  citizens  of  Ford  County,  is 
engaged  in  general  farming  on  section  32, 
Lyman  Township.  He  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land, 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  There  are  a  comfortable  home, 
good  outbuildings  and  all  the  other  accessories  of 
a  model  farm,  and  the  well-tilled  fields  and  neat 
appearance  of  the  place  indicate  the  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  "Whorrall  is  a  native  of  Warwickshire,  Eng- 
land. He  was  born  January  11,  1835,  and  is  the 
youngest  child  of  William  and  Sarah  (Yardley) 
AVhorrall.  In  the  family  were  thirteen  children, 
eight  sons  and  five  daughters,  but  he  has  only  two 


brothers  now  living:  Thomas,  who  is  married  and 
follows  farming  in  Iowa;  and  George,  who  is 
married  and  resides  in  Chicago.  The  father  was 
a  stock-raiser  in  Engl.and.  In  1853,  he  emigrated 
to  America,  and  settled  in  Woodford  County',  111., 
where  he  engaged  in  land  speculation.  He  died 
in  1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy -seven,  and  his  wife 
died  in  1862,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 
Their  remains  were  interred  in  Rose  Hill  Ceme- 
tery, of  Chicago. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  our  subject 
spent  the  days  of  his  bo^'hood  and  30Ulh,  and 
when  seventeen  years  of  age  bade  good-bye  to  his 
old  home  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America. 
In  company  with  his  brother  George,  he  sailed 
from  Liverpool  on  tlie  "Florida,"  and  landed  in 
New  York  in  June,  1851.  They  came  direct  to 
Illinois,  where  Mr.  Whorrall  at  once  engaged  in 
farming.  He  and  his  brother  secured  one  liundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  six  miles  from 
Melaraora  for  $120,  but  it  was  entirely  destitute 
of  improvements. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Whorrall 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Deborah  Manning. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  in  November,  1857,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  nine  children,  seven 
sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  wiiom  are  yet  liv- 
ing: Edwin,  a  photographer,  who  is  married  and 
resides  in  Chicago;  Joseph  E.,  a  paper-hanger  and 
painter,  of  Roberts;  William,  also  a  paper-hanger 
and  painter,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  Roberts; 
Eliz.abeth,  wife  of  Oscar  Roberts,  a  farmer;  Sarah, 
wife  of  Cela  Foster,  of  Roberts;  Miles,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Maud  E.  Longmyer  and  resides  on  the 
old  homestead;  Walter,  a  watchmaker  and  jeweler 
living  at  home;  Cliarles  Herbert  and  Henry  Arthur, 
who  aid  their  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Whorrall  came  with  his  family  to  Ford 
County  in  1875,  and  has  since  been  identified 
with  its  growth  and  upbuilding.  He  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  partiall}'  improved 
land  at  i^35  per  acre,  which  is  now  worth  from 
^65  to  $100  per  aci'e.  The  many  improvements 
he  li.as  placed  upon  it  and  the  highly  cultivated 
state  of  the  fields  have  made  it  valuable  and  de- 
sirable property.  He  also  owns  propertj'  in  Roberts, 


^#- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


455 


In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  his  first  vote 
was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  lie  has  served  as  a. 
Director  of  the  public  schools  for  five  years,  but 
has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Roberts,  and 
are  stanch  advocates  of  temperance  [irinciples. 
Tliey  have  given  liberally  to  all  worthy  enter- 
prises, are  charitable  and  benevolent  people,  and 
the  poor  and  needy  are  never  turned  from  their 
door  empty-lianded.  They  have  many  friends, 
and  their  liorae  is  Icnown  f.ir  and  wide  for  its  hos- 
pitality. 


-^1= 


^.^^^ 


/^^  HARLES  BUCHHOLZ,  senior  memlier  of  the 
(if  firm  of  Buchholz  Bros.,  of  Melvin,  dealers  in 

"^^^  grain,  feed  and  coal,  is  a  native  of  this  State. 
Marsliall  County  was  the  place  of  liis  birth  and  the 
date  October  22,  1857.  His  parents  are  August  and 
Caroline  (Funte)  Buchliolz,  and  a  sketch  of  their 
lives  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work.  We  now 
take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  subject,  who 
was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  acquired  his  education 
in  the  Melvin  schools,  also  at  tlie  college  of  Val- 
paraiso, Ind.,  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal.  Be- 
ing now  fitted  for  his  life  work,  in  tlie  spring  of 
1885  he  went  to  Jackson  County,  Minn.,  where 
he  was  employed  in  teacliing  school  for  one  3'ear 
and  then  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which 
he  followed  with  good  success,  being  an  industri- 
ous and  enterprising  agriculturist. 

In  August,  1887,  Mr.  Buchholz  led  to  the  mar- 
riage altar  Miss  Lillie  Fletcher,  tlieir  union  being 
celebrated  in  Osceola  County,  Iowa.  Tlie  lady 
was  born  in  Kendall  County,  111.,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Fletcher.  Two  children  liave 
been  born  of  their  union,  a  son  and  daugliter: 
Millie,  who  was  born  November  16,  1888,  and 
Fletcher,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1890.  Both  were  born 
in  Jackson  Countj',  Minn. 

Mr.  Buchholz  continued  to  engage  in  farming  in 
that  county  until  the  autumn  of  1891,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Melvin  and  eml>arked  in  liis  jjresent  line 
of  trade  in  company  with  his  brotlier  William. 
This  firm  liought  out  the  old  established  firm  of 


lehl  &  Co.  The  Buchholz  Bros,  do  an  annual  bus- 
iness amounting  to  $125,000  and  upwards  and  are 
held  to  be  among  tlie  largest  dealers  in  their  line 
in  the  county.  They  were  both  reared  from  child- 
hood in  Melvin,  enjoy  a  wide  acquaintance  in  the 
country  adjacent,  and  are  esteemed  as  upright  and 
honorable  men. 


iJIOMAS  O.  THOMPSON,  who  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  on  section  29,  Patton 
^^^  Township,  is  a  Norwegian  by  birth.  He 
first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  on  the 
11th  of  August,  1847.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
on  a  farm  and  as  soon  as  old  enough  began  to  aid 
in  its  cultivation.  When  he  reached  that  period 
when  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  begin  life  for  him- 
self, he  determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the  New 
World,  and,  in  1868,  crossed  the  Atlantic  on  a 
sailing-vessel,  wiiich  left  harbor  in  the  latter  part 
of  April,  and  after  six  weeks  and  three  days  spent 
upon  the  broad  Atlantic,  a  pleasant  voyage  on  the 
whole,  arrived  at  Quebec,  Canada. 

Soon  afterwards,  ISIr.  Thompson  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  Leland,  La  Salle  County,  where  he  had 
a  sister  and  other  friends  living.  He  then  began 
work  upon  a  farm  and  was  employed  by  tlie  montii 
as  a  farm  liand  for  seven  >'ears.  On  the  exi^iration 
of  that  period,  he  rented  land  in  La  Salle  County, 
which  he  operated  for  a  year.  As  a  coinpanion 
and  lielpmate  on  life's  journey,  he  chose  Miss  Me- 
linda  Bergeson,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Norway, 
and  during  her  infancy  was  brought  to  this  coun- 
try by  her  father,  Ole  Bergeson,  who  settled  in  La 
Salle  County,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  tliat  county  on 
the  1st  of  March,  1866,  and  they  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  a  rented  farm  in  Vermilion 
County,  where  they  resided  for  a  j'car. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1877  that  they  came  to 
Ford  County,  where  Mr.  Thompson  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  of  one  hundred  and  nine  acres,  his 
present  home.  He  lias  since  here  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  has  bought  an  additional  eighty-acre  tract 
of  land    across  the  road   on   section  20.     A  good 


456 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


farm  of  one  himdied  and  eighty-nine  acres  now 
paj's  a  golden  tribute  to  the  care  and  cultivation 
which  the  owner  bestows  upon  it.  The  nian^'  good 
improvements  there  seen  and  the  well-tilh^d  fields 
all  indicate  his  thrift  and  enterprise  and  tell  of  the 
busy  and  useful  life  spent  in  honoral^le  labor.  He 
gives  his  entire  attention  to  his  business  interests, 
never  having  taken  an  active  part  in  public  affairs, 
save  in  faithfull3'  discliarging  his  duties  of  citizen- 
ship. He  votes  with  the  Republican  party,  having 
been  one  of  its  sui)porters  since  he  cast  his  first 
Presidential  ballot  for  James  A.  Garfield.  Himself 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  have  lieen  born  six 
children:  iMartin  O.,  Olvin  I?.,  Cora  Josephine, 
Melvin  T.,  Ruby  M.,  and  Amos  H.  The  family 
has  resided  in  Ford  County  for  fifteen  years,  and 
the  parents  are  well  known  as  people  of  sterling 
worth,  well  deserving  the  regard  of  their  many 
friends. 


_^]- 


-^- 


T^^ 


(3_ 


t^ 


Vi 


'AMES  H.  WHITE,  a  general  grocer  of  Gib- 
son Citj',  estalilished  business  at  that  place 
in  June,  187S>,  and  has  now  a  large  and  lu- 
_  crative  trade.  He  was  born  in  Leith,  Scot- 
land, June  .30,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Agnes  (Main)  AVhite,  both  natives  of  the  same 
countr}'.  The  father  was  born  in  Boness,  Scotland, 
on  the  15th  of  April,  1815,  and  his  wife,  who 
was  over  four  years  his  junior,  was  born  January 
31,  1820,  and  died  on  the  12th  of  February,  1883, 
respected  b}'  all  who  knew  her.  She  was  descended 
from  an  old  Scotch  family  that  traces  its  ancestry 
back  for  six  hundred  years.  The  father  of  our 
subject  is  still  living  and  resides  in  Susquehanna, 
Pa.,  where  he  made  his  home  on  first  emigrating 
to  America,  in  1865. 

James  II.  "Wiiite  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
country  and  here  received  his  education  in  the 
graded  schools  of  Susquehanna,  Pa.  For  two 
yeai'S  he  was  engaged  in  a  twine  factory  in  Xenia, 
Ohio,  going  to  that  city  in  1877,  but  he  came  to 
Gibson  City  in  1879,  and  here  l>egan  business,  as 
before  mentioned,  liefore  he  had  attained  his  m.ajor- 


ity.  He  lias  carried  on  the  grocery  trade  ever 
since  and  has  built  up  a  large  and  prosperous 
business.  He  began  in  a  small  way  but  has  now 
one  of  the  best  stores  in  Gibson  and  has  made  all 
that  he  has  ly  his  own  unaided  efforts. 

In  Xenia,  Ohio,  Mr.  White  was  united  in  mar- 
riage, on  the  30th  of  December,  1880,  with  Miss 
Rachel  C.  Thompson,  a  daughter  of  .Tohn  Thomp- 
son. Her  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war  and 
laid  down  his  life  on  tlie  altar  of  his  countr3'. 
Mrs.  White  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  born 
in  Xenia,  and  liy  her  marriage  has  become  the 
mother  of  two  children,  daughters:  jNIaud  Ellen 
and  Ethel  Agnes,  both  born  in  Gibson.  Tiie  par- 
ents are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Churcli  and 
take  an  active  interest  in  its  work. 

In  politics,  Mr.  White  is  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Village  Board.  He  helped  to  organize  the 
Gibson  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  served 
as  its  President  one  year,  while  for  another  year 
he  was  its  Vice-president.  He  is  a  member  of  all 
of  the  Masonic  bodies  of  Gibson  City  and  also 
holds  membership  with  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery 
No.  38,  K.  T.,  of  Paxton.  He  stands  very  high 
both  in  business  and  social  circles  and  is  one  of  the 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Ford  County.  He 
IS  enterprising  and  progressive,  and  well  worthy 
the  confidence  he  receives. 


».,W>«y>p  ti   >hi 


ON.  NORMAN  EDMUND  STEVENS,  pro- 
''^  ])rietor,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Paxton 
Record,  the  leading  paper  in  Ford  County, 
■^  established  his  office  in  I'axton  in  January, 
1865,  and  has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  llie 
publication  of  the  Record,  covering  a  period  of 
twenty-seven  years.  He  began  with  a  very  modest 
outfit,  when  the  county  was  sparselj'  settled,  and 
has  increased  his  facilities  for  business  as  the 
growth  of  Ford  and  adjoining  counties  developed 
a  demand,  until  he  now  has  one  of  the  most  com- 
plete printing  establishments  in  Eastern  and  Cen- 
tral Illinois.  The  Record  is  a  weekly  Republican 
journal,  38x40  inclies  in  size, and  an  eight-column 


ii  #=i# 


■7/  o 


I 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


457 


quarto  in  form.  It  is  printed  on  a  steam  press  and 
has  a  circulation  of  fifteen  Imndred.  The  office 
occupies  the  ground  Hooi  of  a  two-story  bricl^,  has 
three  steam  presses  and  a  complete  modern  outfit 
for  newspajier  and  job  work.  It  has  undoubtedly 
the  best  and  most  extensive  facilities  for  job  work 
of  any  office  in  this  section  of  tlie  State.  The  office 
and  building,  which  are  the  property  of  the  pub- 
lisher, are  estimated  to  be  worth  $12,000. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  born  in  what  is  now  the  city  of 
Kent,  Portage  Count3',  Ohio,  on  the  25th  of  April, 
1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Marcus  and  Orpha  (Phelps) 
Stevens,  the  parents  being  pioneers  of  that  region. 
The  families  of  both  emigrated  from  Springfield, 
Mass.,  and  settled  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  in 
1808.  Marcus  Stevens,  who  was  in  moderate  cir- 
cumstances, died  when  his  son  Norman  E.  was  but 
five  3'ears  of  age  from  the  effects  of  a  freezing  of 
the  extremities  during  exposure  in  severe  winter 
weather.  His  death  occurred  in  May,  1840,  and 
he  left  a  wife  and  five  small  children,  all  boj'S. 
The  family  continued  to  live  at  the  old  home,  but 
through  necessity,  the  sons,  as  they  attained  the 
age  of  ten  years,  were  put  out  to  live  with  farmers, 
where  they  had  to  work  for  their  own  support, 
getting  but  limited  opportunities  for  education. 

In  accordance  with  this  rule,  Norman  E.,  at  the 
age  of  ten,  began  life  for  himself  as  a  farm  hand. 
The  mother  married  again  after  the  lapse  of  some 
fourteen  years,  her  second  husband  being  David 
McBride.  They  made  their  home  in  Oberlin,Ohio, 
the  better  to  educate  the  younger  children,  and 
subsequently  removed  to  Sparta,  Wis.,  where  the 
husband  died  in  1880,  aged  eighty-two  j'ears, 
while  the  wife  passed  away  in  1886,  at  the  age  of 
eight^'-three.  When  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  fif- 
teen, he  left  the  farm  and  went  to  Oberlin  with  the 
view  of  attending  college,  but  after  a  year  and  a 
half  of  study  was  obliged  to  suspend  his  schooling 
to  earn  the  means  of  support.  With  the  end  in  view 
of  resuming  his  studies,  he  decided  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade,  and,  when  not  quite  seventeen,  he 
apprenticed  himself  to  the  publisher  of  the  Elyria 
(Ohio)  Courier.  On  the  office  being  destroyed  by 
fire  some  months  later,  Mr.  Stevens  went  to  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  secured  a  situation  in  the  office  of 
the  Daibj  Forest  City,  which  was  edited  by  Joseph 


Medill,  since  more  widely  known  as  the  editor  of 
the  Chicago  Tribune.  Subsequently,  the /)«%  iJ'or- 
est  City  was  merged  with  the  Free  Democrat,  the  two 
constituting  the  Cleveland  Z/eacfer.  In  that  office 
our  subject  completed  his  trade  as  a  printer,  and  in 
1852  removed  t()  Jefferson,  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio, 
and  engaged  in  the  office  of  the  Ashtabula  County 
Democrat,  then  published  by  Bennett  Loomis.  After 
working  for  nearly  two  years  and  drawing  but  a 
small  portion  of  his  salary  he  was  obliged  to  bu}''  the 
office  or  lose  his  accumulated  earnings.  The  Demo- 
crat was  a  Douglas  paper  and  was  sufiported  largely 
by  Democrats.  The  political  views  of  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  being  distasteful  to  Mr.  Stevens,  he  sold 
out  the  De)iiocrat  in  1854  and  went  to  AVatertown, 
Wis.,  where  he  bought  a  half-interest  in  the  Chron- 
icle and  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Rose  & 
Stevens,  publishers.  That  paper  supported  Fre- 
mont for  the  Presidency  in  1856. 

On  the  19tli  of  March,  1857,  j\Ir.  Stevens  was 
married  in  that  city  to  Mrs.  Adda  II.  McMillen, 
widow  of  Milo  C.  McMillen,  and  a  daughter  of 
James  Clark,  Esq.,  of  Livonia,  N.  Y.  The  fol- 
lowing August,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  Chronicle, 
taking  up  his  residence  in  Reed's  Landing,  a  wide- 
awake lumbering  and  shipping  point  on  the  Upper 
Mississippi.  There  he  established  the  Wabasha 
County  Herald,  a  weekly  Republican  paper,  which 
he  conducted  successfully  until  the  fall  of  1863, 
when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Chicago.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  in  that  city  until  January, 
1865,  when  he  came  to  Paxton  and  established  the 
Paxton  Record,  which  he  has  since  conducted  with 
signal  success.  The  Record  has  always  been  thor- 
oughly Republican,  doing  the  best  service  in  sup- 
port of  that  party,  but  it  has  also  been  sincerely 
and  earnestly  devoted  to  local  interests  in  the 
broadest  sense  of  the  term,  and  has  won  a  strong 
hold  upon  the  good-will  of  its  patrons.  While 
active  in  the  arena  of  politics  as  a  writer  and 
worker,  Mr.  Stevens  has  not  been  an  asjjirant  for 
the  honors  or  emoluments  of  pulilic  office.  In  the 
fall  of  1878,  he  was  nominated  for  Representative 
to  the  Illinois  Assembly  against  his  wishes,  and 
was  duly  elected.  He  faithfully  represented  the 
district  and  did  good  work  on  important  commitees. 
Prior  to   the  succeeding  election,  he  was  urged  to 


458 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


accept  a  ru-noinination  but  declined  the  honor. 
With  the  exception  of  holding  some  minor  offices, 
he  has  not  since  been  connected  with  public  ser- 
vice. 

By  her  first  marriage,  Mrs.  Stevens  had  two 
daughters  and  a  son:  Leonore  H.,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Henry  Kelsey,  publisher  of  the  Times  in 
Olivia,  Minn.,  where  they  reside  with  their  fam- 
ily of  nine  children;  Belle  E.  became  the  wife  of 
Abram  Croft  and  died  in  Paxton  in  1881;  Willis, 
the  only  sou,  is  married,  and  is  engaged  in  the 
real-estate  business  in  San  Francisco,  Cal.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  N.  E.  Stevens  two  sons  were  born:  Edgar 
N.,  who  is  single,  is  tlie  present  Postmaster  of  Pax- 
ton  and  is  associated  in  business  with  his  father  in 
the  publication  of  the  liecord;  H.  Arthur  is  editor 
and  proprietor  of  tlie  Auburn  Z>/sjwfc7i,  of  Auburn, 
De  Kalb  Count3',  Ind.  He  married  Miss  Minnie 
Hefner,  daughter  of  H.  C.  Hefner,  of  Paxton,  and 
has  one  son,  Harold  H. 

N.  E.  Stevens  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  charter  mem- 
ber of  Paxton  IjOdge,  and  is  a  Knight  Templar 
Mason,  while,  in  religious  belief,  he  and  his  famil}^ 
are  Congregationalists.  In  the  twenty-seven  years 
that  he  has  been  publishing  the  Record,  Mr.  Ste- 
vens has  advocated  with  ability  and  fearlessness 
that  which  he  thought  to  be  right  in  every  cause 
that  affected  the  best  interests  and  welfare  of  tlie 
community  where  he  resides,  and  of  humanity  in 
general.  While  in  the  heat  of  political  campaigns 
he  has  fired  hot  shot  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy, 
he  has  retained  the  respect  and  regard  of  those 
whom  he  opposed  and  has  won  the  good-will  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens  in  general.  All 
worthy  public  enterprises  have  ever  received  from 
his  pen  a  cordial  and  earnest  support,  and  his  influ- 
ence for  good  is  recognized  l)v  all. 


v_ 


♦=s^^»  / 


-^.,    W.  KJELLSTRAND,who  for  a  quarter  of 
(@WJI|    a  century  has  made  his  home  in  Paxton,  is 
one  of    the   worthy  citizens  that  Sweden 
has    furnished    to    Illinois.     He  was  born 
in  that  country  July    15,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of  C. 


A.  Kjellstrand,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Sweden, 
and  there  spent  his  entire  life.  Our  subject  passed 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  land  of 
his  nativity  and  received  good  educational  ad- 
vantages in  its  schools.  He  then  learned  the  paint- 
er's trade,  serving  a  five-j'ears'  apprenticeship, 
after  which  lie  worked  at  the  business  for  ten  years 
before  emigrating  to  America. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey, 
Mr.  Kjellstrand  chose  Jliss  C.  H.  Gunnarson,  also 
a  native  of  Sweden,  their  union  being  celebrated 
in  February,  1859.  Ten  years  later,  he  bade  good- 
bye to  his  home  and  on  a  steamer  sailed  from  Got- 
ten burg  to  London.  He  crossed  England  by  rail 
to  Liverpool,  and  from  thence  took  passage  to  New 
York,  where  he  arrived  in  April,  of  that  year. 
His  first  location  was  made  in  Silver  Creek,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Empire  State,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  two  months  and  a  half.  He 
reached  Illinois  on  the  2d  of  July  following,  and, 
making  a  location  in  Paxton,  embarked  in  business 
in  the  line  of  his  chosen  trade.  Being  pleased 
with  the  country  and  feeling  that  prospects  were 
good,  he  sent  for  his  family,  who  were  still  residing 
in  Sweden,  and  on  the  14th  of  June,  1870,  was 
joined  by  his  wife  and  four  sons,  the  eldest  of 
whom  was  then  ten  3"ears  old,  the  youngest  a  lad 
of  four  summers.  Since  that  time  the}'  have  lost 
two  children:  C.  W.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years,  and  J.  T.,  who  died  in  his  tenth  year. 
The  elder  son  now  living  is  C.  J.  A.,  who  married, 
and  follows  merchandising  in  Paxton.  The  j'ounger, 
A.  W.,  is  professor  of  languages  in  Betany  College, 
of  Lindsborg,  Kan.  He  is  a  man  of  superior  edu- 
cation and  of  their  sons  the  parents  may  well  be 
proud. 

On  the  arrival  of  his  family,  Mr.  Kjellstrand 
began  work  with  renewed  energy  and  has  since  fol- 
lowed his  trade,  his  enterprise  and  industrj-  gain- 
ing for  him  a  nice  home  and  comfortable  income, 
together  with  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  bus- 
iness. His  success  has  been  due  entirely  to  his  own 
efforts  and  he  certainly  deserves  great  credit  for  it. 
Himself  and  wife  are  active  workers  in  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  has  been  an 
officer  for  fifteen  years.  He  is  now  a  member  of 
the  School  Board  and  the  cause  of  education  finds 


a-* 


1^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


461 


in  liim  a  warm  friend.  As  a  puhlic-si^iritod  and 
progressive  citizen,  lie  gives  his  hearty  support  to 
all  that  is  calculated  to  benefit  the  community  or 
promote  the  general  welfare.  In  i)olitics,  he  cast 
his  lirst  vote  for  Geu.  U.  S.  (hant,  and  has  sup- 
ported every  Presidential  candidate  of  the  Repub- 
lican party  since  that  time.  Among  the  peoijle  of 
this  community  he  has  lived  a  blameless  life  and 
has  thereb3'  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


"■f  -- 


^>-^^<! 


Cq>— 


EDWARD  WUNDP:R  is  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  of  Wall  Township,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 20.  lie  has  made  his  home  in  Ford 
Count}'  for  twenty-one  years  and  well  deserves 
representation  in  this  volume.  A  native  of  Mar- 
shall County,  111.,  he  was  born  July  G,  1858,  and  is 
the  seventh  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  The  par- 
rents,  Jolm  and  Margaret  (Dyerling)  Wnuder,  were 
both  natives  of  the  Province  of  Byron,  Germany. 
The  father  has  followed  farming  throughout  his 
entire  life.  He  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two years.  His  wife  passed  away  in  March, 
1882.  Six  of  their  ciiildren  are  yet  living:  George, 
who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Mag- 
gie, wife  of  George  Trundley,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Iroquois  County;  Andrew,  who  is  deceased;  Henry, 
who  is  married  and  resides  in  Ottawa,  111.;  John, 
who  died  in  infancy;  the  next  child  died  in  in- 
fancy; Edward,  of  this  sketch;  Samuel,  who  is 
married  and  follows  farming  in  Canada,  and  Peter, 
who  is  a  resident  of  the  .same  locality. 

Our  subject  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
in  Ford  County.  He  was  educated  in  both  German 
and  English  schools.  Mr.  Wiinder  is  truly  a  self- 
made  man  for  he  started  out  in  life  empty-ii.anded 
and  by  his  own  exertions  has  worked  his  way  up- 
ward. With  his  only  dollar,  he  purch.ased  a  hog, 
and  the  investment  proved  a  profitable  one.  Since 
that  time  his  career  has  been  generally  successful. 
He  lias  had  to  overcome  some  obstacles  and  disad- 
vantages, but  by  industry  and  good  management 
has  secured  for  liinisclf  a  handsome  competence 
which  numbers  him  among  the  substantial  citizens 
of  the  community. 


On  the  24th  of  December,  1882,  Mr.  Wunder 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cora  Pearl 
Sharp,  who  was  born  September  9,  1866,  and  is  a 
daugiiter  of  (Jeorge  and  Sarah  ( Austin)  .Siiarp, 
botii  of  wiioni  are  natives  of  the  Empire  State.  Her 
parents  are  still  living.  Mr.  Sharp,  who  is  now 
fifty-nine  years  of  age,  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Walworth  County,  Wis.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  Democrat.  By  the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  four  children  have  been  born,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters:  (ieorge  Edward,  eight  years  of 
age;  John  W.,  now  deceased;  Imo,  aged  five,  and 
Verna,  deceased. 

Mr.  Wunder  cast  liis  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Hancock  and  h.as  since  been  a  supporter  of 
Deniociatic  principles.  He  is  now  serving  as  School 
Director  in  his  district  and  has  been  Clerk  of  the 
School  Board.  In  religious  belief, he  is  a  Catholic, 
holding  nieinl)ersliip  with  tiie  church  in  Loda.  111., 
of  which  Father  Lewis  is  pastor.  He  devotes  his 
time  and  attention  to  the  development  of  his  fine 
farm,  which  comprises  two  hundred  and  ft)rty  acres 
of  land,  partly  in  AVall  and  partly  in  Dix  Township. 
He  has  a  neat  and  comfortable  home  and  the  im- 
provements upon  the  place  are  such  as  are  gener- 
ally seen  upon  a  model  farm.  During  his  residence 
in  the  count}',  Mr.  Wunder  has  ever  borne  his  part 
in  its  upliuilding  and  development,  and  has  mani- 
fested a  commendable  interest  in  all  tiiat  pertains 
to  its  advancement. 


«  felLLIAM  R.  TRICKEL,  the  oldest  surviv- 
\/iJ//  ^"8'  pioneer  of  Ford  Count}-,  now  residing 
y^^  in  Paxton,  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  He 
was  born  near  Vincennes,  on  the  21st  of  January, 
1821,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Catherine  (Ben- 
syl)  Trickel.  His  father  was  born  in  Virginia,  in 
1795,  and,  in  his  youth,  went  to  I'ickaway  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  married.  He  afterward  emi- 
grated, about  1819,  to  Indiana,  and  to  Illinois  in 
1823,  locating  in  Vermilion  County,  building  a 
mill  at  Danville,  whence  he  removed  to  Cham- 
paign County,  in  1826.  He  there  resided  tvvelve 
years,  or,  until  1838,  when  he  came  to  what  is  now 


462 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ford  Count}',  and  settled  at  Trickel's  Grove,  so 
called  after  its  fii'st  settler.  He  subsequently  be- 
came a  resident  of  Green  County,  Wis.,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1877. 

AVilliani  R.  Trickel,  whose  name  heads  this  rec- 
ord, was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1823, 
when  a  babe  of  two  summers.  Tlie  family  settled 
in  A'ermilion  County.  He  afterward  accompanied 
them  to  Champaign  County,  and  later  came  with 
them  to  what  is  now  Button  Township,  Ford 
Count}',  in  1838,  the  family  locating  at  Trickel's 
Grove.  He  endured  all  the  hardsliips  and  priva- 
tions of  pioneer  life,  and  has  been  an  e}'e-witness 
of  the  growth  of  the  county  since  the  das'S  of  its 
earliest  infancy.  He  was  married  in  this  county 
in  1848,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Catiier- 
ine  Trickel,  and  unto  them  has  been  born  a  family 
of  five  children,  who  are  yet  living. 

INIr.  Trickel  made  his  home  at  Ten  Mile  Grove 
after  liis  marriage,  where  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising, and  also  carried  on  a  blacksmith  and  gun 
shop.  He  there  continued  to  live  until  1867, 
when  he  removed  to  Pax  ton,  where  he  still  carries 
on  a  gun  shop.  We  find  in  him  a  typical  pioneer, 
and,  althougii  seventy-one  years  of  age,  his  mem- 
ory is  good  and  his  intellect  bright.  He  possesses 
a  rare  fund  of  information  relative  to  pioneer 
days  in  this  section  of  Illinois,  which,  unfortu- 
nately, is  not  adapted  to  this  work. 


ANIEL  H.  STRINE  is  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising in  Roberts.  For  many  years 
he  was  connected  with  the  agricultural  in- 
terests of  Ford  County,  and  since  coming 
to  this  community  has  been  recognized  as  one  of  its 
prominent  citizens.  He  was  born  in  York  County, 
Pa.,  May  G,  1855.  His  father,  Michael  Strine,  was 
born  Februar}-  26,  1821,  in  the  Keystone  State, 
and  was  of  German  extraction.  He  started  out  in 
life  empty-handed,  but  was  very  successful,  and 
acquired  a  good  property.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
stalwart  Republican,  and  himself  and  wife  were  de- 
vout members  of  the  Evangelical  Association.     He 


married  Salome  Miller,  who  was  born  March  12, 
1812,  and  died  March  4,  1885.  Mr.  Strine  died 
March  24,  1884.  They  had  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  four  daughters:  David,  a  clergyman,  who  is 
married  and  lives  in  Williamsport,  Pa.;  William, 
who  is  married  and  follows  farming  in  York 
County,  Pa.;  Anna,  wife  of  George  Toomey,  of 
High  Spire,  Daupliin  County,  Pa.;  Maggie,  wife  of 
E.  B.  Miller,  of  St(.)rn]  Lake,  Iowa;  Adeline,  wife 
of  Solomon  llrich,  an  agriculturist  of  York 
Count}',  Pa.;  Sarah  C,  wife  of  George  Crowl,  of 
Dauphin  County,  Pa.;  and  Daniel,  who  completes 
the  family. 

In  presenting  this  sketcii  of  Mr.  Strine,  we  re- 
cord the  life  work  of  a  self-made  man,  who  started 
out  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
and,  with  no  capital  on  which  to  depend,  has 
worked  his  way  upward,  overcoming  all  obstacles, 
until  lie  is  now  numbered  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  community.  He  began  working  on 
a  farm  at  $8  per  month,  and  continued  to  serve  in 
that  way  until  his  inarri.ige.  He  was  joined  in 
wedlock,  December  31,  1884,  with  Miss  Florence 
Deems,  who  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pa., 
and  reared  in  Putnam  County,  111.  Her  parents, 
John  and  Eveline  (Fitzsiramons)  Deems,  were  na- 
tives of  tlie  Keystone  State,  the  former  born  Sep- 
tember 27,  1822,  and  the  latter  August  11,1825. 
Tlioy  now  reside  in  Loda,  111.,  and  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Deems  is  a  retired 
farmer.  The  family  numbered  three  sons  and 
three  daughters,  but  one  son  is  now  deceased. 
Ann,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  R.  C.  Anderson,  a 
farmer  of  Ford  County,  111.;  William  is  married 
and  resides  in  Hutcliinson,  Kan.;  .1.  W.  is  married 
and  follows  farming  in  Kidder,  Mo.;  Mrs.  Strine  is 
next  younger;  Georgie  is  now  deceased;  and  Dora 
is  the  wife  of  A.  J.  Lytic,  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
of  Paxton. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Strine  located  in  Wall  Township, 
where  he  rented  land  for  some  time,  and  after- 
ward engaged  in  farming.  He  had  many  obsta- 
cles to  overcome,  yet  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward and  won  success.  On  .lanuary  18,  1892,  he 
opened  a  store  in  Roberts,  and  now  carries  a  full 
line  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries,  queensware  and 
clothing.     His  stock  is  valued  at  $2,000.     His  fair 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


463 


and  honest  dealing  and  liis  courteous  treatment  of 
bis  customers  have  already  wou  him  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage, which  has  increased  from  the  beginning. 

Mv.  and  Mrs.  .Strine  are  Ijoth  members  of  the 
Methodist  Ciiureh  and  she  belongs  to  the  F"oreign 
Missionary  Society.  They  have  no  children  of 
their  own,  but  have  an  adopted  daughter,  May, 
who  is  now  nine  years  of  age,  and  has  resided  with 
them  for  four  years.  In  politics.  Mr.  Strine  is  a 
Republican,  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  He  was  one  of  the  Paxton 
delegation  which  paid  a  visit  to  Gen.  Harrison. 
He  is  classed  among  the  representative  and  pro- 
gressive citizens  of  Roberts,  and  is  highly  re- 
spected throughout  the  community  where  he  has 
so  long  made  his  home.  Industry,  frugality  and 
thrift  have  formed  the  rounds  of  the  ladder  by 
which  he  has  mounted  to  the  proud  position  which 
he  to-day  occupies. 


-^ 


^'^••••^ 


-^ 


•jOBERTS'  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS.  The  school 
ijf  district  No.  5  was  organized  in  1868,  and 
^  the  same  year  the  schoolhouse  was  built  on 
the  southeast  comer  of  section  16,  Lyman 
Township.  The  first  teacher  was  W.  W.  Graham, 
son  of  A.  B.  Graham,  a  highly  respected  farmer  of 
this  neighborhood.  In  1872,  after  the  village  of 
Roberts  was  laid  out,  it  was  deemed  proper  to  have 
the  rural  academy  near  the  center  of  population, 
therefore  the  people  voted  to  have  the  schoolhouse 
moved  into  the  village.  For  several  years,  the 
school  struggled  on  under  the  burden  of  a  bonded 
debt  and  teachers  of  diverse  efficiency.  In  1876, 
having  increased  sufficiently  in  numerical  strength 
and  wealth,  tiie  Directors  thought  it  necessary  to 
have  a  teacher  of  more  than  ordinary  qualifica- 
tions, so  tliey  ap|)lied  to  R.  N.  Gorsuch,  then 
Count}'  Superintendent,  to  send  them  an  efficient 
teacher.  The  Superintendent  urged  F.  G.  Lohman, 
who  had  made  an  excellect  record  in  a  large  coun- 
tr}-  school,  to  go  at  once  to  Roberts. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1876,  ;Mr.  Lohman 
presented  himself  before  two  of  the  Directors  and 
was  employed  for  one  mouth  onl^',  the   Directors 


sajing  that  they  had  had  so  much  bad  luck  in  se- 
curing teachers  that  thev  would  employ  perma- 
nently only  on  a  month's  trial.  Mr.  Lohman  ac- 
cepted and  began  his  labors  on  Tuesday  morning, 
September  17.  He  at  once  began  trying  to  raise 
the  grade  of  the  school.  The  enrollment  was 
sixty-one  the  first  day  and  the  number  was  soon 
swelled  to  eighty-five,  so  that  the  task  seemed 
almost  hopeless.  At  the  end  of  the  month,  he 
appeared  before  the  Directors  to  ask  if  he  should 
continue  the  work,  and  when  told  to  do  so  urged 
the  necessity  of  an  assistant.  The  request  was 
granted  and  ]\Iiss  Helen  Wycot¥  was  employed  as  a 
primary  teacher.  From  that  time  the  school  has 
steadily  advanced  in  excellence.  For  a  primary' 
room  the  Town  Hall  was  rented  and  for  years  the  lit- 
tle folks  were  kept  there  under  the  most  unfavora- 
ble circumstances.  Mr.  Lohman  remained  in  charge 
for  five  3'ears,  giving  the  school  a  new  impetus  and 
doing  efficient  and  practical  work.  Many  of  his 
pupils  afterward  became  excellent  teachers.  Among 
them.  Miss  Jennie  Sackett,  afterwaid  Mrs.  Law- 
rence Campbell,  in  a  public  examination  for  a 
teacher's  certificate  carried  off  the  highest  grade 
ever  made  by  an  ap|)licant  up  to  that  time.  In 
1882,  the  school  retrograded  under  an  inefficient 
teacher.  The  following  year,  1883,  F.  E.  Bonney 
was  called  to  the  work  and  rescued  tlie  school  from 
the  chaotic  condition  into  which  it  had  again 
lapsed  after  Mr.  Lohman  left  it.  He  remained  in 
charge  for  six  j'ears.  In  1881, a  large  .schoolhouse 
was  built  and  another  teacher  added  to  the  force. 
George  Bloomer  and  W.  R.  Stone  were  next  em- 
ployed, the  former  serving  two  years,  the  latter  one 
year.  Among  the  i)rimary  teachers,  Miss  Madge 
Crowner  was  the  most  successful  and  filled  the  po- 
sition with  credit  for  six  3-ears.  She  is  one  of  the 
best  primary  teachers  in  Eastern  Illinois. 

In  1892,  F.  G.  Lohman,  who  in  the  meantime 
had  served  eight  years  as  County  Superintendent, 
was  again  called  to  the  Principalship.  Although 
the  respective  teachers  had  worked  upon  some 
sort  of  system,  no  grading  had  been  attempted. 
When  Mr.  Lohman  was  again  jjlaced  at  the  head 
of  the  school,  the  Directors  had  him  prepare  a 
graded  course  of  study,  which  was  adopted  and 
ordered  published.     The  school  is  now  in  a  flour- 


464 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAIHICAL  RECORD. 


isliing  condition,  and  though  the  course  adopted 
is  not  as  extensive  as  courses  in  schools  with  eight 
or  more  teachers,  yet  it  covers  sufficient  ground  to 
fit  young  people  for  higher  institutions  of  learning 
and  for  a  practical,  useful  life.  The  success  of  the 
school  is  certainly  due  in  a  great  degree  to  Prof. 
Lehman,  and  under  the  efHcient  management  of  the 
present  Directors,  Christopher  Anderson,  J.  P. 
Smith  and  Robert  Chambers,  the  school  will  un- 
doubtedly be  kept  at  a  high  standard  and  retain 
its  excellent  reputation. 


1 


]UDSON  CUBBUCK,  one  of  the  leading  iiiio- 
tograpliers  of  Gibson  City,  was  born  in  Ilor- 
nellsville,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
^^^  19th  of  March,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Rev. 
John  and  Jerusha  15.  (Ratlibun)  Culil)uck.  The 
Cubbuck  family  was  founded  m  America  by  two 
brothers  who  escaped  from  England  during  Crom- 
well's reign  and  settled  in  Oneida  Count}',  N.  Y. 
Their  descendants  have  been  largely  given  to  the 
professional  callings,  being  mostlj-  doctors,  law- 
j'ers,  ministers  and  literary  men. 

Rev.  John  Cubbuck,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1819,  and  on 
his  grandmother's  side  was  of  German  and  French 
descent.  When  very  young  lie  lost  his  father  and 
was  reared  to  manhood  by  his  grandmother.  At 
about  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  he  entered  the  On- 
eida Herald  office  and  there  acquired  most  of  his 
education.  On  account  of  failing  health,  he  trav- 
eled for  ten  years  as  a  reporter,  visiting  China, 
Japan,  Farther  India,  Burmah,  Australia,  New  Zea- 
land, Cape  Colony,  nearly  every  island  of  the  Paci- 
fic, every  country  of  South  America  and  all  the 
countries  of  Europe.  While  in  Australia,  he 
founded  the  Sydney  Press,  but  returned  to  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.,  and  was  associated  with  the  Xi.agara 
Democrat.  When  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  was  a  mere  vil- 
lage, he  went  thither  and  became  connected  with  the 
St.  Paul  Democrat.  Some  three  years  later,  he  came 
to  Ogle  County,  111.,  where  he  owned  a  section  of 
land,  which  he  sold  for  fl.2o  per  acre.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  went  to  Fremont,  N.  Y.,  and  was 


ordained  as  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  tluiugh  he  preached  but  a  short  time. 
When  the  question  of  slavery  came  before  the  peo- 
ple, he  took  an  active  part  in  its  discussion,  and  on 
the  I)reaking  out  of  the  war  enlisted  in  that  strug- 
gle with  nearly  Iiis  entire  congregation.  lie  was 
offered  a  cliaplaincy,  but  refused  it,  desiring  rather 
to  enter  the  ranks.  In  iiis  own  words,  he  "went 
out  to  fight,  not  to  pray,"  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  C,  Twenty-third  New  York  In- 
fantry. At  tlie  battle  of  Antietam,  he  received 
several  wounds,  being  injured  by  a  ball  cutting 
the  cords  on  the  back  of  his  left  hand;  another 
ball  entered  his  right  elbow  and  came  out  back  of 
his  shoulder.  Having  fallen,  a  wagon  ran  over 
him,  bruising  him  so  badl}'  that  on  .accfumt  of  his 
wounds  he  was  discharged,  and,  returning  home, 
lived  some  nine  years,  earning  his  livelihood  by  his 
pen.  lie  was  an  alile  writer  and  a  man  of  superior 
ability.  lie  died  very  suddenly,  and  his  loss  was 
deeply  lamented  liy  all  who  knew  him,  for  he  was 
one  of  the  true  Christian  gentlemen  of  the  com- 
munity where  he  resided. 

In  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  Rev.  .lohn  Cubbuck 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  .Terusha  B.  Rath- 
Inin.  a  native  of  that  county.  She  is  of  English 
descent,  her  people  being  among  the  ear\y  settlers 
of  Connecticut.  Her  father,  J.  B.  Rathbun,  was  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Fremont,  N.  Y..  l)eing  its  first 
inhabitant.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cubbuck  were 
born  eleven  children,  five  sons  and  six  daughters, 
all  of  whom  are  yet  living.  The  mother  still  lives 
in  Fremont,  where  she  is  highly  esteemed  for  her 
many  worthy  qualities.  Emily  Frances  Cubbuck, 
who  wrote  under  the  ;(r>wi  dep/M^fie,  "Fannie  Fos- 
ter," was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Adoniram  Judson,  the 
first  Christian  missionary  to  Burmah,  and  was  an 
own  cousin  of  Rev.  John  Cubbuck. 

Our  suliject,  Judson  Cubbuck,  is  the  sixth  child 
in  order  of  birth  in  the  above  fan-.ily,  and  his  edu- 
cation was  received  at  Alford  University,  in  Alle- 
gan}'  County,  N.  Y.,  but  failing  health  caused  him 
to  leave  the  school  before  he  had  completed  the 
course.  Since  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  has  made 
his  own  way  in  the  world  and  when  only  fifteen 
gave  lectures  and  recitals  in  public  for  the  [)urpose 
of  obtaining  monev  to  attend  school.     In  1877,  he 


'>'  ,5 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


467 


came  to  Ogle  County,  111.,  teaching  there  for  two 
3'ears,  and  then  went  to  South  Dakota,  wliere  he 
taught  the  first  school  between  Huron  and  Pierre. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1879,  Mr.  Cubbuck  mar- 
ried Miss  Lillie  M.  Alma,  a  native  of  Homer,  N. 
Y.,  but  she  was  called  to  her  final  rest  the  follow- 
ing spring,  in  Chicago.  Going  to  Mc  Lean  County, 
111.,  he  there  tauglit  for  four  3ears,  his  school 
standing  the  liighest  in  the  county  on  examina- 
tion. Mr.  Cubbuck  was  again  married,  .June  30, 
1884,  in  Ilornellsville,  N.  Y.,  this  time  to  jNIiss  .Jen- 
nie Sutton,  a  d.aughter  of  William  .Sutton,  who 
hiis  been  a  photographer  of  that  city  for  thirty 
3'ears,  being  one  of  the  best  artists  in  that  part  of 
the  State.  By  this  union  has  been  born  one  child, 
Helen  L.  After  tlie  marriage  of  our  subject,  he  re- 
turned to  Illinois  and  again  taught  school  for  four 
years.  Going  back  to  New  York,  he  learned  the 
photographing  business  and  in  1891  purchased  a 
galler_v  in  Gibson  City,  of  J.  H.  Ashby,  which  he 
has  since  conducted. 

Mr  Cul)lnu'k  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  so- 
cially is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge,  the 
Sons  of  Veterans  and  the  Order  of  Red  Men.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  the  work  of  which  she  takes  an  active 
part.  Mr.  Cubbuck  has  been  a  correspondent  for 
some  of  the  best  newspapers  of  this  country,  con- 
tributing Ijoth  prose  and  poetry. 


^^IIOMAS  D.  THOMPSON,  general  merchant 
///SN  and  Postmaster  of  ^Nlelvin,  and  one  of  its 
\^-  earliest  settlers,  located  in  that  place  in 
September,  1871,  and  built  the  first  residence  there. 
Into  it  he  moved  with  his  family,  and  there  his 
second  son,  Clyde,  was  born,  the  first  white  child 
liorn  in  the  vill.age. 

( )ur  subject  is  a  native  of  Monroe  County,  Ohio, 
where  his  birth  occurred  on  the  4th  of  December, 
1847.  His  i)arents,  William  and  Catherine  (Dyer) 
Thompson,  are  represented  on  another  page  of 
this  work, in  connection  with  .John  M.  Thompson's 
sketch.     With  the  family,  he  came  to  Illinois    in 


1864,  locating  first  in  Marshall  County,  near  New 
Rutland,  La  Salle  County,  where  the  father  was 
engaged  in  farming. 

Thomas  I).  Thompson  has  been  a  resident  of 
Illinois  since  1864.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
upon  his  father's  farm,  an<l  attended  the  district 
school,  after  which  he  completed  his  educaticm  by 
taking  a  year's  course  at  the  Normal  University,  of 
Normal,  111.  Subsequent  to  that  time,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  teaching  in  La  Salle  Count}', 
and  was  married  near  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  on  the  9th 
of  November,  1869,  to  Miss  Eliza  K.  Hobbs,  who  was 
born  November  12, 1848,  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Rachel  A  (.Stanton) 
Hobbs.  Her  father  was  born  in  Maryland  and  her 
mother  in  Ohio,  l)eing  reared  in  Belmont  County, 
where  she  married  Mr.  Hobbs.  In  earlier  life,  Mr. 
Hobbs  followed  farming  but  later  was  foreman  of  a 
large  tobacco  packing  estalViishment.  He  died  when 
Mrs  Thompson  was  about  four  years  of  age.  His 
widow  still  lives  in  Barnesville,  Ohio,  aged  seventy 
years.  She  was  reared  in  the  (Juaker  faith,  but 
when  some  twent3--five  years  old,  joined  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  to  which  Mr.  Hobbs  also 
belonged.  Of  their  eight  children,  only  three 
survive. 

It  was  in  1869  that  Mr.  Thompson  removed 
from  La  .Salle  County  to  Peacli  (Jrchard  Township, 
Ford  County,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming 
and  teaching  school  for  two  years.     In  September, 

1871,  he  located  in  Melvin,  where  he  wasemploj'ed 
as  Station  Agent  for  the  Oilman,  Clinton  & 
Springfield  Railroad  Company,  now  the  Illinois 
Central.  To  that  work,  he  devoted  his  energies 
for  .Ibout  a  year,  and  w.as  also  Agent  for  the 
America  Express  Company  during  the   time.     In 

1872,  he  began  merchandising  in  company'  with 
his  brother,  John  M.,  as  dealers  in  groceries  and 
agricultural  implements,  which  connection  was 
continued  until  1878,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  alone,  doing  a  general  merchandising  business. 
In  1872,  he  was  also  appointed  Postmaster  at  Mel- 
vin and  served  until  the  Cleveland  administration, 
which  caused  his  retirement  in  188;'),  but  in  May, 
1889,  he  was  re-appointed  and  is  tlie  i)resent  in- 
cumbent. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  have  a  family  number- 


468 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing  four  sons  and  three  daughters:  McCalmount, 
Clj-de,  B.  Ralph,  Cestia  A.,  Gertrude,  Eliza  M.  and 
Glenn.  All  were  born  in  Jlelvin  except  the  eldest, 
who  is  a  native  of  Peach  Orchard  Township. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  served  one  term  as  Supervisor  of 
Peach  Orchard.  lie  has  been  School  Director  of 
the  Melvin  schools  since  1872,  or  for  twenty  years, 
and  has  held  minor  oliices.  He  and  his  wife  are 
consistent  members  of  tlie  Methodist  Church  of 
Melvin  and  Mr.  Thompson  has  been  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school  siuce  its  organization,  which 
was  effected  at  the  time  the  church  was  instituted, 
in  1872.  In  years  of  residence  in  Melvin,  he  is  the 
oldest  settler.  J^ver  since  he  came  here,  he  has 
been  one  of  the  most  active  and  enterprising  citizens 
of  the  place,  and  is  popular,  botli  as  a  merchant 
and  Postmaster.  In  the  discharge  of  his  oflieial 
duties,  he  is  prompt,  correct,  and  attentive  to  the 
wants  of  the  patrons  of  the  olHce.  The  Meth- 
odist Church  has  ever  found  in  him  a  faithful  and 
consistent  member,  as  well  as  a  lilier.al  contributor 
to  its  support,  while  his  worthy  wife  has  also  borne 
her  part  in  the  work  of  the  church  and  societies, 
and  both  are  held  in  high  esteem  by  those  who 
know  them. 

^LBERT  S.  SMITH,  of  Paxton,  who  is  en- 
(Cf"^£j||  gaged  in  painting,  is  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, lie  was  born  in  Norfolk  Count}', 
that  State,  April  .3,  1828,  and  is  descended 
from  good  old  Revolutionary  stock.  His  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Smith,  was  a  hero  in  tlie  War  for 
Independence,  serving  throughout  the  struggle  as 
a  musician,  and  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  one 
hundred  and  three  years.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, Benjamin  Smith,  .Tr.,  was  born  in  Massachu- 
setts, in  1800,  and  was  a  self-educated  and  a  self- 
made  man  linanciallj'.  By  trade  he  was  a  carpenter 
and  followed  that  occupation  during  his  earl}'  life, 
but  afterward  became  overseer  in  a  cotton  factory. 
In  his  native  county  he  married  Wealthy  Leonard, 
who  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.  With  his  family 
he  removed  to  Illinois  in  the  spring  of  1858,  locat- 


ing in  Paxton,  Ford  County,  then  a  village  com- 
posed of  a  few  houses,  the  settlement  being  called 
Prospect  Cit}'.  Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  carpen- 
tering, and,  with  the  exception  of  four  years,  here 
resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  Christ- 
mas Day  of  1890.  He  was  originally  a  Jackson 
Democrat,  was  a  stanch  Abolitionist,  and  on  its  or- 
ganization became  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  held  a  number  of  official  ))ositions  of 
honor  and  trust  and  was  a  man  whom  all  respected 
for  his  sterling  worth.  He  spent  the  last  years  of 
his  life  in  the  home  of  our  subject.  His  wife  died 
about  six  months  previous  to  the  death  of  her 
husband. 

A.  S.  Smith,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  re- 
ceived the  .advantages  afforded  by  good  i)ublic 
schools,  and  afterward  learned  the  painter's  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  a  few  years  in  the  East, 
but  believing  that  better  opportunities  were  af- 
forded young  men  in  the  West,  in  the  fall  of  1858 
he  joined  his  father  in  Paxton,  and  began  working 
at  his  trade  in  this  city.  Asa  companion  and  help- 
mate on  life's  journey,  he  chose  Miss  Raciiel  E. 
Schoonmaker.  They  went  to  Kankakee,  where 
their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  November,  1860; 
afterward  tiiey  returned  to  Paxton.  The  lady  is 
a  native  of  Ulster  Count}-,  N.  Y.,  and  with  her 
father,  John  Schoonmaker,  came  AVest  in  the  spring 
of  1858,  locating  in  what  is  now  Ford  County. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Smith  continued  to  work 
at  his  trade  in  Paxton  until  December,  1863,  when 
he  responded  to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  joined 
the  Chicago  Mercantile  Battery  and  went  south  to 
Louisiana.  The  regiment  went  with  Banks  on  his 
Red  River  expedition.  Mr.  Smith  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  but  was  taken  sick  and  was 
in  the  hospital  at  two  different  times,  being  mus- 
tered out  from  the  one  in  New  Orleans  in  the 
summer  of  1805.  On  his  return  to  Paxton,  he  lo- 
cated on  a  farm,  liut  worked  at  his  trade  until 
1870,  when  he  became  a  resident  of  Cherokee 
County,  Kan.  He  there  eng.aged  in  farming  with 
indifferent  success  for  about  four  years,  when  he 
again  came  to  Paxton  and  resumed  work  as  a 
painter.  He  h.as  a  reputation  for  doing  good  work, 
is  a  straightforward  man  in  all  his  dealings,  and 
therefore  has  won  a  liberal  patronage. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


469 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  two  children  yet  liv- 
ing: Herbert  W.,  who  is  in  partnership  with  his 
father,  is  married  and  resides  in  Paxton;  and 
George  W.,  the  younger,  is  a  printer  by  trade. 
They  also  lost  one  son,  Raymond  V.,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years.  .Socially,  Mr.  Smith  is 
a  member  of  Paxton  Post  No.  387,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
at  this  writing  is  its  Commander.  Himself  and 
wife  hold  membership  with  the  Congregational 
Churcli.  His  residence  in  Fold  County  covers  a 
period  of  thirty-four  years,  and  he  is  widely 
known  among  its  best  citizens  as  a  man  of  sterling 
worth,  whose  many  excellencies  of  character  well 
entitle  him  to  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 


"S3 


!^-i^^l- 


^=^EOHGE  WUNDER  now  owns  and  operates 
',11  ^-—,  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
^i^  on  section  22,  AVall  Township,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  for  about  eighteen  years.  He  has 
the  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved  with  good  buildings  and  the  other 
acces,sories  of  a  model  farm.  He  is  one  of  the 
representative  agriculturists  of  this  community  and 
has  a  wide  acquaintance  in  Ford  County,  where  he 
has  so  long  resided. 

Mr.  Wunder  is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  (ierman^'. 
He  was  born  October  .30,  1847,  being  the  eldest 
child  in  a  family  of  nine  cliildren,  whose  parents 
were  John  and  .Margaret  (Darling)  Wunder.  James 
and  Andrew,  the  next  younger,  are  both  deceased; 
Margaret  is  the  wife  of  George Trundley,  a  farmer 
of  Iroquois  County;  Henry  is  an  engineer  residing 
in  Ottawa,  111.;  Adam  is  a  farmer  living  in  Wall 
Township;  Samuel  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits near  Manitolja,  British  America;  and  Peter 
makes  his  luimo  in  the  same  locality.  The  father 
of  this  family  was  a  caliinet-maker  by  trade  and 
followed  that  business  for  a  livelihood  in  his  na- 
tive land.  Willi  the  hope  of  bettering  his  finan- 
cial condition,  he  emigrated  to  America  in  June, 
1852,  and  after  sixty-four  days  spent  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  Atlantic,  landed  at  New  Orleans.  He 
came  up  the  Mississippi  Hiver  to  St.  Louis  and 
from  thence  went  to  Marshall  County,  111.,  locating 


in  Henry  To^niship,  where  he  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  He  there  made  his  home 
until  1871,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County  and 
made  a  imrcliase  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  on  section  20,  Wall  Township,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  until  1882,  when  he  retired  from 
active  business  on  account  of  increasing  years. 
The  death  of  his  wife  occurred  on  the  12th  of 
March,  1881. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  his  father's  farm  and,  in  the  winter 
season,  when  he  did  not  engage  In  farm  labor,  he 
attended  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and 
acquired  a  good  P^nglish  education.  At  the  age 
of  twentj'-three,  he  left  home  and  chose  as  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  Miss  Mary 
Heim,  their  union  being  celebrated  on  the  6th  of 
February,  1871.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Jona- 
than and  Mai\v  A.  (Adams)  Heim,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  were  of  German 
descent.  The  fathtr  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He 
brought  his  family  to  Marshall  County,  111.,  where 
he  made  his  home  until  his  death.  With  the  Meth- 
odist Church  he  held  membership  and  was  a  highly 
respected  citizen.  In  the  family  were  eight  chil- 
dren: Harriet,  wife  of  John  Eckliort,  a  farmer  and 
gardener  residing  in  Marshall  County,  111.;  Kate, 
wife  of  Aaron  Defenbaugh,  a  resident  of  Streator, 
111.;  Sophia,  wife  of  Joseph  Merdian,  a  resident 
of  McHenry,  Marshall  County;  Sarah,  wife  of 
William  Snyder,  who  follows  farming  in  Stark 
County,  111.;  IMary,  honored  wife  of  our  subject; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Ilarron,  an  agriculturist 
of  Marshall  County,  III.;  .lolin,  deceased;  and 
Amanda,  wife  of  Thomas  Gilkeison,  of  Battle 
Creek,  Mich. 

^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Wunder  liegan  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  which  he  rented  until  1874.  In  that 
year  he  came  with  his  family  to  Ford  County,  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  22,  Wall 
Township,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In 
the  meantime  he  has  extended  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm  until  it  now  corajirises  a  quarter-section 
of  valuable  land.  Mr.  Wunder  is  also  general 
agent  for  the  Erie  Windmill  Compan_y,  located  in 
Henry,  111.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the    welfare    of  the    community,  is  a 


470 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


warm  friend  of  tlie  cause  of  education  and  has 
served  for  ten  ,year.s  as  Scliool  Director.  In  poli- 
tics, he  is  a  supporter  of  Democratic  principles. 

Six  children  graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  JMrs. 
Wunder,  five  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing, 
in  the  spring  of  1892,  namely:  Maxie,  Amanda, 
Edward,  William  and  Harry.  -Johnnie,  the  second 
child,  died  at  the  .age  of  four  years.  Mr.  and  Mis. 
AVuuder  and  their  children  are  members  of  the 
Metiiodist  Cliurch  and  the  family  is  one  well  de- 
serving of  representation  in  this  volume.  He 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  a  poor  man,  with 
nothing  to  depend  upon  but  his  own  exertions  and 
those  of  his  estinable  wife,  but  his  industry,  per- 
severance and  good  m.anagement  have  proved  suf- 
ficient to  gain  him  a  comfortable  competence. 


A.'pMn    'II  ^  »i  fai  p 


^AVID  E.  SIVEKLING,  proprietor  of  a 
meat  market  in  Sibley,  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford County,  Pa.,  April  20,  18.57,  and  is 
a  son  of  .Jolin  and  Marj^  Smith  (Vader) 
Siverling.  The  parents  were  both  twice  married. 
The  father  first  wedded  Miss  Mitchell,  and  unto 
them  was  born  a  son,  Albert  Bird,  who  is  now  a 
resident  of  Gibson.  For  his  second  wife  he  inar- 
ried  Mrs.  Vader,  whose  maiden  name  was  Boyd. 
She  w.as  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born 
August  26,  1828.  By  her  first  husband,  Frank 
Vader,  she  had  one  son,  Albert,  a  miller  by  trade, 
residing  in  Drake's  Mills,  Pa.  Unto  Mi-,  and  Mrs. 
Siverling  were  born  ten  children,  six  sons  and  four 
daugliters,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living:  William 
L.,  who  is  married  and  follows  farming  in  Pennsyl- 
v.ania;  David  E.,  of  this  sketch;  Perrj-  L.,  who  re- 
sides on  the  old  homestead;  .J.acob  L.,  who  is  fore- 
man of  an  oil  tank  line  and  is  married  and  makes 
his  home  in  Venango  County,  Pa.;  Leona  J.,  wife 
of  G.ardie  Foltz,  a  farmer  of  Erie  County,  Pa.; 
Fred  B.,  who  is  employed  in  his  brother's  meat  mar- 
ket, and  is  Chancellor  Commander  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  Lodge,  of  Sibley,  111.;  .John  M.,  who  is 
married  and  follows  farming  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  other  three  children  died  in  infancy.  The 
mother  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years, 


and  is  a  devout  member  of   the   Congregational 
Church. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  but 
completed  his  studies  at  the  Edinboro  State  Nor- 
mal School,  of  Peunsj'lvania.  He  gave  his  father 
the  benefit  of  his  la!)ors,  and  remained  at  home 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  determined 
to  try  Jiis  fortune  in  the  West,  emigrating  to  Illi- 
nois in  the  autumn  of  1871).  He  located  in  the  town 
of  Sibley  and  began  work  for  Hiram  Sibley.  After 
two  years,  he  engaged  as  salesman  in  the  stoie  of 
George  T.  Elliott,  where  he  remained  one  .year, 
and  then  again  was  in  the  employ  of  Hiram  .Sib- 
ley for  a  year,  or  until  1883.  During  that  year  he 
opened  up  a  meat  market  in  Sible^^,  carrying  on 
business  until  1884. 

On  the  19th  of  October,  1883,  Mr.  Siverling  was 
united  in  marri.age  to  Miss  Caddie  P.,  daughter  of 
George  II.  and  Mary  (Leland)  Woodward.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child,  Lula  May, 
who  was  born  on  the  16th  of  November,  1886.  Af- 
ter remaining  in  Sibley  for  a  year,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Siverling  went  to  Nebraska,  where  they  spent  four 
months,  after  which  they  returned  to  Ford  County, 
in  the  fall  of  1885,  and  our  subject  was  again  en- 
gaged on  the  Sibley  estate,  where  he  remained  un- 
til the  autumn  of  1888,  when  lie  with  two  other 
brothers  purchased  a  meat  market  in  Gibson,  and 
there  carried  on  business  until  1889.  We  next  find 
him  in  Rantoul,  111.,  where  he,  with  one  brother, 
Fred  B.,  opened  a  meat  market  and  again  engaged 
in  business  in  that  line.  On  the  15th  of  December, 
1890,  he  returned  to  Sibley  and  once  more  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  as  proprietor  of  a  meat 
market,  also  forming  a  partnership  with  William 
R.  Harvey,  and  engaged  in  buying  stock.  These 
gentlemen  are  now  enjoj'ing  a  good  patron.age,  of 
which  they  are  well  deserving. 

Mr.  Siverling  is  known  .as  a  man  of  much  energy 
and  determination  and  possesses  excellent  business 
ability.  He  and  wife  have  a  pleasant  home  on 
High  Street,  whose  hospitable  doors  are  ever  open 
to  their  many  friends.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, having  supported  that  party  since  he  cast  his 
first  vote  for  James  A.  Garfield.     Soci.allv,  he  is  a 


^^/^^  ^  C^^07^ 


!  ''i^ 


(ie^nrisi^  d^iAyrCt^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


475 


member  and  Senior  Deacon  of  the  Masonic  Lodge, 
and  is  Lodge  Deputy  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Good  Templars,  also  a  member  of  the  Modern 
WoodmL'u  of  America  fraternity.  Me  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  have  con- 
tributed largely  to  its  support,  and  labored  earn- 
esth'  for  its  uitbuilding.  He  is  Assistant  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school,  of  which  his  wife 
is  chorister. 


V. 


r 


^  OllX  S.  HUNT,  a  worthy  pioneer  farmer  of 
I  Peach  Orchard  Township,  now  residing  in 
^f^  I  Melvin,  was  born  near  Danville,  Vermilion 
^/y  County,  HI.,  on  the  4th  of  January,  1829, 
and  is  a  son  of  Cornelius  and  Ann  (Sidle)  Hunt. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  New  Jersej'.  His 
father  was  born  August  9,  1799,  and  died  in  La 
Salle  County,  111.,  in  May,  1874,  in  his  seventy- 
fifth  year.  The  mother  was  born  August  6,  1803, 
and  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years,  making  her  home  in  Melvin.  When  a 
small  child,  Mr.  Hunt,  Sr.,  removed  with  liis  par- 
ents from  New  .Jersey  to  Luzerne  County,  Pa., 
and  when  he  was  a  youth  the  family  took  nj)  their 
residence  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and,  on  attaining  man's 
estate,  was  married  in  Muskingum  County  to  Miss 
Ann  Sidle,  who  had  removed  with  her  parents  to 
Ohio  in  childhood.  In  the  fall  of  1828,  he  went 
with  his  family  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Danville, 
Vermilion  County.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  that  region.  Having  lived  there  eight- 
een months,  he  removed  to  Putnam  County,  locat- 
ing near  the  corner  of  Putnam,  where  Marshall  and 
La  Salle  join,  and,  on  moving  but  a  short  distance, 
he  lived  in  all  three.  About  ten  years  later,  he 
went  to  Marshall  County,  and,  in  1847,  we  lind 
him  in  La  Salle  County,  where  he  continued  to 
engage  in  farming  and  stock-raising  until  his 
death. 

John    S.    Hunt,  wliose  name  heads    tliis    record, 
accompanied    his    father  and  the  family    on    their 
various  removals  in  Illinois,  was  reared  to  agricul- 
20 


tural  pursuits,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  After  attaining  to  mature  years, 
he  was  married  in  La  Salle  County,  on  the  22d  of 
August,  1852,  to  Miss  Jane  Burley,  who  was  born 
in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Margaret  (Anderson)  Burley.  Her 
father  died  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  February  17, 
1847,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  and  the 
mother,  after  the  loss  of  her  husband,  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  spent  the  last  years  of  her  life  with  Mrs. 
Hunt.  Her  death  occurred  in  La  Salle  County, 
December  6,  1867,  at  the  age  of  sevent3'-six  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hunt  were  blessed  with  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
George  R.,  the  eldest,  died  when  a  year  old;  Eliza- 
beth A.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  McMahon,  a  resident 
of  Livingston  County,  111.;  Ruth  Harriet  married 
William  II.  Thompson  and  resides  in  Melvin; 
Nina  V.  is  the  wife  of  Paul  lloobler,  of  Melvin; 
Julia  wedded  Clarence  Salter,  and  they  also  reside 
in  Melvin;  James  William  is  living  in  Colfax,  111.; 
Delia  is  at  home;  Dora  Madilla  is  the  wife  of  John 
Brown,  of  Sibley;  and  John  M.,  who  married  Miss 
Mamie  Goggins,  is  a  farmer  of  Peach  Orchard 
Township. 

Mr.  Hunt  continued  his  residence  in  La  Salle 
County  until  (Jctober  17,  18G7,  when  he  removed 
to  Peach  Orchard  Township,  in  Ford  County,  pur- 
chasing a  choice  tract  of  land,  upon  which  he  car- 
ried on  farming  and  stock-raising  very  successfully 
until  November,  1882,  when,  for  the  greater  com- 
fort of  himself  and  famil}',  he  leased  his  farm  and 
removed  to  iNIelvin,  where  he  still  resides.  He 
yet  owns  his  land,  consisting  of  live  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  well  improved,  of  which  he  leases  the 
greater  portion,  retaining  a  small  part  witli  which 
to  occupy  his  time  and  gratify  his  love  for  farm- 
ing. 

Pea<.'li  Orchard  Towushii>  was  set  off  and  organ- 
ized during  the  fall  of  the  year  that  Mr.  Hunt 
made  his  home  within  its  borders,  and  he  was 
chosen  and  served  as  its  first  collector.  He  has 
also  served  for  two  years  as  Supervisor  for  that 
township,  and  has  held  other  minor  offices.  An 
ei)isodc  in  his  life  worthy  of  commemoration  was 
his  trip  to  California  during  the  gold  excitement 
of  1849-50.     He  joined    a   party    in    the   spring, 


476 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


traveling  by  ox-teams  across  the  plains  to  the  gold 
fields,  and  engaged  in  mining  with  marked  suc- 
cess. His  work  was  one  hundred  and  twelve  feet 
below  the  surface  of  the  earth.  At  the  expiration 
of  two  years,  with  others,  he  was  to  start  for  New 
York,  by  way  of  the  ocean  and  Panama  route. 
The  steamer  by  which  thej'  were  to  sail  reached 
San  Francisco  in  a  disabled  condition,  and  was 
likely  to  be  detained  some  weelis  for  repairs;  so 
the  part}'  took  passage  on  a  sailing-vessel.  She 
proved  a  bad  sailor,  and,  meeting  with  adverse 
winds,  was  out  forty-six  days.  It  then  had  to  put 
in  at  Acapuloo,  having  made  a  voyage  of  fifteen 
hundred  miles.  Food  and  water  became  ex- 
hausted, and  for  many  davs  the  passengers  and 
crew  were  put  on  short  rations,  having  only  a  half 
pint  of  water  and  a  ship's  biscuit  each  da^^  Their 
fare  on  the  vessel  was  i<70  from  Acapulco  to  Pan- 
ama, which  they  were  obliged  to  pa}',  besides  the 
original  fare  of  $175  from  San  Francisco  to  Pan- 
ama. After  leavin-;  P.anama,  they  reached  New- 
Orleans  without  further  mishap,  and  Mr.  Hunt  ar- 
rived at  his  home  in  Illinois  in  1852,  having  been 
quite  successful  in  his  venture. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Hunt  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  has  voted  for  the  national  candidate 
of  that  party  since  its  organization.  He  and  his 
wife,  also  llieir  children,  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  No  man  in  Ford  County 
stands  higher  in  the  estimation  of  the  people  than 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch. 

^  lOBERT  G.  SMITH  resides  on  section  16, 
Button   Township,  and  is  a  native  of  New 

i\Y  Jersey,  born  in  Hunterdon  County,  -July 
^  12,  1842.  His  father,  John  R.  Smith,  was 
also  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  State,  while 
his  grandfather,  Maj.  A  "W.  Smith,  was  likewise  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  but  of  Scotch  descent,  and 
the  father  of  the  Major  was  among  tlie  first  settlers 
of  New  Jersey  and  one  of  three  brothers  who 
came  to  this  country  from  their  native  land.  A. 
W.  Smitli  received  his  title  of  Major  for  service 
in  the  militia  of  his  native  State.     John  R.  Smith 


also  served  in  the  militia.  He  married  Sarah 
Carpenter,  a  native  ot  New  Jersey  and  daughter 
of  John  Carpenter,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Warren 
County,  that  State,  but  who  was  of  German  de- 
scent. He  spent  his  entire  life  in  his  native  county 
and  followed  the  business  of  a  farmer.  He  was  a 
member  of  tlie  Lutheran  Church,  of  wliich  body 
his  wife  was  also  a  member.  Both  are  now  de- 
ceased. 

Robert  G.  Smith  is  one  of  a  family  of  five  chil- 
dren, who  grew  to  maturity-,  and  is  the  youngest  of 
three  brothers.  The  eldest  brother,  AVilliam  Smith, 
is  a  retired  farmer  residing  in  Rankin,  Vermilion 
County,  HI.;  John  C,  deceased,  left  a  wife;  Rachel 
was  the  wife  of  Isaac  B.  Case,  of  Hunterdon 
County,  N.  J.,  of  Pattenburgh;  R.  G.  is  next  in 
order  of  birth;  and  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  I). 
Case,  of  Ogle  County,  111. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  county  and  was  reared  to  farm  pursuits. 
His  education  was  received  in  the  common  schools. 
When  but  a  young  man,  in  1866,  he  came  to  Ford 
County,  III.,  and  for  two  years  worked  by  the 
month  for  farmers  in  adjoining  counties.  He  was 
married  in  Delavan.  Tazewell  County,  111.,  Janu- 
ary 30,  1869,  to  Miss  Lois  La  Bee,  a  native  of 
Tazewell  County,  and  a  daughter  of  AVilliam  La 
Bee,  who  came  from  New  York,  but  was  of  French 
descent.  After  his  marriage,  our  subject  bought 
an  eight3'-acre  tract  in  Button  Township,  Ford 
County,  on  which  there  had  been  no  improvements 
made.  Improving  the  place,  he  remained  on  that 
farm  for  two  years,  and  in  1876  sold  out  and 
bought  the  place  where  he  now  resides,  a  farm 
containing  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
16.  This  farm  he  fenced  and  tiled,  and  greatl}' 
improved  the  same.  It  lies  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  Clarence,  and  is  a  most  valuable  and  desirable 
farm. 

]\Ir.  Smitli  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing and  prosperous  farmers  of  Ford  County.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  Republican  and  has  been  identified 
with  that  party  since  becoming  a  resident  of  Illinois. 
He  has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  politics  and  held 
the  office  of  Assessor  of  Button  Township  for  four 
years.  lie  has  always  given  his  hearty  support  to 
the  cause  of  education  and  is  a  strong  advocate  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


47' 


public  schools.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  for  about  fifteen  years.  Mr.  and 
Mis.  Smith  are  members  of  tlie  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Clarence,  and  he  is  one  of  its  Trustees. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  sons:  Hairy  R.,  a 
well-educated  young  man,  is  now  helping  to  carry 
on  the  home  farm;  and  Orville  L.,  also  engaged 
in  helping  to  carry  on  the  home  farm.  They  have 
also  lost  one  son,  Clj'de,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eight  years,  on  the  27th  of  JIarch,  1876.  Cora 
Culver,  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Smith,  is  also  a  member  of 
the  family.  Her  mother,  Amelia  Culver,  died  in 
1888,  since  which  time  she  has  lived  with  the  fam- 
ily of  our  subject. 

Mr.  Smith  has  lieen  a  resident  of  the  county  for 
a  quarter  of  a  century  and  is  well  known  through- 
out the  county.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  character 
and  worth  and  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  who  know  him. 


_os^ 


^^^M^mm 


a3;vC20_ 


■xrso" 


!)HEODORE  .7.  LARSON,  resident  partner 
and  manager  of  the  extensive  and  popular 
clothing  house  of  P.  Larson  <fe  Co.,  at  Gib- 
son City,  was  born  in  Attica,  Fountain  County, 
Ind.,  September  26,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Louisa  Larson.  (See  sketch  of  his  father's 
life  elsewhere  in  this  work). 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents  in  childhood  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Paxton.  He  learned  the  tailor's 
trade  in  his  father's  sho[)  at  that  place  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  emploj^ed  there  as  a  cutter  and 
salesman.  In  1883,  he  was  made  a  partner  in  the 
business  and  continued  with  the  Paxton  store  until 
June  1, 1891,  when  he  came  to  Gibson  City  as  resi- 
dent partner  and  manager  of  the  branch  store  at 
that  place,  which  was  established  in  February,  1887. 
This  store  does  an  annual  business  of  about  *32,000, 
with  a  steadily  increasing  trade  from  year  to  year, 
and  is  tiie  largest  establishment  in  the  line  of  mer- 
chant tailoring  and  ready-made  clothing  in  the 
city.  In  addition  to  the  Paxton  and  Gibson 
stores,  this  firm  has  a  second  branch  store  at  Wat- 
seka,  which  was  established  in  August,  1891,  and  is 


managed  by  a  younger  brother,  Peter  Edward. 
The  aggregate  business  of  the  three  stores  in  round 
numbers  is  about  *  1 00,000. 

Theodore  J.  Larson  was  married  to  Miss  Nellie 
A.  Nelson,  their  wedding  being  celebrated  in 
March,  1884.  The  lady,  who  was  a  daughter  of 
August  Nelson,  was  called  to  her  final  rest  on  the 
21st  of  .Tanuary,  188;"),  leaving  one  child,  a  son, 
Walter,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years.  Mr. 
Larson  was  again  united  in  marriage,  on  the  24th 
of  February,  1887,  this  time  to  Miss  Emily  Peter- 
son, who  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  at  Attica. 
They  have  had  two  children,  a  daughter  and  son: 
Harry  P.,  born  February  21,  1888, and  Erwin,  who 
was  born  February  24,  1889,  and  died  at  the  age 
of  one  year.  The  mother  is  a  member  of  the  Swe- 
dish Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 

Mr.  Larson  is  a  stalwart  Democrat  in  politics  and 
has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men of  Paxton.  Socially,  he  holds  membership 
with  Paxton  Camp,  M.  W.  A.  As  a  business  man 
and  citizen,  our  subject  is  held  in  high  esteem  and 
has  a  host  of  friends  among  the  people  of  Ford 
and  adjoining  counties,  to  whom  he  has  been 
known  so  many  years. 


(©>' 


■^AMES  BLACKMORE,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 19,  Patton  Township,  is  one  of  the 
well-known  and  representative  farmers  of 
Ford  County.  He  claims  England  as  the 
land  of  his  birth,  and  is  the  son  of  Jldward  Black- 
more,  a  native  of  Devonshire,  England.  His 
father  there  grew  to  manhood,  and  was  for  years 
employed  in  a  woolen  factory.  He  married  Martha 
Chick,  also  a  native  of  Devonshire,  and  the}-  reared 
their  family  in  that  county,  and  the  parents  also 
there  spent  their  last  days.  In  the  family  were 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  who  are  yet  living. 
Our  subject  is  the  eldest.  He  was  born  in  Devon- 
shire, May  13,  1833,  and  under  the  parental  roof 
grew  to  manhood.  He  is  both  a  self-educated,  and 
self-made  man  financially.  Childhood  was  not  a 
playtime  to  him.     At  the  age  of  six  years,  he  en- 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tered  a  woolen  factory,  where  he  worked  until  he 
was  grown.  Hearing  that,  this  eountr}'  offered 
belter  advantages  to  ,voung  men,  he  resolved  to 
try  his  fortune  in  America,  and,  in  1857,  left 
Plymouth  on  a  sailing-vessel.  He  started  from 
home  on  Easter  Monday,  and  three  days  later  tlie 
ship  in  which  lie  engaged  passage  weighed  anchor 
and  was  soon  out  upon  the  broad  Atlantic.  The 
vo3'age  lasted  eight  weeks,  but  at  length  Mr.  Black- 
more  arrived  in  Quebec,  Canada,  in  June.  He 
went  from  there  to  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand,  this  being  his 
first  experience  as  an  agriculturist.  He  there  re- 
sided for  about  a  year,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1858, 
emigrated  Westward,  locating  in  what  is  now  Ford 
Count}',  111.  Here  he  again  worked  upon  a  farm 
by  the  month,  being  thus  employed  for  three 
j'ears,  after  which  he  rented  land,  raising  his  crops 
on  shares.  He  then  bought  a  team  and  contin- 
ued  thus  to  farm  until  1866. 

In  November,  1865,  Mr.  Blackmore  was  united 
in  marriiige  with  Mrs.  Anna  Perry,  a  native  of 
Bedfordshire,  England,  and  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Da}'.  After  their  marriage,  they  removed  to  tiie 
farm  upon  which  they  now  reside,  and,  after  rent- 
ing for  several  years,  Jlr.  Blackmore  made  pur- 
chase of  forty  acres.  He  afterwards  made  other 
purchases,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  one  bundled 
and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land,  highly  improved. 
As  it  was  in  its  primitive  condition  at  the  time  of 
his  purchase,  he  broke  it,  fenced  it  and  tiansformed 
the  raw  prairie  into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  His 
own  labor  and  enterprise  have  been  the  secret  of 
his  success. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackmore  have  four  children,  and 
Mrs.  Blackmore  had  Ave  children  by  a  former  mar- 
riage: Rhoda,  the  eldest  of  the  famil}',  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  Murdock;  Sarah  is  the  next  3'ounger; 
Annie  is  the  wife  of  John  Murdock;  Albert  A. 
died  at  tiie  age  of  fourteen  years;  and  Susan  died 
at  the  age  of  five  years.  Of  the  four  children  of 
the  Blackmore  family:  Edward  died  in  the  winter 
of  1887,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  Rose  is  at  home; 
Martha  is  the  wife  of  A.  Flick;  and  David  aids  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 

Since  becoming  a  voter,  Mr.  Blackmore  h.as  ex- 
ercised  his   right  of  franchise   in  support  of  the 


Democratic  party,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community  and,  as 
one  of  the  earlj-  settlers,  has  aided  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  Ford  County  and  done  his  part  in  the  work 
of  development  and  progress.  He  is  accounted 
one  of  the   valued  citizens,  as  well  as  one  of    the 


leading  agriculturists  of  the  community 


■#!• 


,^ 


Vji>  C.  M.  EiiFEVRE,  M.  D.,  an  honored  pio- 
lll  neer  of  Ford  County  of  1856,  was  born  in 
i  Miami  County,  Ohio,  January  11,  1814, 
and  was  a  son  of  Christian  LeFevre.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  French 
descent  on  his  father's  and  German  on  his  mother's 
side.  He  married  an  Irish  lady.  Our  subject  was 
educated  in  Hanover  College,  of  Indiana,  and  was 
a  graduate  of  the  Medical  College  of  Ohio,  in  the 
Class  of  '41.  lie  was  married  in  Troy,  Ohio,  June 
y,  1840,  to  Miss  iNIartha  Jewett.  Mrs.  LeFevre  is 
a  native  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Yt.,  born  May  28,  1817, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Luther  and  Nancy  Jewett. 

Upon  his  marriage,  Dr.  LeFevre  located  in  Troy, 
Ohio,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  until  1848, 
when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Attica,  Ind., 
and  there  built  up  a  large  and  luciative  practice. 
He  resided  in  that  city  until  1856,  when  he  came 
to  Illinois.  On  coming  to  this  State,  he  settled  in 
what  is  now  the  township  of  Drummer,  Ford 
County,  but  was  then  a  part  of  Yermilion  County, 
and  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  One 
child,  a  son,  was  born  to  the  Doctor  and  his  wife, 
Samuel  J.,  whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page 
of  this  work. 

In  political  sentiment.  Dr.  LeFevre  was  an  orig- 
inal Abolitionist,  and  was  among  the  first  to  join 
the  Republican  party  on  its  organization.  Some 
seven  years  after  the  formation  of  Ford  Count}',  he 
was  appointed  to  the  office  of  County  Su[>erintend- 
ent  of  Schools,  to  fill  an  unexpired  term,  and  at 
the  succeeding  election  he  was  elected  to  the  same 
office,  but  was  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of 
ill  health.  The  Doctor  had  a  half-section,  or  three 
hundred  and    twenty  acres,  of  land   in  Drummer 


/? 


■--.^ 


a 


'c:>-^c/U^  U 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


481 


Township,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  up  to  the  time  of  his  deatli,whidi  occurred 
on  tlie  1st  of  December,  1869.  He  was  one  of  the 
well-iinown  citizens  of  this  county  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  its  upbuilding  and  advance- 
ment. He  was  public-spirited  and  progressive 
and  was  highlj-  esteemed  for  his  sterling  worth 
and  integrity.  Our  subject  and  his  vvife  were  botli 
consistent  members  of  tlie  Presbyterian  Church 
and  in  its  work  took  an  active  part.  INIrs.  LeFevre 
was  a  lady  possessed  of  many  excellencies  of  char- 
acter, and  was  called  to  her  final  rest  a  few  years 
prior  to  the  death  of  her  husband,  passing  away  in 
February,  18Gf),  beloved  by  all  who  knew  iier. 


?  MANUEL  KERNS,  a  well-kn 

man  of  .Sibley,  is  a   dealer  iu 
, ?j   farm  implements.     IIis  life  re 


well-known  business 
hardware  and 
record  is  as  fol- 
lows: He  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  on  the 
8tli  of  November,  18;)2,  and  is  a  son  of  .John  and 
Mary  (Routt)  Kerns,  both  of  whom  were  of  Ger- 
man extraction.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  was  assassinated  at  or  near  Carlyle  in  this  State, 
when  Emanuel  was  but  a  child.  His  wife  was  also 
born  in  the  Buckeye  State  and  died  about  18()5.  Our 
subject  is  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth  of  eight 
children.  The  eldest  of  the  family  is  Benjamin, 
a  farmer  residing  in  the  Buckeye  State;  Henry, 
who  follows  agricultural  pursuits  in  Ross  Count}-, 
Ohio;  George,  who  died  in  1862  at  Cairo,  111., 
from  the  effects  of  hard  service  in  the  army,  he 
having  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company'  A, 
Seventj'-third  Ohio  Infantry;  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Drake,  a  farmer  residing  in  Ohio;  Martha, 
twin  sister  of  Mary,  and  the  wife  of  .John 
Harrington,  who  resides  in  the  city  of  Chilli- 
cothe,  in  the  Buckeye  State;  Emanuel,  of  this 
sketch;  and  John,  a  carpenter  and  builder  living  in 
Sibley.  The  father  of  this  family  died  in  1855,  and 
the  mother  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1866. 

Our  subject  was  only  three  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death.  His  educational  ad- 
vantages were  very  limited,  and  from  an  earl}-  age 
he  had  to  make  Iiis  own  way  in  the  world.  ■  He  be- 


gan life  for  himself  as  a  farm-hand,  working  by  the 
month,  and  was  thus  employed  until  twenty  3-ears 
of  age,  when  he  rented  land,  operating  that  farm 
for  one  year.  During  the  succeeding  year,  he  was 
foreman  of  quite  a  large  farm,  after  which  he  be- 
gan work  at  the  carpenter's  trade  and  followed  it 
continuously  until  1890,  being  quite  successful  in 
that  line.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  since 
1869,  during  which  year  lie  located  in  Piatt 
County,  111.,  where  he  made  his    home   until  1881. 

During  that  time,  Mr.  Kerns  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Martha  Hettinger,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Margaret  Hettinger,  and  the  second 
in  a  family  of  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
yet  living:  .James,  the  eldest,  is  married  and  re- 
sides in  Champaign  County,  111.;  Nelson  N.  is  mar- 
ried and  follows  farming  in  that  county;  William 
is  also  married  and  follows  farming  in  Champaign 
County;  Frank  resides  in  Piatt  Count}'  and  is  mar- 
ried, but  his  wife  is  now  deceased;  Edward  is  mar- 
ried and  follows  farming  in  Champaign  County; 
George  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Piatt 
County;  and  Oscar  is  also  a  farmer  in  that  county. 

Mrs.  Kerns  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  li.as  been  a  valualile  helpmate  to  her  husband. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  March  29,  1874,  and 
has  been  blessed  with  six  children,  namely:  Lottie, 
Minnie,  William  E.,  Arthur  N.,  Albert  II.  and 
Ro}-  E. 

In  1881,  Mr.  Kerns  removed  to  Strawu,  111., 
where  he  spent  four  years,  working  at  his  trade 
until  1885.  He  then  came  to  Sibley  and  took  charge 
of  the  building  interests  on  the  great  Hiram  Sibley 
estate,  where  he  continued  from  April  1,  1885,  to 
January  1,  1890.  He  is  a  most  excellent  work- 
man, and  although  he  did  an  immense  amount  of 
work  during  that  time,  it  was  all  perfectly  satis- 
factory to  the  general  manager  of  the  estate.  Mr. 
Kerns  is  also  dealing  in  farm  implements  and  hard- 
ware, and  has  a  full  line  of  buggies,  carriages, 
phwtons,  harness,  etc.,  and  a  full  line  of  builder's 
materials.  His  volume  of  business  is  large.  He  is 
a  man  of  good  business  ability  and  his  persistent 
industry  and  good  management  have  won  him  a 
comfortable  competence. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Kerns  is  an  ardent  supporter  of 
the  Prohibition  party,   and  in    religious  belief  is  a 


482 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Methodist.  He  has  served  as  Steward,  Trustee  and 
Treasurer  of  his  church,  and  has  been  very  active 
in  Sunday -sciiool  work,  having  served  as  Superin- 
tendent in  Sibley  for  two  years  and  in  Strawn  for 
the  same  period.  He  is  President  of  theSullivant 
Township  Sunday-school  organization,  and,  since 
1890,  has  been  corresponding  member  of  the 
Bloomington  District  Committee  of  the  Young 
Men's  Clu'istian  Association.  His  labors  have  been 
productive  of  much  good  and  his  upright  life  has 
won  him  the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all. 
He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  No. 
321,  of  Modern  Woodmen  Camp  No.  1,136,  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars'  Lodge 
No.  3fi3.  P"or  a  period  of  three  years  he  has 
filled  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  has 
served  as  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Sibley  for  the  years  1890  and  1891.  Mr.  Kerns  is 
,  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  this 
pl.ace  and  well  deserves  mention  in  the  history  of 
his  adopted  county. 


,=o 


fT/_^^AMILTON  .J.  BAKROW,  retired  farmer  and 
*^^^  early  settler  of  Ford  County,  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Gibson  C'it3\  He  was  born  in  Fred- 
crick  County,  Va., and  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Sallie  A.  Barrow,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  same  State  as  our  subject.  The  mother  died 
when  Hamilton  was  but  four  jears  of  age  and  also 
left  two  other  sons:  Andrew  J.,  who  was  killed  in 
the  late  war,  and  .lolni  AV.  After  her  death,  the  fa- 
ther was  again  united  in  marriage,  .and  in  the  year 
1867  removed  with  his  famil}'  to  what  is  now  Dix 
Township,  Ford  County.  Having  purchased  new 
land,  he  soon  turned  his  attention  to  its  develop- 
ment, and  before  his  death  was  the  owner  of  a  fine 
farm,  which  was  highly  cultivated  and  improved. 
He  passed  from  this  life  when  well  advanced  in 
years,  dying  in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  of  which  he  was  a  consistent  member. 
In  politics,  he  voted  with  the  Democratic  party. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
tlie   boyhood  of  our  subject,  he  being   reared   to 


manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  attending  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  where  he  se- 
cured a  limited  education.  With  his  parents,  he 
came  to  Ford  County  in  1867,  and  here  worked 
for  a  year  as  a  f.irm  hand  by  the  month. 

Five  years  later,  Mr.  Bari-ow  returned  to  Virginia, 
and  on  the  27th  of  March,  1872,  in  Fauquier 
County,  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Susan  A. 
Bradford,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Marj-  (Brook) 
Bradford,  both  natives  of  Virginia  and  of  Eng- 
lish descent.  In  th.at  State  they  both  died,  the 
father  passing  away  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  and  the 
mother  when  fifty-five  years  of  age.  Mr.  Bradford 
was  a  lineal  des(endant  of  Gov.  William  Bradford, 
of  Massachusetts,  and  a  member  of  the  New-light 
Baptist  Church.  In  the  early  days,  when  the  mili- 
tia used  to  muster,  he  held  the  office  of  First  Lieu- 
tenant. Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradford  were  born 
eleven  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  Barrow  was  the  eld- 
est, but  three  of  that  number  are  now  deceased. 
She  was  born  on  the  18th  of  January,  1844,  in 
Fauquier  County,  Va. 

Upon  the  marriage  of  our  subject,  he  returned 
with  his  young  bride  to  Ford  County,  where  they 
began  their  domestic  life  in  a  frame  house,  16x22 
feet,  without  lath  or  pi.astcring.  This  was  soon 
made  comfortable  and  remained  their  home  until 
they  removed  to  Gibson  City,  which  is  the  only 
removal  since  their  marriage,  By  industry  and 
good  management,  thay  have  accumulated  a  hand- 
some property,  and  their  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  acres  of  unimproved  land  are  now  cultivated 
and  have  become  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  com- 
munity. In  1887,  thej'  removed  to  Gibson  City, 
where  they  have  an  elegant  house,  surrounded  by 
eight  and  a  third  acres  of  fine  land. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barrow  were  liorn  three 
children:  Anna  Belle,  Cari-ie  Ma}'  and  Ciiarles 
Marshall.  The  parents  hold  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  their  eldest 
daughter  with  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian.  Po- 
liticall}',  Mr.  Barrow  is  a  stalwart  Democrat  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  McClellan.  In  July, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Fifty-first  Vir- 
ginia Inf.intry,  C.  S.  A.,  and  served  some  seven 
months.  He  participated  in  two  minor  engage- 
ments, in   the  second  of  which  he  was  struck  bv  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


483 


ball  in  the  left  cheek,  passing  through  his  head  and 
coming  out  behind  the  right  ear,  thus  disabling 
hnn  for  further  service.  Mr.  Barrow  is  essentially 
a  self-made  men,  making  all  he  has  b^-  his  own  in- 
dustry and  good  business  ability. 

rp5,  LIAS  A.  STARE,  proprietor  of  the  Sibley 
«j  Tile  Factory,  of  Sibley,  111.,  and  a  well- 
I' — --^  known   business  man   of    Ford   County,  is 


one  of  the  worth}-  citizens  that  Pennsylvania  has 
furnished  to  this  State.  He  was  born  in  York 
County,  October  1,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
and  Lydia  (Auchenbaugh)  Stare,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  former  born 
November  19,  1790,  and  the  latter  September  14, 
1807.  In  his  early  life,  the  father  drove  a  team 
between  Baltimore  and  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  after- 
ward engaged  in  farming.  In  politics,  he  was  an 
old-line  Whig  until  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  when  he  joined  its  ranks.  His 
death  occurred  October  5,  1865,  and  his  remains 
were  interred  in  Liverpool,  Pa.  A  beautiful  stone 
stands  at  his  head.  After  her  husband's  death, 
Mrs.  Stare  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  spent  her 
last  days  in  Decatur,  dying  on  the  7th  of  April, 
1879. 

The  faniih-  of  this  worthy  couple  numbered 
thirteen  children:  John,  who  died  in  1892;  Leah, 
wife  of  Henry  Kain,  a  carpenter  and  builder  of 
Decatur;  George,  who  is  living  retired  in  Decatur; 
Harriet,  wife  of  John  JIarkley,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Macon  County;  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Knapp,  of 
Decatur;  Rudolph,  who  died  in  1854;  IMoses,  who 
follows  the  trade  of  carpentering  in  Dec.itur; 
Lydia,  wife  of  Robert  Iliggins,  a  harness-maker,  of 
Pawnee,  111.;  Nancy,  whose  home  is  in  Decatur; 
Lovey,  wife  of  E.  B.  Eicholtz,  a  carpenter  and 
builder  residing  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Elias,  of  this 
sketch;  Mary,  wife  of  Taylor  Blaine,  whose  home 
is  in  Decatur,  and  Willie,  who  died  in  infancy. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  childhood  days  of  our  subject,  which  were 
spent  upon  his  father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at 
the    district    schools,    where    he  ac(piircd   a  good 


English  education.  He  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  and  emi- 
grating Westward,  located  in  Decatur,  111.,  in 
1864.  He  had  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
there  followed  that  occupation  until  1870,  when 
he  estalilishcd  a  lumber  yard  and  also  engaged 
in  buying  grain  until  1874,  when  he  sold  out  and 
went  to  the  South.  He  first  located  in  Dallas, 
Tex.,  and  was  one  of  the  stockholders  and  erected 
a  1160,000  elevator  at  that  place.  He  was  Super- 
intendent until  1878,  when,  selling  his  interest  in 
the  elevator,  he  removed  toGrayson  County,  Tex., 
and  purchased  a  large  tract  of  wild  land,  upon 
which  he  made  many  improvements,  and  there  re- 
sided for  a  year  and  a  half.  His  next  place  of 
residence  was  in  Gainesville,  Tex.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  implement  business  until  1880,  when 
he  sold  out  and  returned  to  the  North.  On  once 
more  locating  in  Decatur,  he  established  a  tile  fac- 
tory, the  first  in  Macoupin  County,  111.  In  1881, 
he  sold  out  and  came  to  Sibley,  where  he  erected 
a  tile  factory  which  he  still  operates,  manufactur- 
ing about  a  million  and  a  half  tiles  annually.  He 
also  owns  considerable  property,  including  some 
valuable  real  estate  in  Chicago,  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  commu- 
nity. 

The  lady  who  is  now  Mrs.  Stare  was,  in  her 
maidenhood.  Miss  Lizzie  Reeme.  Her  parents, 
AVilliam  H.  and  Catherine  (Shaffer)  Reeme,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  father  was  born  in 
Daui)hin  County,  on  the  12th  of  July,  1811,  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pui-suits  and  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  he 
began  dealing  in  general  merchandise.  He  emi- 
grated to  Ohio  in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  there 
remained  eight  years,  after  which  he  spent  twenty 
years  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Decatur, 
111.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  business  men  of 
the  city.  In  1886,  he  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  13th  of  Feb- 
ruar\',  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  }-ears,  two  months 
and  seventeen  days.  For  fort3'-five  years  they 
had  traveled  life's  journey  together,  sharing  its 
joys  and  sorrows,  adversity  and  prosperity.  They 
had  a  family  of  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five 
daughters,  but  only  the  daughters  are  now  living: 


484 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Knepper,  a  farmer 
residing  near  Tiflin,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Stare  is  the  next 
younger;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Kilburn  Howard,  of 
Decatur,  111.,  who  for  twenty-live  years  has  been  a 
trusted  employe  of  the  Wabash  Railroad  Com- 
pany; Emma  is  the  wife  of  Judge  Davidson,  of 
Montieello,  111.,  County  Judge  of  Piatt  County; 
and  Ida  is  a  saleslady  in  a  large  mercantile  estab- 
lishment of  Decatur. 

Mrs.  Stare  was  born  January  23,  1845,  acquired 
her  education  in  the  common  schools  and  is  an 
estimable  lady.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  arid 
his  wife  was  celebrated  December  14,  1874,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  five  children:  Frank, 
Burton,  Fred,  Mary  B.  (deceased),  and  Willie. 
The  family  has  a  beautiful  and  elegant  home  on 
Ohio  Street,  and  its  members  rank  high  in  social 
circles.  The  parents  are  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Church  and  are  earnest  supporters  of  all  those 
benevolent  institutions  which  are  worth}'  of  their 
consideration. 

In  politics,  IMr.  Stare  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Modern  Woodmen,  Camp  No.  1135,  of 
Sibley,  and  is  a  man  who  has  the  best  interest  of 
the  community  at  heart  and  does  all  in  his  power 
for  the  advancement  of  those  enterprises  calculated 
to  prove  of  public  good.  He  was  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Building  Committee  at  the  time  of  the 
erection  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Sibley,  and  has 
been  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  for  four 
}-ears.  Mr.  Stare  is  a  patentee  of  several  valuable 
devices,  including  the  steel  and  iron  road,  which 
was  patented  December  IG,  1890,  and  is  a  valuable 
invention. 


I^^h^i 


~=) 


J"'OHN  C.  HENDERSON  now  owns  and  oper- 
ates two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  arable 
land  on  section  28,  Button  Township.  It 
is  considered  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
neighborhood,  being  improved  with  a  substantial 
residence,  good  barns  and  outbuildings  and  all  the 
other  accessories  of  a  model  farm.  The  fields  are 
well  tilled  and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place 
indicates  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner. 


Jlr.  Henderson  was  born  in  Portage  County, 
Ohio.  M.ay  19,  1842.  His  grandfather  removed 
from  Westmoreland  County,  Pa.,  to  Ohio  about 
1828,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Summit 
County,  and  there  Alexander  Henderson,  father 
of  John,  was  reared  to  manhood.  He  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  County-,  in  1816.  In  Summit 
County,  he  wedded  Mary  Lantz,  a,  native  of  the 
Ke^'stone  State,  and  a  daughter  of  .Tacob  Lantz, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Summit  County.  After 
their  marriage,  Mr.  Henderson  )emoved  with  his 
wife  to  Portage  County,  which  was  then  an  almost 
unbroken  wilderness,  and  cleared  and  developed 
a  farm,  upon  which  he  resided  until  1853.  He 
then  sold  out  and  removed  to  Northfield,  Summit 
County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  five  ^-ears. 
In  1858,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  entered  a  farm  in 
La  Salle  County.  In  the  spring  of  the  following 
year,  he  settled  upon  land  iii  Putnam  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for 
some  time.  He  then  again  sold  out  and  removed 
to  Princeton,  Bureau  County,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death  on  the  5th  of  March,  1880. 
His  wife  died  in  November,  1889,  at  the  home  of 
her  daughter,  in  Beatrice,  Neb.,  but  she  was  laid 
to  rest  b}-  the  side  of  her  husband  in  Princeton, 
111.,  where  a  nice  monument  has  been  erected  to 
their  memory.  For  many  \-ears  they  were  active 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  which 
Mr.  Henderson  long  served  as  an  Elder.  He  was 
a  successful  business  man,  and  was  esteemed  and 
respected  wherever  known. 

Our  subject  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in 
their  family  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters  who 
reached  adult  age:  Denisa,  deceased,  wife  of  J.  R. 
Phillips,  of  Ford  County,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work;  John  C,  whose  name 
heads  this  record;  Robert  F.,  a  farmer  of  Gage 
County,  Neb.;  Walter  L.,  a  lawyer  of  Creighton, 
Knox  County,  Neb.;  Leila  A.,  wife  of  John  Pol- 
lock, of  Beatrice,  Neb. 

Until  fourteen  years  of  age,  John  Henderson 
resided  in  the  State  of  his  nativity  and  acquired 
a  good  common-school  education.  With  his  i)ar- 
ents,  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1858,  and  remained 
with  his  father  until  he  had  attaiiied  his  majority. 
He  then  began   operating  a    portion  of  the    home 


I 


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^1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


487 


farm  on  his  own  account,  and  continued  its  cnlti- 
vation  for  several  years.  As  a  companion  and 
lielpmate  on  life's  journey,  he  chose  INIiss  Susanna 
Packinghani,  a  natiye  of  Putnam  ('ounty,  III.,  and 
a  daughter  of  .lames  Paekingliain.  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Putnam  County,  wlio  came  to 
this  State  from  Winsted,  Conn.  The  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife  was  celebrated  in  (uanville, 
Putnam  County,  January  25,  18C6,  and  they  be- 
gan their  domestic  life  upon  the  home  farm,  but 
after  a  few  years  came  to  Ford  County  in  1871, 
and  settled  upon  wild  land  in  Button  Township. 
Mr.  Henderson  first  purchased  forty  acres,  and 
after  he  had  broken  and  improved  this  tract  he 
bought  an  additional  forty,  lying  just  acro.ss  the 
line  in  ^'ermilion  County.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources have  increased,  he  has  since  added  to  the 
amount,  and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  valuable  place 
of  which  we  have  before  spoken. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henderson  have  no  children  of 
their  own,  but  have  reared  three  orphan  children: 
Thomas  IMcMurray,  Mary  Alma  Morrison  and 
John  F.  Correll  being  still  with  tiiem.  Mr.  Hen- 
derson and  his  wife  are  members  of  tiie  Presby- 
terian Church  and  are  very  highly  respected 
people,  whose  upright  lives  have  won  them  the 
warm  regard  of  all  with  whom  they  have  come 
in  contact.  He  is  a  thrifty,  enterprising  man, 
who  began  life  for  himself  empty-handed,  but  has 
worked  his  way  upward  by  the  assistance  of  his 
estimable  wife  to  a  position  of  affluence.  He  cer- 
tainly deserves  great  credit  for  his  success,  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this  brief  record 
of  so  worthy  a  man  to  our  readers. 


w  f\      y  "ll  ^  fc  f 


?— i-<-r--— iH- 


AVID  P.  MrCRACKEN,  breeder  and  dealer 
in  Poland-China  hogs  and  .lersey  cattle, 
resides  on  section  27,  Patton  Township. 
He  is  so  well  known  throughout  Ford 
County  that  he  needs  no  special  introduction  to 
our  readers.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  near 
the  city  of  Pittsburg,  May  17,  18.52,  and  is  a  son 
of  the  Rev.  R.  McCracken,  whose  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.     During  his  cliildhood,  he 


came  with  bis  parents  to  Illinois,  in  1858,  and  three 
years  later  the  family  removed  to  Ford  Count3'. 
His  youth  was  spent  in  the  town  of  Paxton,  and 
he  acqiured  a  good  education,  graduating  from  the 
Paxton  High  School,  after  which  he  entered  upon 
his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  Tloopeston,  III., 
where  he  remained  for  about  a  year. 

Mr.  McCracken  was  married  in  Paxton  on  the 
3d  of  March,  1874,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Miss  Mary  F.  Mason,  a  daughter  of  Frank  Mason, 
of  that  city,  who  is  represented  on  another  page 
of  this  work.  She  was  born  in  r)swego,  N.  Y.,  but 
was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county.  The  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in 
Button  Township  where  our  subject  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  for  some  ten  years.  In  1884, 
he  removed  to  Minnesota,  and  in  Martin  County 
was  for  two  years  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  On  his  return  to  Illinois  in  the  autumn  of 
1886,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Pax- 
ton and  gave  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  Poland- 
China  hogs.  In  the  spring  of  1889,  we  find  him 
residing  upon  a  farm  on  section  27,  Patton  Town- 
ship,which  is  still  his  home.  It  is  pleasantly  situated 
four  miles  southe.ast  of  Paxton.  For  the  past 
twelve  j'ears,  Mr.  McCracken  has  given  his  atten- 
tion to  bleeding  and  raising  Poland-China  hogs 
and  is  one  of  the  best-known  breeders  of  that  stock 
in  this  State.  He  has  taken  many  first  and  second 
premiums  at  the  county,  district  and  State  fairs, 
where  he  has  exhibited  his  stock,  and  to  twenty- 
seven  different  States  and  Territories  he  has  shipped 
his  hogs,  and  also  to  Canada.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  National  Swine  Expert  Judges'  Association, 
having  served  as  judge  in  several  of  the  leading 
associations  of  the  Middle  and  AVestern  States. 
For  the  past  few  years,  he  has  also  been  engaged 
in  lireeding  and  dealing  in  registered  Jersey  cat- 
tle, and  at  the  present  time  owns  about  thirty 
head,  among  which  seven  head  bore  off  prizes  at 
the  Minnesota  State  Fair. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCracken  have  a  family  of  five 
children,  all  of  whom  are  still  under  the  parental 
roof,  namely:  Fred,  Bertha  II.,  Minnie,  Eva  and 
Roy.  The  parents  and  the  four  eldest  children 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Pax- 
ton, and   Mr.  McCracken   is  serving  as  one  of  its 


488 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Trustees.  Ho  is  a  warm  friend  of  the  cause  of 
education  and  believes  in  promoting  the  interests 
of  the  schools  by  securing  the  best  teachers.  He 
is  now  serving  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board, 
but  has  never  been  an  oflice-seeker,  preferring  to 
give  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business. 
He  cast  liis  first  Presidential  vote  for  tiie  Hon. 
R.  B.  Hayes,  and  has  supported  each  Republican 
nominee  for  President  since  that  time.  He  is  a 
warm  advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party  and  greatly  interested  in  its  success.  Mr. 
McCracken  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  wide-awake 
and  enterprising  business  men  of  the  county,  who 
has  not  only  labored  for  the  advancement  of  his 
own  interests  but  has  worked  for  the  upbuild- 
ing and  development  of  the  community  as  well. 
His  life  has  been  well  and  worthily  spent,  and  his 
upright  character  has  won  him  high  esteem. 


'REDERICK  HAMER,  one  of  the  enterising 

Pi)  and  well-known  farmers  of  Patton  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  29,  is  a  native  of 
Hanover,  Germany.  He  was  born  March  5,  1858, 
and  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Peter  Hamer,  a  minister 
of  the  Reformed  Church.  His  mother  was  in  her 
maidenhood  Miss  Fulkamena  Bussen,  and  both 
were  natives  of  Germany.  They  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  the  Fatherland,  and  at  length  were  called 
to  their  final  rest. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  the  land  of  his  nativity.  At  the  age  of 
twenty,  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
New  World,  believing  that  better  opportunities 
were  here  offered  than  the  old  and  more  thickly 
settled  countries  afforded.  So  it  was  that  in  1878, 
in  company  with  his  brother  Thaddeus,  he  boarded 
a  Westward-bound  vessel  at  Bremen  and  in  July  of 
that  year  arrived  at  New  York.  He  at  once  came 
to  the  West  and  made  his  first  location  in  Logan 
Count3',  111.,  where  he  worked  upon  a  farm  by  the 
month  for  a  year.  He  then  went  to  Hartzburg, 
Logan  County,  where  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk 
for  a  year.    He  then  bought  a  store  in  Hartzburg  and 


engaged  in  general  merchandising  for  himself,  car- 
rying a  stock  of  hardware  and  drugs.  For  seven 
3'ears,  he  continued  business  at  that  place  and  then 
sold  out,  after  which  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Piatt 
County,  111.,  and  once  more  resumed  agricultural 
pursuits.  The  two  succeeding  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  operating  that  land,  after  which  he 
sold  that  farm  and,  coming  to  Ford  County,  bought 
the  one  which  is  now  his  home.  He  located  thereon 
in  .January.  1891.  It  is  a  well-developed  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  acres  of  valuable 
land,  highly  improved  and  located  within  two 
miles  of  Paxton.  The  city  thus  being  easy  of  access, 
he  can  readily  obtain  its  luxuries  and  at  the  same 
time  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  rural  life. 

In  Logan  County,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1886, 
Mr.  Hamer  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Maggie 
McAvoy,  daughter  of  Daniel  McAvoy.  She  is  a 
native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  but  was  educated  and 
reared  in  Logan  County,  111.  Three  children  gr.aced 
their  union,  sons:  Freddie,  Richard  and  Philip. 

Mr.  Hamer  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Grover  Cleveland,  and  has  since  been  identified 
with  the  Democratic  party,  being  a  stanch  advo- 
cate of  its  principles.  He  has,  however,  never 
sought  or  desired  political  preferment  for  himself. 
Although  he  has  resided  in  Ford  Count\-  but  a 
short  time,  he  is  recognized  as  a  public-spirited 
citizen  and  one  of  sterling  worth  and  integrity. 
It  was  a  fortunate  day  for  our  subject  when  he 
determined  to  seek  a  home  in  America,  for  in  this 
land  of  freedom  he  has  prosi)ered,  and  b^-  his  own 
efforts  has  become  a  well-to-do  farmer. 


— 5- 


"^^^tg) 


i->^^<S 


«  i^ILLIAlM  HARRISON  HUNTER,  resident 
\/\///  l'f"'''"6i'  s"<l  manager  of  the  firm  of  B.  P. 
\^^  Andrews  &  Co.,  of  Paxton.  dealers  in 
lumber,  building  material  and  co.al,  is  a  well-known 
business  man  of  this  city.  Their  lumber-yard  was 
bought  by  the  present  comp.any  on  the  1st  of  April, 
1886.  They  do  an  extensive  and  increasing  busi- 
ness and  are  reckoned  among  the  leading  business 
houses  of  Paxton. 

Mr.  Hunter  whose   name  heads  this   record  was 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


489 


born  in  Rush  County,  Ind.,  June  5,  1846,  and  is  a 
son  of  "William  and  Elizabeth  (Kirk)  Huntei\  His 
father  was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  jNIay 

11,  1793,  and    died  in  Jefferson  Co\inty,  111.,  June 

12,  1878.  The  mother  was  born  near  Annapolis, 
Md.,  April  10,  1804,  and  departed  this  life  in  Belle 
Rive,  111.,  November  16,  1884.  Our  suliject  came 
to  this  State  with  his  parents  in  1856,  when  a  lad 
of  ten  summers,  spent  a  few  years  in  Tazewell 
Countj%  and  then  settled  in  Jefferson  County,  of 
the  same  State.  He  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  on  the  1st  of  March,  1864,  wlien  eighteen 
years  old,  enlisted  in  Compan3^  I,  Ninety-fourth 
Illinois  Infantr3'.  Entering  active  service,  he 
took  part  in  the  Mobile  campaign,  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Ft.  Morgan  and  Spanish  Fort  and  in 
various  skirmishes,  closing  with  the  battle  of  Frank- 
lin Creek,  Miss.  In  July,  186.'),  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Thirty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  becoming 
a  member  of  Companj-  G,  and  was  mustered  out 
May  30,  1866.  On  his  return  from  the  army,  he 
engaged  in  farming  in  Jefferson  County,  which  he 
continued  until  1868,  when  he  turned  his  attention 
to  school  teaching  and  spent  three  years  in  travel 
and  teaching,  after  which  he  resumed  agricultural 
pursuits. 

On  the  5th  of  October.  1871,  the  marri.age  cere- 
mony of  Mr.  Hunter  and  Miss  Olive  II.  Rotramel, 
daughter  of  David  R.  Rotramel,  was  performed  in 
.Tefferson  County,  the  lady's  native  county.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  two  of  whom  are 
yet  living:  Fred,  seventeen,  and  Clyde,  eight; 
David  Harry  died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

In  1873,  Mr.  Hunter  went  to  Elk  County,  Kan., 
where  he  resided  two  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Jefferson  County,  111.,  after  which  he  became  a 
resident  of  Belle  Rive,  111.,  in  1881.  There  he  was 
engaged  in  the  lumber  aud  agricultural  implement 
business  until  1886,  when  he  came  to  Paxton,  and 
has  since  devoted  his  energies  to  the  pursuit  wliich 
now  occupies  his  attention.  Mr.  Hunter  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and,  in 
politics,  he  is  a  Republican.  He  .served  as  Assessor 
in  Jefferson  Countj',  111.,  for  four  years,  and  has 
served  as  President  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
the  cit3'  of  Paxton.  He  is  a  meml)er  of  Paxton 
Lodge  No.  416,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;   raid    is   Fast  Com- 


mander of  Paxton  Post  No.  387,  G.  A.  R.  He 
was  appointed  Aide-de-Camp  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
S.  Clark,  Commander  of  the  Department  of  the 
Illinois  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  lias 
been  one  of  the  inspectors  of  this  district.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  Lodge, 
of  Paxton.  By  his  fellow-citizens,  Mr.  Hunter  is 
very  generally  esteemed  for  his  courteous  and 
genial  manner  and  upright  and  manly  course  in 
Ills  intercourse  with  them. 


$  MLLIAM  CURRIE  is  engaged  in  general 
\/\///  farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  10, 
^f/^  Patton  Township,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  since  1890,  but  his  residence  in  the  county 
covers  a  period  of  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
.Scotland  is  the  land  of  his  birth,  but  he  is  of  Eng- 
lish descent.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Jane  (Bruce) 
Currie,  were  both  born  and  reared  in  England. 
They  resided  in  Scotland  until  1865,  when  they 
determined  to  make  a  home  in  the  New  "World  and 
crossed  the  briny  deep.  Their  first  settlement  was 
made  in  Marshall  County,  111.,  where  Mr.  Currie 
engaged  in  farming  for  two  jears,  and  then  with 
his  family  came  to  Ford  County  in  1867,  locating 
upon  a  tract  of  land  in  Will  Township,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  In  1888,  he  was  called  u])on  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  November. 
AVilliam  Currie  was  born  near  Green  Lawn,* 
Scotland,  September  15,  1852,  and  was  a  lad  of 
thirteen  years  at  the  time  of  the  emigration  of  his 
parents  to  this  country.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
Ford  County,  the  days  of  his  youth  being  spent  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads.  He  aided  in  the 
cultivation  and  development  of  his  father's  land 
in  the  summer  months,  and  in  the  winter  season 
attended  the  district  schools  of  tiie  neighborhood. 
Under  the  parental  roof,  he  remained  until  after 
he  had  attained  his  majority,  when  he  started  out 
for  himself.  Asa  companion  and  helpmate  on 
the  journey  of  life,  he  chose  Miss  Margaret 
Smith,  daughter  of  James  F.  and  Eliza  (McKeldy) 
Smith,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Canada. 
They   are  numbered   among   the   early  settlers  of 


490 


PORTEAIT  AND  ETOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Ford  County, having  liei-e  located  in  1859.  Mrs. 
Currrie  was  born  in  Canada,  hut  spent  licr  maid- 
enhood da^s  in  this  covinty,  remaining  witli  her 
parents  until  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  our 
subject,  on  the  2(ith  of  October,  1882.  They  liave 
a  family  of  three  bright  little  children,  who  are 
the  light  of  tlieir  parents'  home:  Elizabeth  J., 
Thomas  James  and  Florence  Leona. 

After  liis  marriage,  Mr.  Currie  located  on  a  farm 
near  Roberts  Station,  where  he  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural  pursuits  for  three  years.  He  then  dis- 
posed of  that  land  and  became  a  resident  of  Pax- 
ton,  engaging  in  business  in  tlie  city  for  three 
years.  At  lengtli  he  sold  out  his  business  and  once 
more  resumed  farming,  removing,  in  1890,  to  his 
present  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
conveniently-  located  aljout  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  Paxton.  Tiie  land  is  well  improved  and  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation,  tlie  fertile  fields 
yielding  a  golden  tribute  to  the  care  and  labor  be- 
stowed upon  them  by  the  owner.  INIr.  Currie  is 
not  onl\'  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  successful 
agriculturists  of  the  community,  but  is  also  known 
to  be  a  public-spirited  and  [)rogressive  citizen.  lie 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  held  in  high  regard 
througliout  the  community,  having  won  the  es- 
teem of  all  by  their  sterling  worth  and  many  ex- 
cellencies of  character. 


AMUEL  .J.  LkFEVRE,  an  early  settler  of 
l'\:)rd  County  and  one  of  the  first  to  estab- 
lish a  lumlier  and  coal  yard  at  Giljson 
City,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born  in 
Montgomery  County  of  that  State,  on  the  IGth  of 
April,  1841.  Ilis  parents  were  Dr.  W.  C.  M.  and 
Martha  (Jewett)  LeFevre,  of  whom  see  a  sketch 
elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Samuel  J.  removed  with  his  parents  when  six 
years  of  age  to  Attica,  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
where  he  attended  school  for  nine  years,  when,  in 
1856,  he  accomi)anied  his  father  to  Vermilion 
County,  111.  The  family  settled  in  what  is  now 
Drummer  Township,  Ford  County,  but  was  then  a 


part  of  Dix  T(jwnship,  Vermilion  County.  There 
he  was  employed  in  assisting  his  father  on  the 
farm,  receiving  little  or   no  additional  sciiooling. 

On  the  13th  of  August,  18G2,  Mr.  LeFevre  en- 
listed as  a  member  of  Company  K,  Seventy-sixth 
Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry  and  served  as  a  non- 
commissioned otHcer  until  near  the  close  of  the 
war,  lieing  mustered  out  .luly  24,  18(15,  after 
three  years  of  hard  fighting.  He  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg;  siege  of  Fort  Blakely  and 
numerous  minor  engagements.  He  received  a  se- 
vere gun-shot  wound  in  the  left  foot  in  the  capture 
of  P^ort  Blakely.  near  Mobile,  Ala.,  on  the  9th  of 
April,  18(55,  the  last  day's  fight  of  the  war. 

Receiving  his  discharge,  ]\Ir.  LeFevre  returned 
home  and  on  recovering  from  his  wound  engaged 
in  farming  on  the  old  homestead.  He  was  married 
in  Dix  Township,  on  the  23d  of  December,  18(;G, 
to  Miss  Laura  A.  Carver,  a  native  of  Norton,  Mas- 
.sachusetts,  and  a  daughter  of  David  L.  Carver, 
a  descendant  of  Gov.  Carver.  Two  daughters 
grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  estimable 
wife:  Anna  .Land  Mary  Etta,  both  born  in  Drum- 
mer Townshiii. 

In  1872,  Mr.  LeFevre  engaged  in  the  lunil>er 
and  coal  business  in  (iibson  City,  which  he  con- 
tinued up  to  1887,  when  he  sold  out  his  lumber- 
yard but  still  retained  the  coal  business.  In  the 
winter  of  1891-2,  he  erected  an  electric  light  i)lant 
at  that  place,  which  he  put  in  operation  in  .Tanuaiy, 
1892,  and  has  since  conducted  successful!}',  being 
the  sole  proprietor  and  manager.  In  addition  to 
his  other  proiierty,  Mr.  LeFevre  h.as  a  well-im- 
proved farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which 
is  described  as  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  13, 
township  23,  range  7,  and  which  corners  with  city 
limits  of  Gibson.  He  has  made  his  home  in  that 
town  since  beginning  business  there  in  1872. 

Mr.  LeFevre  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  a 
stalwart  advocate  of  its  principles.  He  has  served 
as  School  Treasurer  four  years,  Township  Trustee 
six  years,  for  three  years  was  a  member  of  the  Vil- 
lage Board  and  President  of  the  same  for  one 
year.  He  has  held  the  otfice  of  Supervisor  of 
Drummer  Township  for  three  and  a  half  years  and 
for  two  years  was  Chairman  of  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors.     He  is  a  prominent  and  representa- 


i 


'^/^;)^^^L.&^-i. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPII'CAL   RECORD. 


493 


tive  business  man  of  Ford  County  and  is  lield  in 
high  esteem  by  his  felhiw-eitizons.  Soeiallj',  he  is 
a  Mason,  being  a  member  of  (libson  Lodge  No. 
733,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Gibson  Chapter  No.  183, 
R.  A.  M.;  of  Gibson  Council  No.  72;  of  Mt.  Olivet 
Coramandery  No.  38,  K.  T.,  of  I'axton;  and  Past 
Commander  of  Lott  Post  No.  70,  (i.  A.  II. 


■if  OHN  MEAD  THOMPSON.  Among  the 
most  worth}'  early  settlers  of  Melviu  must 
be  mentioned  the  gentleman  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch  and  who  has  been  the  local 
Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Melvin  for  the  p.ast  fifteen 
years.  He  is  a  native  of  Noble  County,  Ohio,  his 
birth  having  occurred  on  the  24th  of  April,  1837, 
and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Catherine  (Dyer) 
Thompson,  who  wore  natives  of  ^'irginia,  and  who 
in  their  youth  went  with  tlieir  respective  parents 
to  l>elmont  Countv,  Ohio,  wlici-e  they  made  their 
homes,  the  mother's  family  settling  tliere  during 
her  childhood  and  the  father's  in  the  year  1825. 
William  Thompson  and  his  wife  were  married  in 
Belmont  Count}',  in  1729,  and  soon  after  moved 
to  Noble  County.  In  1843,  they  moved  to  Monroe 
County  and  seven  years  later  returned  to  ]>elmont 
County,  which  was  the  home  of  the  family  till  they 
came  West. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Thompson  was  a  Democrat  until 
the  war  and  it  was  a  hard  struggle  for  him  to  sever 
old  party  affiliations,  but  when  principle  demanded 
it,  he  changed  and  was  ever  afterward  a  warm  Re- 
publican, liotli  he  and  his  wife  were  zealous  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  mo- 
ther, who  was  a  worthy  Christian  woman,  died  in 
Belmont  County,  Ohio,  April  8,  1863,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-four  years.  The  father  came  to  Illinois  in 
18C4,and  settled  first  in  Marshall  County,  near  New 
Rutland,  La  Salle  Count}-,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  an  upright  Christian  man  and  a 
good  citizen.  His  death  occurred  in  Melvin  in 
March,  1874,  he  having  been  a  resident  of  that 
place  some  four  years. 

John  M.  Tiiompson  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
secured  an  academic  education,     Jo  early  manhood. 


he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  following  that  call- 
ing some  four  years.  On  the  31st  of  October, 
1861,  in  Barnesville,  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  witli  Miss  Jane  Day,  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Anna  Day.  The  lady  was  born  in 
Barnesville  and  became  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren; AVilliam  Edward,  wiio  was  born  February  9, 
1863,  married  Miss  Maggie  Statiier  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  William  II.  &  W.  E.  Thompson, 
dealers  in  lumber  and  agricultural  implements  of 
Melvin;  Anna,  the  only  daughter.,  died  June  17, 
1874,  at  the  age  of  three  years;  and  Franc  Mead, 
the  youngest  child,  was  born  February  3,  1877. 

Mr.  Thompson  came  to  Illinois  in  1864  with  his 
family,  spent  one  year  in  Grundy  County,  then  re- 
moved to  Marshall  County,  and  located  within  a 
mile  of  New  Rutland,  La  Salle  County,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  three  years.  In  1869,  he 
removed  to  Woodford  County,  near  p]l  Paso,  but 
a  year  later  crossed  the  line  into  McLean  County. 
He  came  in  1872  to  INIelvin  and  engaged  in  the 
agricultural  implement  .and  grocery  business  in 
company  with  his  brother  Tliomas  D.  The  part- 
nership was  dissolved  in  1878  and  our  subject  con- 
tinued alone  in  the  implement  business,  to  which 
he  added  the  lumber  business,  until  1886,  since 
which  time  he  has  devoted  his  attention  to  his  of- 
ficial duties  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  to  convey- 
ancing and  collecting.  On  the  15th  of  May,  1887, 
Mr.  Thompson  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  his  wife.  She  w!is  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  from  childhood. 

On  the  6th  of  December,  1888,  Mr.  Thompson 
was  united  in  marriage  tlie  second  time,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  in  Melvin,  while  Mrs.  Jane 
Thompson  became  his  wife.  She  was  the  widow 
of  Isr.iel  A.  Thompson  and  a  d.aughter  of  Joseph 
Fletcher.  Her  birth  occurred  in  Bury,  Lancashire, 
England.. and  she  came  to  America  with  her  parents 
in  childhood.  She  has  one  child  by  her  former 
marriage,  Sarah  Catherine  Thompson. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Tliomi)Son  is  a  Republican  and 
at  this  writing  is  President  of  the  Village  Board  of 
Melvin.  In  1890,  he  was  one  of  the  census  enu- 
merators, and  he  will  have  held  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  sixteen  years  when  iiis 
present  term  expires.     He  has  been  secretary  and  a 


494 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


trustee  of  tlie  Melviii  Brick  and  Tile  Company  since 
its  organization.  He  is  a  cliarter  member  of  Peach 
OrcLiard  Lodge  No.  179,  K.  P.,  in  which  lie  has 
filled  the  official  chairs,  and  lias  held  the  office  of 
Deputy  Grand  Chancellor  since  the  lodge  was  insti- 
tuted, lie  has  been  actively  identified  with  the 
citizens  of  Peach  Orchard  and  adjoining  townships 
for  the  past  twenty  years,  in  business  and  official 
relations,  and  it  is  no  tlatteiy  to  say  of  him  that 
his  upright  and  honorable  course  with  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact  has  won  him  universal 
respect  and  confidence.  He  is  looked  up  to  by 
every  one  and  has  been  of  niiicli  service  to  many 
in  the  wa.v  of  seasonable  and  sound  advice  on  mat- 
ters of  differences  in  business  or  in  the  way  of 
business  transactions  in  the  ordinal  y  course  of  life. 
Plain  and  unpretending  in  manner,  courteous  and 
obliging,  he  has  made  many  friends  and  has  few, 
if  any,  enemies.  Himself  and  wife  and  their  chil- 
dren are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  of 
Melvin,  to  which  Mr.  Thompson  has  been  a  liberal 
contributor  and  has  been  active  in  its  support,  as 
has  also  his  wife. 


j****^ 


='**<i"§-<^S 


7-  *9**^*S**§*^— 


ylLLIAM  H.  STITES,  now  residing  in  Pax- 
ton,  is  numbered  among  the  honored  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Ford  County.  He  was  born 
near  Danville,  Vermilion  County,  111.,  on  the  1st 
of  December,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Susan  E.  Stites,  a  sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  work. 

The  first  twelve  years  of  his  life  our  subject 
spent  in  his  native  county,  and  in  March,  18.56,  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  what  is  now  the  city  of 
Paxton,  but  was  then  called  I'rairie  City.  Here  he 
has  made  his  home  continuously  since,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years  spent  in  sawmill  business 
near  Danville.  His  educational  advantages  were 
meagre,  being  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools,  and  to  agricultural  pursuits  he  was  reared. 
As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journej', 
he  chose  Sliss  Clara  Alice  McKee,  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, bom  in  Magnolia,  and  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Joseph  and  Margaret  (Hutchinson)  McKee.     Their 


union  was  celebrated  in  Paxton  on  the  28tli  of 
M.av,  1873,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  two 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter:  Frank  M-,  and 
Susie  Irene. 

During  the  greater  part  of  his  married  life,  Mr. 
Stites  has  been  engaged  in  farming  near  Paxton, 
but  in  the  siiring  of  1869  he  left  the  farm  and  was 
employed  in  oi)erating  a  sawmill,  which  was  situ- 
ated about  four  milesnorth  of  Danville,  until  Maj', 
1872,  when  he  returned  to  Paxton  and  engaged  in 
the  livery  business,  which  he  carried  on  until  1885. 
In  that  .year,  he  sold  out  and  once  more  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  continuing 
in  that  line  uninterruptedly  until  the  summer  of 
1890,  since  which  time  he  has  been  variousl}'  em- 
ployed. He  is  a  carpenter  or  mechanical  engineer, 
as  time  and  opportunit}'  affords  him  employment. 

The  residence  where  Mr.  Stites  has  made  his 
home  for  so  many  years  was  the  old  family  home- 
stead and  is  said  to  be  the  oldest  building  in  the 
city,  the  few  that  preceded  it  having  been  de- 
stroyed. It  was  erected  in  1854,  principally  of 
hardwood  lumber,  and  is  in  a  good  state  of  preser- 
vation at  this  time.  It  is  situated  near  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  on  Ottawa 
Street,  In  politics,  Jlr.  Stites  is  a  Democrat,  and 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  I'nited  Presliyterian 
Church  They  are  people  of  sterling  worth,  held 
in  high  regard  liy  their  many  friends  throughout 
the  community. 


^EV.  ROBERT  McCRACKEN,  formerly  pas- 
tor of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
a  pioneer  of  Ford  County,  was  born  near 
Castle  AVellyn,  County  Down,  Ireland,  about 
1824.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary  (Dick)  Mc 
Cracken,  natives  of  Scotland,  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  driven  b}'  religious  persecu- 
tion to  abandon  their  native  country  and  settle 
in  the  North  of  Ireland,  where  they  found  relig- 
ious freedom,  and  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
days. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


495 


Royal  College  of  Belfast,  jriadnating  about  1844 
and  the  followiug  jear  he  einigrated  to  America, 
locating  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where,  having  studied 
theology,  he  was  soon  licensed  to  preach.  Accept- 
ing a  call  from  Austintown,  Ohio,  he  became  a 
local  pastor  of  tliat  city,  and  was  there,  on  the  29th 
of  May,  18  IS,  ordained  a  minister  of  tlie  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church. 

On  the  SDth  of  jNIay,  1840,  just  a  year  after  his  or- 
dination, Kev.  ^Ir.  ISIcCracken  was  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony  with  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Hogg, 
who  was  born  in  Canfleld,  Ohio,  October  16,  1827, 
and  is  a  da\ighter  of  AVilliam  an<l  Agnes  (Witlier- 
spoon)  Hogg,  natives  of  Beaver  County,  I'a  ,  born 
of  Scotch  parentage.  The  father  was  a  prominent 
merchant  of  Canfield,  and  died  in  middle  life.  His 
widow  married  again,  her  second  husband  being 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Scroggs,  whom  she  also  survived.  Her 
death  occurred  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
McCracken,  in  Paxton,  111.,  in  1884,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years. 

After  serving  three  years  in  charge  of  the  church 
in  Austintown,  Mr.  JlcCracken  received  a  call 
from  Wnrtemberg,  Pa.,  which  he  accepted,  and  was 
pastor  of  that  church  for  a  period  C)f  ten  years.  In 
1857,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  accepted  the  posi- 
tion as  pastor  of  a  church  near  Centralia,  which  he 
filled  for  three  years,  and  in  1860  came  to  Paxton, 
then  but  a  hamlet  of  a  few  houses.  His  church  at 
that  place  numbered  but  seventeen  members,  but 
by  his  earnest  efforts,  and  published  articles  in  the 
East  in  encouragement  of  emigration,  many  of  his 
denomination  were  induced  to  settle  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Paxton,  and  became  permanent  members  of 
the  churcli. 

Early  in  life,  after  coming  to  the  United  States, 
Mr.  McCracken  discovered  that  he  possessed  a  de- 
cided turn  for  business,  and  while  he  laliored  earn- 
estly and  conscientiousl.y  in  his  holy  calling,  he 
found  time  to  conduct  some  business  transactions 
which  [jroved  very  profitable,  and  when  he  came 
to  Paxton.  he  had  accumulated  several  thousand 
dollars  and  had  a  good  credit,  when  he  chose  to 
use  it.  He  at  once  began  investing  largely  in  real 
estate,  mostly  in  wild  lands,  which  at  that  date 
were  very  low,  and  he  purchased  some  of  the  best 
lands  in  the  county  at  a  cost  of  about  $3  per  acre. 


He  also  acted  as  agent  for  others  in  securing  farms 
for  them  on  commission. and  handled  several  tiiou- 
sand  acres  of  railroad  lands.  He  made  money  and 
prospered,  and  became  the  owner  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  farms  whicii  he  held  until  the  improved 
state  of  the  country  made  them  valuable.  About 
1875,  his  health  failed  him,  and  for  many  years  he 
was  compelled  to  give  up  active  business,  during 
whicli  time  he  traveled  extensively,  accompanied 
by  his  wife,  throughout  the  United  States.  While 
on  his  journeys,  his  business  instincts  led  him  to 
observe  the  development  of  the  country,  and  es- 
pecially prices  of  real  estate.  About  1889,  on  his 
return  from  his  last  trip,  ho  decided  that  the  lands 
of  this  region  of  Illinois  were  on  the  eve  of  a  sub- 
stantial advance  in  price,  and  accordingly  put  him- 
self in  the  harness  agiiin,  and  made  extensive 
purchases,  much  to  the  surprise  of  his  family  and 
friends.  The  result  justined  the  correctness  of  his 
judgment,  as  the  lands  so  purchased  have  ad- 
vanced in  value  fully  f>nc-tliird,  making  the  invest- 
ment a  very  profitable  one. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCracken  have  six  childien  liv- 
ing, three  sons  and  three  daughters:  Minnie  A., 
the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  M.  Kell,  a  lead- 
ing business  man  of  Vernon,  Tex.;  David  Pren- 
tice, who  wedded  Mary  F.  Mason,  of  Paxton,  Is  a 
noted  live-stock  grower  and  dealer  of  Paxton 
Township.  He  makes  a  si)ecialt3'  of  breeding  im- 
ported .Jerse3'  cattle  and  Poland-China  hogs,  and 
is  an  acknowledged  leader  in  that  line  of  stock 
business.  Robert  A.  married  Miss  Luella  B.  Kemp, 
and  is  a  practicing  attorney  of  Paxton ;  Lizzie  C. 
is  the  wife  of  N.  L.  Thompson,  of  Crawfordsville, 
Ind.;  Gordon  Ewing  married  Miss  Lyda  T.  Jones, 
and  is  a  well-known  Paxton  grocer,  of  the  firm  of 
Bayne  it  McCracken;  and  Fiances  L.,  the  joung- 
est,  resides  at  home.  All  the  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Church,  and  the  sons  are 
all  Republicans,  in  politics. 

While  an  earnest  Republican,  and  always  voting 
with  that  party,  Mr.  McCracken  is  a  strong  Pro- 
hibitionist in  ])rinciple,  and  if  he  thought  the  suc- 
cess of  that  party  pcjssible,  would  gladly  cast  his 
vote  with  it.  He  isa  man  of  positive  views,  and  is 
always  in  ■earnest  in  whatever  he  undertakes.  His 
judgment  in  matters  of  business  and  comparative 


496 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


values  of  jiroperty  is  reliahle,  and  he  possesses  a 
natuial  aptness  and  liking  for  business  transactions 
that  have  led  liini  into  many  profitable  investments, 
principally^  in  real  estate.  In  a  marked  degree,  Mr. 
MeCracken  enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
his  fellow-citizens  and  all  with  whom  he  has  had 
business  or  social  relations. 


^ 


IS' 


H 


'OIIN  TI'jTER  is  one  of  tlic  prominent  farm- 
ers of  Pattoii  Township,  liis  home  being  on 
section  22.  West  Virginia  is  the  State  of 
his  nativity,  liis  birth  having  occurred  in 
Pendleton  County ,November  24,  1843.  His  father, 
Benjamin  Tcter,  was  also  a  native  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  his  grandfather,  .John  Teter,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  from  whence  he  removed  to 
Pendleton  County,  W.  Va.  With  the  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  Benjamin  was  there  reared  to 
manhood,  and  after  attaining  to  years  of  matur- 
ity, he  wedded  Maiy  Hartman,  a  native  of  that 
State  and  a  daughter  of  John  Ilartman,  who  at 
an  early  day  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject is  a  blacksmith  b}'  trade,  but  has  also  fol- 
lowed farming  for  many  years.  On  his  emigra- 
tion to  Illinois,  lie  located  in  McLean  Count3', 
in  1850,  and  for  about  thirt3-tive  years  has  re- 
sided upon  the  farm  which  is  still  his  home.  He 
is  a  hale  and  hearty  old  gentleman  of  seventy- 
five  years,  wljo  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  rest  he  has  so  well  earned  and 
truly  deserved.  His  first  wife  died  in  McLean 
County  in  1853,  after  which  he  was  a  second  time 
married. 

Our  subject  was  the  second  in  the  family  of  two 
sons  and  two  daughters  who  were  born  of  the 
tirst  marriage,  grew  to  mature  3ears  and  became 
heads  of  families.  Elizabeth  is  now  deceased; 
Sarah  is  the  wife  of  Charles  West,  a  resident  of 
Colorado;  and  .Joseph,  wlio  joined  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eiftieth  Illinois  Infantry  in  1865,  died 
in  Jeffersonville,  Ind. 

John  Teter,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  re- 
mained in  McLean  County-  until  the  age  of  eigh- 


teen years,  working  upon  his  father's  farm  and 
receiving  but  limited  educational  advantages.  On 
the  26th  of  December,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  tlie 
country's  service  as  a  memijer  of  Company  K, 
Twenty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  then  only 
eighteen  years  of  age  and  weighed  but  ninety 
pounds.  With  his  regiment,  he  participated  in 
thirty-two  engagements,  many  of  which  were 
among  the  most  important  of  the  war.  He  took 
part  in  the  battle  at  New  Madrid,  both  engage- 
ments at  Corinth,  the  battle  of  luka,  the  siege  of 
\'icksbnrg  and  the  battle  of  Jackson,  where  he  re- 
ceived two  flesh  wounds,  one  caused  by  a  musket 
ball  and  the  other  b^-  a  piece  of  shell.  He  was 
carried  from  the  field,  but  as  soon  as  he  had  suffi- 
ciently recovered,  re-joined  his  command  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  and  those 
of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  also  in  tiie  memorable 
march  to  the  sea  with  Sherman.  He  likewise  took 
part  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  with  his  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Louisville,  receiving  his  discharge  in 
Springfield,  111..  July  21),  1865.  He  was  a  faithful 
soldier  and  ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  never 
failing  to  respond  to  his  name  at  roll-call,  except 
after  he  was  wounded,  and  in  1862,  when  he  lay 
sick  in  the  hospital  with  measles  and  rheumatism. 
On  the  year  following  his  return  from  the  war, 
Mr.  Teter  was  married,  April  12,  1866,  to  Miss 
Heniietta  Coffej-,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  and 
came  with  her  father,  Hiram  Coffej',  to  Illinois 
when  a  child  and  spent  her  maidenhood  days  in 
ISIcLean  County.  The  ^oung  couple  there  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  rented  farm,  and  after 
two  years  Mr.  Teter  purchased  forty  acres  of  raw 
land  which  he  improved,  selling  it  after  three 
years.  He  then  went  to  Sedgwick  Count}',  Kan., 
but  did  not  locate  as  he  intended.  Returning  to 
Illinois,  he  again  rented  a  farm  for  three  ^ears 
and  then  purchased  land  in  INIcLean  County.  Six 
3'ears  later,  he  again  sold,  after  which  he  rented 
for  two  3'ears,  and,  in  1882,  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Piatt  County,  upon 
which  he  made  his  home  for  two  years.  He  then 
leased  another  farm  and  together  operated  the 
two  places  until  1888,  when  he  bought  a  farm  of 
eight3'  acres  near  Deland.     In  1889,  he  exchanged 


^Uv:\ 


Sic^^^^^u^  (b  oCnjiM^y^^^ 


nf 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


501 


his  Piatt  County  lands  for  the  farm  upon  which 
he  now  resides,  and  it  has  been  liis  home  since  the 
spring  of  1890.  Within  its  boundaries  are  com- 
prised four  hundred  and  eiglity  acres  and  it  is  one 
of  the  desirable  places  in  Patton  Township.  He 
has  greatly  improved  it  since  locating  thereon, 
having  put  in  tiling  to  the  value  of  12,500  and 
made  otlier  extensive  improvements. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mr.  Teter  have  been  horn  four 
children:  Albert  O.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  Henderson  Station;  William  E., 
who  is  in  partnership  with  his  brother;  Arthur  D., 
and  Grace  at  home. 

Mr.  Teter  has  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  Repub- 
lican principles  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  He  is  now  serving  as 
a  member  of  the  School  Board.  Tlie  county  finds 
in  him  one  of  its  valued  citizens,  who  does  all  in 
his  power  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity and  promote  the  general  welfare.  He  is 
a  practical  and  progressive  farmer,  now  numbered 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  community. 
His  is  another  instance  of  where  latjor,  determina- 
tion and  perseverance  have  wrought  out  success, 
unaided  by  wealth  or  influential  friends. 


-^1. 


"S) 


^^ 


[=" 


W  AMES  H.  SNELLING.  Among  the  leading 
citizens  of  Wall  Township  should  be  men- 
j^  I  tioned  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
^J^//  this  sketch,  a  well-known  farmer  residing 
on  section  11.  His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He 
claims  tlie  honor  of  being  a  native  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  La  Salle  County,  on  the 
2d  of  March,  1845.  His  father,  John  Snelling,  was 
bom  near  Manassas,  Va.,  in  1813,  and  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade  with  his  father,  following  that 
occupation  until  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  When 
a  j'Oung  man  of  eighteen  years,  he  removed  to 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  about  the  year  1838, 
taking  up  his  residence  in  La  Salle  Count}^  where 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  called  to 
his  final  rest.  He  died  upon  his  farm  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  He  was  married  in  La  Salle 
County  to  Rebecca  J.  Shaver,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
21 


who  came  to  Illinois  in  1832.  She  is  yet  living, 
and  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Snelling 
was  quite  successful  in  business.  He  began  in  life 
with  only  a  set  of  carpenter's  tools,  but  his  indus- 
try and  enterprise  won  for  him  a  competence,  and 
at  his  death  he  was  worth  $40,000. 

The  children  of  the  Snelling  family  are  as  fol- 
lows: Nanc3',  wife  of  M.  H.  Weaver,  a  resident  of 
Wall  Township;  Elizabeth,  now  deceased;  James  H., 
of  this  sketch;  David,  wlio  is  living  near  the  old 
home  in  La  Salle  County;  Annis,  who  resides  on 
the  old  farm;  and  George,  who  is  practicing  law  in 
Anthony,  Kan. 

The  boyhood  da3'S  of  our  subject  were  spent 
upon  his  father's  farm,  and  in  his  youth  he  re- 
ceived excellent  educational  advantages.  After 
attending  the  common  schools  for  some  time,  he  be- 
came a  student  in  a  business  college  of  London, 
Canada,  afterward  entered  Eastman  Business  Col- 
lege of  Chicago  and  subsequently  attended  the 
business  college  of  Madison,  Wis.  He  later  was 
Principal  of  the  Western  Business  College  at  Gales- 
burg  for  two  years,  being  Professor  of  penmanship 
and  book-keeping.  He  is  a  most  expert  penman,  and 
has  some  very  fine  and  artistic  specimens  of  his 
work  which  would  be  hard  to  excel. 

On  the  15th  of  September,  1872,  in  the  county 
of  his  nativity,  Mr.  Snelling  married  Miss  Frances 
Spradling,  who  was  born  August  11,  1851.  Her 
parents  were  Enoch  and  Sarah  (Dart)  Spradling. 
The  former  was  born  in  Tennessee,  June  10,  1811, 
and  the  latter  in  Indiana,  May  25,  1817.  The 
father  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  be- 
came a  successful  business  man.  In  an  early  day, 
he  emigrated  to  Indiana,  .md  in  1841  become  a  res- 
ident of  La  Salle  County,  111.,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred May  18,  1883.  In  politics,  he  was  a  stanch 
Republican.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-five  and  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  in  La  Salle  County.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  the  family  were  ten 
children,  two  sons  and  eight  daughters,  but  only 
three  arc  now  living:  Raciiel,  wife  of  George  De- 
bolt,  a  native  of  Ohio,  now  engaged  in  farming  in 
La  Salle  County;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Eugene  Pooler, 
also  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State  and  an  agricul- 
turist of  La  Salle  County;  and  Frances,  wife  of  our 


502 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


subject.  Her  early  education  acquired  in  the  com- 
mon schools  was  supplemented  bj'  study  in  the 
High  School  of  Newark,  111. 

In  the  spring  of  1873,  iSIr.  Snelling  removed 
with  his  family  to  a  farm  in  La  Salle  County,  which 
he  operated  three  and  a  half  3'ears.  He  came  to 
Ford  Count}'  in  1879,  and  settled  upon  his  present 
farm,  having  the  year  previous  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land.  The  work  of  improve- 
ment had  then  been  scarcely  commenced  but  he  at 
once  began  its  development,  and  as  the  result  of 
his  industrious  efforts  has  now  a  valuable  farm,  the 
boundaries  of  which  have  been  extended  until  it 
now  comprises  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
rich  land.  He  has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life  and 
is  a  well-to-do  farmer. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Snelling  were  born  four  children, 
Herman,  who  was  born  October  6,  1873;  William 
Roy,  November  26,  1875;  Blanche  E.,  Janu- 
ary' 4,  1878;  and  John  F.,  born  August  5,  1883. 
The  three  eldest  children  are  natives  of  La  Salle 
County,  the  youngest  was  born  in  Ford  County. 
The  family  has  a  nice  home  and  the  members  of 
the  Snelling  household  are  highly  respected  people. 
Our  subject  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Sey- 
mour in  1868,  and  has  since  supported  each  Demo- 
cratic candidate,  with  the  exception  of  Horace 
Greeley.  He  has  served  as  School  Director  and 
Supervisor,  and  has  proved  himself  a  capable  and 
efficient  officer.  He  is  a  good  business  man,  has 
won  prosperity  in  his  undertakings,  and  is  highly 
esteemed. 

I^OBERT  M.  MOFFETT,  a  resident  of  Paxton, 
IWf^  was  born  near  the  town  of  Bloomington, 
i4\  flA  Monroe  County,  Ind.,  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1856,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Jane 
(Strong)  Moffett,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
South  Carolina.  His  father  was  born  in  Chester 
District,  that  State,  January  22,  1822,  and  was  one 
of  a  family  of  seven  children,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years  and 
became  heads  of  families.  Two  sisters  and  two 
brothers  are  now  deceased.  The  father  died  wlien 
Jaroes  was  quite  young,  and  he  removed  with  his 


mother  to  Monroe  County,  Ind.,  where  ho  re- 
ceived a  good  education  and  was  reared  to  man- 
hood upon  a  farm.  He  remained  with  liis  mother 
until  his  marriage,  when  he  located  on  a  piece  of 
timber  land,  which  he  had  [ireviously  purchased, 
and  now  cleared  and  improved  it.  It  continued 
to  be  his  home  until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Ford 
County,  111.,  and  purchased  a  slightly  improved 
farm  near  the  city  of  Paxton.  There  he  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1889,  when  he 
rented  his  land  and  purchased  a  residence  in  Pax- 
ton. He  is  now  living  retired  from  the  active 
duties  and  labors  of  farm  life  and  enjoying  the 
rest  which  he  has  so  truly  earned.  In  his  political 
affiliations,  Sir.  Moffett  is  a  Republican,  and  has 
served  as  member  of  the  School  Board  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  is  a  valued  citizen  and  a  man 
highly  respected  by  all  who  know  liim. 

In  the  Moffett  family  were  seven  children:  Au- 
gustus, the  eldest,  is  now  a  farmer  and  resides  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Patton  Township;  David  is 
engaged  in  business  in  the  city  of  Paxton;  Rob- 
ert M.,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  next  younger;  Louise 
and  Lora  carry  on  a  millinery  store  in  Paxton; 
Emma  resides  at  home  with  her  parents;  and 
Rena  is  a  stenographer,  holding  a  responsible  po- 
sition as  book-keeper  and  stenographer  in  Chicago. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
b03'hood  and  youtli  upon  his  father's  farm,  his 
time  being  passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  he  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  1881,  in  which  3'ear 
his  marriage  was  celebrated.  It  was  on  the  29th 
of  April  that  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Hattie,  daughter  of  James  51.  and  Jane  Morris. 
By  their  union  have  been  born  four  childien: 
Arthur,  Earl,  Dora  and  an   infant. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffett  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  in  Patton  Township,  whicli  he  con- 
tinued to  operate  and  improve  until  1887,  when 
he  determined  to  turn  his  attention  to  other  pur- 
suits and,  removing  to  Paxton,  engaged  in  the  liv- 
er}' business,  which  he  has  followed  continuously 
since  with  good  success.  He  keeps  a  first-class 
livery  stable,  and  by  his  fair  and  honest  dealing 
and  courteous  treatment  of  his  patrons  has  built 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


503 


up  an  excellent  trade.  lie  does  not  take  a  very 
prominent  part  in  public  affairs  l)ut  votes  with 
the  Rejjulilican  party,  and  in  his  religious  views  is 
a  Preshyterian,  lidding  nieniliersliip  with  the 
churcli  of  Paxtoii. 


GEORGE  GROVE,  a  dealer  in  lumber,  build- 
,^^p  ing  material  and  coal,  is  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  Paxlon.  lie  was 
born  in  Greencastle,  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  No- 
vember 20,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Whitmer)  Grove.  They  were  both 
natives  of  the  same  region,  the  father  born  in 
1815,  and  the  mother  in  1822.  She  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  in  the  fall  of  1891,  I)ut  tlie  father 
still  survives,  making  his  home  in  Sterling,  111. 
Thev  came  to  Illinois  in  1857,  settling  in  Blooni- 
ington,  where  they  remained  but  three  months, 
and  then  went  to  Sterling,  where  the  father  was 
engaged  in  farming  for  a  number  of  j'ears,  but 
since  1886  has  lived  a  retired  life  in  the  city. 

]\Ir.  Grove  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  was 
reared  on  liis  father's  farm  until  lie  attained  the 
age  of  nineteen  3'ears,  and  began  liis  literary- 
training  in  the  district  schools.  Me  later  became 
a  student  in  tlie  Commercial  College  of  Blooming- 
ton.  He  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1872,  and  then  entered  the  lumber  _yard  of  Whit- 
mer &  Brunn,  continuing  that  business  until  the 
spring  of  1875.  At  that  time,  he  came  to  Paxton 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  George  Means,  tiie 
firm  liecoming  Means  &  Grove.  That  connection 
continued  until  January,  1878,  when  Mr.  Whit- 
mer became  a  member  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Grove 
still  had  charge  of  the  business  until  .lanuary, 
1892,  when  he  bought  out  the  interests  of  his 
partners,  and  has  since  conducted  tlie  business 
alone.  He  is  a  stockholder  in  the  Paxton  Brick 
&  Tile  Company,  and  was  one  of  the  original  or- 
ganizers of  that  corporation.  He  lias  now  been 
longer  engaged  in  business  than  any  other  man 
in  Paxton,  and  has  a  large  and  flourishing  trade. 
On  tlie  27th  of  November,  1873,  Mr,  Grove  was 


joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Ella  Wright,  a 
daugliter  of  Dr.  Wright,  formerly  of  Blooming- 
ton,  III.,  but  now  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.  Mrs. 
Grove  is  a  native  of  New  York.  She  is  an  es- 
timable lady  and  in  this  community  has  many 
friends. 

Our  suliject  is  a  Republican  in  polities  and  a 
stalwart  supporter  of  the  principles  of  that  party, 
and  takes  an  .active  part  in  public  affairs.  For 
two  years  he  served  as  Alderman  of  Paxton,  and 
filled  that  office  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  Sociallj', 
he  is  a  Mason,  holding  membership  with  Paxton 
Lodge  No.  410,  A.  F.  it  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter 
No.  1  U3,  R.  A.  M.;  and  IMt.  Olivet  Commandery 
No.  38,  K.  T.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Electric 
Light  Company,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city.  He  has  become  one  of  the 
well-to-do  citizens  of  Ford  County  and  is  one  of 
the  popular  gentlemen  of  this  community,  where 
he  is  held  in  the  highest  regard. 


"-J-- 


.    — rei 


m>-^^'m 


S5=^ 


i— 


RS.  .JANE  PATTON  resides  on  section  33, 
Button  Township.  We  have  spoken  much 
of  what  the  men  have  done  for  the  up- 
building and  development  of  the  county, 
liut  the  women  were  none  the  less  truly  concerned 
in  this  work.  They  had  their  part  to  perform  and 
did  it  well.  Among  these  should  be  mentioned 
the  lady  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  She  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
the  date  of  her  birth  being  May  3,  1824.  Her 
father,  William  Cade, was  born  in  Delaware,  October 
4,  1789,  and  was  a  son  of  Richard  Cade,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Delaware,  born  of  Welsh  and  English  par- 
entage. He  came  of  old  New  England  families. 
With  his  wife  and  children,  he  removed  to  Ohio 
about  1800,  settling  in  what  is  now  Pickaway 
County. 

The  father  of  Mrs.  Patton  there  spent  his  child- 
hood days  and  on  the  16th  of  January,  1823,  wed- 
ded Martha  Campbell,  a  native  of  Kentuck3',  but 
reared  in  Pickaway  Count}'.  Soon  afterward,  tKe 
young  couple  removed  to  Indiana,  becoming  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Fountain  County,  and  there  reared 


504 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


tlieir  family-.  In  his  earlj-  life,  Mr.  Cade  made  ten 
trips  oil  a  flathoat  to  New  Orleans  and  seven  times 
returned  to  Ohio  on  foot.  Duringthe  war  of  1812, 
he  served  three  months  on  the  northern  frontier. 
He  took  quite  an  active  part  iu  political  affairs  in 
an  early  day,  and  was  the  Whig  candidate  for 
Representative  but  was  defeated.  The  death  of 
his  wife  occurred  in  1840,  and  ]\Ir.  Cade  was  called 
to  Ills  final  rest  on  the  14th  of  November,  1846. 

Mrs.  Patton  spent  her  girlhood  days  in  the  county 
of  her  nativity,  aided  her  mother  in  the  household 
duties  and  acquired  her  education  in  the  district 
schools,  her  privileges  in  that  direction,  however, 
being  quite  limited.  On  the  10th  of  December,  1844, 
she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  David  Patton, 
who  was  born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  December  20, 
1815,  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Patton,  who  was  a 
native  of  the  Ke^'Stone  State,  but  became  a  resident 
of  Ross  County,  Ohio,  in  an  early  day.  In  1818, 
he  removed  with  his  family-  to  Indiana,  locating 
near  Terre  Haute,  and  Ave  years  later  went  to 
Fountain  County,  where  liis  son  David  spent  his 
boyhood  days  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patton  were  born  eight  cliil- 
dren,  who  grew  to  mature  years:  William  T.,  a 
substantial  farmer  of  this  countj;  S.  H.,  who  aids 
in  the  operation  of  the  liome  farm;  Martha,  wife 
of  J.  W.  Flagg,  of  Vermilion  County;  La  Fayette, 
who  has  been  a  deaf  mute  nearly  all  of  his  life  but 
is,  notwithstanding,  a  successful  farmer  of  Cham- 
paign County;  Charles  D.,  a  young  man  of  sterling 
worth,  who  died  February  23,  1S84,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  years;  Frank, at  home;  Ida,  wife  of 
C.A.Lamb,  of  Ford  Count}';  and  Mary  AUie,  a 
teacher  of  recognized  ability  in  this  count}'. 

For  ten  years  after  his  marriage,  IMr.  Patton  re- 
sided in  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  and  in  November, 
1854,  came  to  what  is  now  Ford  County,  111.,  be- 
coming one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Button  Town- 
ship. He  and  his  estimable  wife  suffered  many  of 
the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  during  those  first 
years  the  members  of  the  family  were  victims  of 
the  prevailing  disease,  spinal-meningitis,  and  one  of 
their  sons  entirely  lost  his  hearing.  Mr.  Patton 
entered  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land 
and  began  the  development  of  a  farm.  As 
his  flnancial  resources  increased,  he   extended    its 


boundaries,  until,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he 
owned  about  two  thousand  acres  in  Ford  and 
adjoining  counties.  He  was  one  of  the  enter- 
prising, successful  and  progressive  farmers  of 
the  community  and  was  a  man  of  sterling 
worth,  who  had  the  respect  of  all  who  knew 
him.  His  death  occurred  Februar\-  29,  1880,  in 
Fountain  County,  Ind.,  whither  he  had  gone  to  at- 
tend some  business.  He  was  there  taken  sick  and 
died  and  liis  remains  were  interred  in  the  family 
cemetery  in  tliat  county.  In  his  early  life  he  was 
a  Jackson  Democrat,  but  on  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  part}'  joined  its  ranks  and  contin- 
ued one  of  its  stanch  su])portcrs,  although  he  was 
never  an  aspirant  for  public  ottice.  The  cause  of 
education  found  in  hini  a  warm  friend  and  his 
support  was  ever  given  to  those  interests  calculated 
to  benefit  the  community.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  lived  a  worthy 
and  uprigiit  life,  so  that  when  lie  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  many  friends  mourned  his  loss. 

Since  the  deatli  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Patton  has 
continued  to  reside  on  her  fine  farm,  and  has  had 
the  entire  management  of  the  place.  She  possesses 
superior  business  and  executive  ability  and  is  a 
lady  possessing  many  estimable  qualities  which 
justly  entitle  her  to  the  liigh  regard  in  which  she 
is  held.  The  Methodist  Church  finds  in  her  a 
faithful  member  and  with  it  she  has  been  connected 
since  her  sixteenth  year. 


_cs^ 


~oi 


i,$:::^^Si£:^ 


■.x>  -     A 


OHN  WESLEY  REED,  the  leading  dentist 
of  Ford  County,  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 
State.  The  place  of  his  birth  was  West- 
'  minster,  Allen  County,  and  the  date  Sep- 
tember 4,  1851.  His  father,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Karr 
Reed,  was  born  in  Martinsburg,  Va.,  in  the  year 
1803.  He  wedded  Mary  C.  Magee,  who  was  born 
in  Tarleton,  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  in  1827. 
Both  are  still  living  and  are  residents  of  Cham- 
paign. His  father  is  a  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  is  now  eighty-nine  years  of 
age. 

It  was  in  the  fall  of   1860,  when  a  lad  of  nine 


/f  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


507 


summers,  that  Dr.  Reed  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois,  the  family  locating  in  Cliampaign,  where 
he  attended  the  public  schools,  but  his  educational 
privileges  were  not  such  as  many  received.  His 
father's  profession  w.as  not  a  lucrative  one  and  the 
assistance  of  the  son  in  support  of  the  family  was 
in  demand  as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  earn  anything. 
The  Doctor  entered  upon  his  business  career  as 
clerk  in  a  general  store  and  was  thus  employed  for 
eleven  years,  after  which,  as  a  traveling  salesman, 
he  was  upon  the  road  for  a  short  time,  but  the  sal- 
ary he  received  was  not  such  as  to  induce  him  to 
pursue  that  course  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  He 
then  decided  to  make  the  practice  of  dentistry  his 
life  work  and  began  its  stud3'  in  1877,  under  the 
preceptorship  of  Dr.  O.  F.  Britton,  of  Champaign, 
at  that  time  the  best  dentist  in  Central  Illinois. 
In  due  time,  he  was  admitted  to  partnership  with 
his  preceptor,  and  continued  with  Dr.  Britton  un- 
til May,  1883,  when  he  decided  to  open  an  office 
in  Paxton.  Success  crowned  his  efforts  from  the 
beginning,  and  he  was  soon  enabled  to  supply 
himself  with  necessary  and  improved  appliances  for 
his  work  and  to  furnish  his  rooms  with  taste  and 
elegance.  His  skill  and  business-like  methods  com- 
mend him  to  the  public,  and  his  business  has  in- 
creased steadily,  until  at  this  writing  his  appoint- 
ment book  provides  for  every  hour  of  his  time  for 
several  weeks  in  advance. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  1884,  in  Paxton,  Dr. 
Reed  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Kate  Adele 
Cooper,  who  was  born  in  .Jefferson  County,  111.,  and 
is  a  daughter,  of  H.  O.  Cooper.  Her  father  is  now 
deceased,  and  since  his  death  her  mother  has  be- 
come the  wife  of  the  Rev.  George  Schlosser,  of 
Paxton.  Socially,  the  Doctor  is  a  Master  Mason, 
belonging  to  Paxton  Lodge  No.  416,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  Paxton  Camp  No.  259,  M.  W.  A.,  of  which  he 
was  Venerable  Counsel  for  three  successive  terms. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  PJastern  Illinois  Dental  As- 
sociation and  at  this  writing  is  its  President. 

Dr.  Reed  is  well  up  in  his  profession,  being  a 
liberal  patron  of  the  best  dental  periodicals  and  a 
thorough  student  and  practical  workman  of  supe- 
rior skill.  His  office  is  supplied  with  the  most 
modern  and  perfect  instruments  and  appliances  and 
he  does  all  classes  of  work  that  is  usually  done  by  the 


leading  dentists  of  the  large  cities  in  the  country. 
His  work  is  done  so  thoroughly  and  conscientiously 
that  his  patrons  are  earnest  and  sincere  in  their 
expressions  of  satisfaction.  Personally,  Dr.  Reed 
is  a  genial,  bright  and  intelligent  gentleman  whose 
integrity  and  business  standing  are  above  reproach 
and  whose  success  in  life  has  been  won  by  his  own 
unaided  efforts,  natural  ability  and  energetic  ap- 
plication to  his  business. 


rjj^  ANDOLPH  CRUZEN,  a  hardware  merchant 
'^     of  Paxton,  who  has  resided    in   that  city 


since  1868,  was  born  in  Harper's  Ferry,  Va., 
^on  the  16th  of  December,  1835.  His  father, 
Thomas  Jefferson  Cruzen,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
State,  and  was  descended  from  an  old  family  of 
German  origin.  After  he  had  arrived  at  j'cars  of 
maturity,  he  married  Elizabeth  McBride,  a  lady  of 
Scotch  descent. 

When  only  three  _years  old,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  removed  with  his  parents  from  Virginia  to 
Fayette  County,  and  subsequently  to  Madison 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  acquired  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  was  employed  on  his  father's 
farm  until  twenty  years  of  age,wlien  he  determined 
to  turn  his  attention  to  other  pursuits,  and  secured 
a  position  as  merchant's  clerk.  At  length  he  resolved 
to  seek  a  home  further  Westward,  and,  in  1856,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Fairmont,  Vermil- 
ion County,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
1864,  when  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business. 
Four  years  later,  in  1869,  he  came  to  Paxton  and 
bought  out  George  Wright,  in  the  dry-goods  trade, 
carrying  on  that  business  until  1872,  when  he  be- 
came a  hardware  merchant,  forming  a  partnership 
with  R.  Clark,  which  connection  was  continued 
until  1882,  when  Mr.  Clark    retired  from  the  firm. 

In  October,  1868,  while  a  resident  of  Fairmont, 
Mr.  Cruzen  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Annie  E.  Clark,  a  daughter  of  Remembrance  and 
Henrietta  A.  (Durgin)  Clark,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  at  the  home  of  her  parents,  in  Paxton. 
Mrs.  Cruzen  was  born  in  Bangor,  Me.,  and  came  to 


508 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1858,  the  family  set- 
tling in  what  is  now  Paxton.  One  son  has  been 
born  unto  our  subject  and  his  wife — Charles  R.,  a 
young  man  now  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

In  addition  to  his  mercantile  business,  Mr. 
Cruzen  is  connected  with  several  other  enterprises 
of  importance.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Paxton 
Canning  Company,  of  the  Paxton  Hemp  Company, 
and  of  the  Paxton  Grain  Company.  He  also  hand- 
les more  or  less  live  stock,  having  dealt  in  that 
line  for  many  years.  In  his  political  affiliations, 
he  is  a  Republican,  and,  with  his  wife,  he  attends 
the  Congregational  Church.  Mr.  Cruzen  has  long 
been  recognized  as  one  of  Paxton 's  most  influen- 
tial and  prominent  business  men,  and  well  merits, 
by  his  integrity  and  upright  course  in  life,  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  all  who  know 
him.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  the  city,  and  has  aided 
largely  in  its  upbuilding  and  advancement. 


^4^ 


^ib^.«.^ 


i^  •«.  t-ap^    b^-|» 


HARLES  E.  WEKSLUND  well  deserves 
representation  in  this  volume,  for  he  is  one 
of  the  most  prominent  farmers  of  Patton 
Township.  His  home  is  on  section  21.  He  is  a 
native  of  Sweden,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
15th  of  March,  1853.  His  training  to  farm  labor 
was  not  as  limited  as  his  school  privileges.  His 
education  has  been  mostly  acquired  through  his 
own  efforts  and  since  attaining  to  mature  years, 
but  he  has  made  himself  a  well-informed  man. 
In  the  year  1870,  he  bade  adieu  to  his  old  home 
and  the  friends  of  his  youth  and  crossed  the  briny 
deep  to  the  New  World,  sailing  from  Gottenburg 
on  a  steamer  which  reached  New  York  in  .Tune  of 
that  year. 

Mr.  Wesslund  was  then  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
years.  He  came  at  once  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Ford  County,  where  he  began  working  upon  a 
farm  by  the  month,  and  was  thus  employed  for 
nine  long  j^ears.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period, 
he  rented  a  large  farm  of  four  hundred  acres,  and 
there  extensively  engaged  in  farming  for  seven 
years.     In  the  meantime,   he    purchased  one  hun- 


dred and  six  acres  of  land  which  he  rented.  In 
1889,  he  sold  that  farm  and  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  comprising  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  makes  his  home.  This  place  is  well  tiled  and 
finely  improved;  in  fact,  it  is  a  model  farm.  The 
house  is  a  commodious  and  substantial  residence, 
neatlj' and  tastefully  furnished;  the  lawn  is  orna- 
mented with  a  large  variety  of  evergreen  and 
other  shade  trees,  together  with  flowering  shrubs; 
a  fine  young  orchard  of  select  fruit  has  been  set 
out,  and  the  farm  seems  complete  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Wesslund 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Hilda  Wilhelraina 
Asp.  She  was  born  and  reared  in  Sweden  and 
when  a  j'oung  lady  came  to  this  country.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  in  Ford  County  on  the 
13th  of  March,  1881,  and  unto  them  have  been 
born  four  interesting  children:  Harry,  Elmer,  An- 
ton and  Mabel.  The  parents  are  both  members  of 
the  Paxton  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Wesslund  is  a  Republican,  having  supported  that 
party  since  he  became  a  voter.  He  has  never  been 
an  aspirant  for  public  office,  preferring  to  devote 
his  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests, 
which  he  has  followed  with  signal  success.  He 
commenced  life  in  Illinois  a  poor  young  man, 
emptj'-h.anded,  but  by  his  own  industry,  enterprise 
and  labor  he  has  accumulated  a  large,  valuable  and 
desirable  farm  and  a  good  home  and  is  now  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  thrifty  and  well-to-do  agri- 
culturists of  Patton  Township.  He  is  respected 
by  his  neighbors,  esteemed  by  his  friends,  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  we  present  this  record  of  his  life  to 
our  readers. 


a,-!-^"?"?-, 

^•5-i-**' 


'i»'OHN  H.  WARNER  (deceased),  who  was 
for  many  years  a  resident  of  Ford  County, 
was  born  in  Belleville,  near  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
April  1,  1844.  His  parents,  George  and 
Elizabeth  (Smith)  Warner,  emigrated  from  Ger- 
many in  early  life  and  located  at  St.  Louis,  where 
the  father  was  employed  as  a  cooper  and  as  book- 
keeper.    Having   moved    to  Putnam  County,  111., 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


509 


he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  time,  but  later  re- 
moved to  Peru, 111.  He  died  in  that  place,  but  his 
wife,  who  subsequeutly  married,  resides  in  Roberts, 
Ford  Count}-.  John  H.  Warner,  the  second  in  or- 
der of  birth  of  Ove  children,  was  only  eight  years 
of  age  at  the  time  of  his  father's  dcatli.  His  edu- 
cational advantages  were  meagre,  as  he  early  in 
life  began  to  lielp  sui^port  himself.  When  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  commenced  life's  battle  on  his 
own  account  by  working  on  a  farm. 

Maj'  8,  1872,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  E., 
daughter  of  .lohn  Woolstoncroft.  The  lady  was 
))orn  in  Putnam  County,  111.,  but  was  chietly  reared 
in  La  Salle  County.  She  came  with  her  parents 
to  Ford  County  in  1867,  and  was  married  in  Ly- 
man Township  to  Mr.  Warner,  who  had  come  to 
the  county  some  four  years  before  her.  After 
spending  a  year  in  Dix  Townshij),  Mr.  Warner  re- 
moved to  Peach  Orchard  Township,  where  he 
farmed  successfully  until  his  death,  .lune  18,  1881. 
He  had  been  in  poor  health  for  several  years,  but 
was  confined  to  his  bed  only  nine  days.  He  was 
reared  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and,  in  politics,  was  a  Republican.  He  was  a  man 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellow-citizens. 

Mrs.  Warner,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  is  a  lady  of  many  excel- 
lencies of  character.  Left  a  widow  with  an  eight- 
year-old  son,  vSeth  R.,  to  rear  and  educate,  she  has 
done  her  part  nobly. 


ellARLES  ASIIBY,  a  retired  farmer,  now  re- 
siding  in  Gibson  City,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
County,  Ohio,  June  4,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of 
Abel  and  Harriet  (Conowa)  Ashby.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Maryland,  and  removed  to 
Oliio,  settling  in  Steubenville,  before  their  mar- 
riage. The  fatlier  died  when  Charles  was  but  nine 
years  of  age,  but  tlie  mother  survived  until  1854. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood on  a  farm  and  attended  the  district  schools, 
there  receiving  his  literary  education.  On  the  8th 
of  May,  1855,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Jeffer- 


son County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Margaret  Hanson.  The 
lady  is  a  native  of  that  count}'  and  is  a  daughter 
of  John  and  Lydia  Hanson. 

Mr.  Asliby  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Ohio  un- 
til 1856,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
He3'worth  Townsliip,  INIcLean  County,  where  he 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  the  two  suc- 
ceeding yeai-s.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he 
removed  to  Empire  Townsliip,  but  in  October  of  the 
same  year,  1859,  went  South  and  resided  in  Mis- 
sissippi and  Louisiana  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war.  Returning  to  McLean  County,  he  enlisted, 
on  the  8th  of  August,  1862,  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany G,  Ninety-fourtli  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was 
a  non-commissioned  officer  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Prairie  Grove,  Ark.,  December  7,  1862; 
Van  Buren,  Ark.,  and  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg  until  the  capture  of  that  place.  Later  he  was 
in  the  Black  River  cami)aign  under  Gen.  Herron, 
and  was  in  the  battle  of  Port  Hudson,  La.  He  then 
went  to  Brownsville,  Tex.,  thence  to  Ft.  Morgan, 
Ala.,  and  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Spanish  Fort. 
He  was  mustered  out  on  the  12th  of  August,  1865. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Ashby  was  not 
actively  emplojed  for  a  year.  He  then  engaged 
in  farming  in  McLean  County,  continuing  there 
until  the  year  1868,  when  he  removed  to  Ford 
County,  settling  in  Dix  Township.  He  there  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1881,  when 
he  went  to  Champaign  Count}',  where  for  two 
years  he  made  his  home,  engaged  in  farming.  He 
then  removed  to  Normal,  where  he  lived  three 
years,  after  which  he  spent  one  year  in  Blooming- 
ton,  and  in  the  fall  of  1889  came  to   Gibson  City. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  estimable  wife  have 
been  born  three  cliildren:  John  H.,the  eldest, mar- 
ried Lola  Phillips,  and  is  a  photographer  of  Melvin; 
Leonora  E.  and  Emma  J.  reside  with  their  parents. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashby  and  their  eldest  daughter  are 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
and  take  an  active  part  in  its  work.  Mr.  Ashby 
joined  the  church  in  1860,  and  his  wife  became 
a  member  in  1862.  He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  School  Board  while 
in  Champaign  County.  He  held  the  oHice  of  As- 
sessor of  Drummer  Township  in  1891,  and  is  one 
of   the  public-spirited  and  enterprising  citizens  of 


510 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  community.  lie  is  lield  in  high  respect  for  his 
sterling  worth  and  integrity,  and  is  one  of  the  up- 
right men  of  Gibson  Citj'. 


*^^S 


:h' 


HJ 


\^ 


^ 


'OHN  A.  WESSLUND  follows  farming  on 
section  18,  Patton  Township.  The  geutle- 
,^  man  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is  an  ex- 
^^^J!/  ample  of  what  can  be  accomplished  by  en- 
ergy and  thrift,  supplemented  by  good  manage- 
ment and  well-directed  efforts.  Like  many  of  his 
countrymen,  he  came  to  this  country  a  poor 
young  man  to  seek  his  fortune.  He  was  empty- 
handed,  having  nothing  but  the  gifts  with  which 
Nature  has  endowed  him,  but  he  has  steadily 
worked  his  way  upward,  and  is  now  the  owner  of 
two  valuable  and  well-improved  farms,  one  Ij'ing 
just  outside  the  city  limits  of  P.axton. 

Mr.  Wesslund  was  born  in  Sweden  on  the  22d 
of  .June,  1850,  and  his  boyhood  was  spent  upon 
a  farm.  His  educational  advantages  were  very 
limited,  for  he  had  to  assist  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm  and  do  what  he  could  towards  supporting 
the  family.  When  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years, 
in  1868,  we  find  him  among  the  passengers  on 
board  the  "City  of  Brooklyn,"  which  weighed  an- 
chor at  Gottenburg,  and,  after  a  passage  of  nine 
days,  arrived  safe  at  New  York  harbor  on  the  27th 
of  April,  of  that  year.  He  came  at  once  to  the 
West,  going  first  to  Indiana.  He  had  an  uncle  and 
some  other  relatives  living  at  Attica,  Ind.,  and  soon 
found  work  as  a  farm  hand  bj'  the  month  in  that 
loealitj'.  The  succeeding  year  he  continued  his 
Westward  journey  to  Ford  County,  III.,  where  he 
joined  his  uncle,  Jonas  Froj-d,  since  deceased,  and 
went  to  work  on  the  farm  for  him.  The  four  suc- 
ceeding years  of  his  life  were  tlius  passed,  after 
which  he  rented  a  farm  of  Mr.  Middlecoff  and  for 
four  years  operated  it  successfully.  Ilis  crops 
were  good  and  products  brought  a  fair  price,  so  that 
his  financial  resources  were  increased,  and  he  was 
enabled  to  purchase  sixty  acres  of  land,  to  which 
he  afterward  removed  and  which  is  still  his  prop- 
erty, it  being  now  a  well-improved  and  valuable 
farm.     For  several  years,  Mr.  Wesslund  continued 


to  operate  that  land  and  then  purchased  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  resides,  adjoining  the  cit}-  of 
Paxton,  in  August,  1891. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  1885,  Mr.  Wesslund 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Gusta  Salstrom,  a 
native  of  Sweden,  who  came  to  Ford  Count}',  111., 
in  1867.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  a  lit- 
tle daughter,  Esther  E.  The  parents  are  both 
members  of  the  Paxton  Lutheran  Church,  and  are 
people  of  sterling  worth,  who  rank  high  in  social 
circles  and  are  well  and  favorably  known  through- 
out this  communit}'.  Mr.  Wesslund  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  the  support  of  the  Republi- 
can part}-,  and,  as  every  true  American  citizen 
should  do,  feels  an  interest  in  political  affairs,  yet 
has  never  sought  or  desired  public  office.  He  has 
now  resided  in  Ford  County  for  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  and  is  well  known  within  its  borders. 


^^-|^^[ 


ELMER  LINCOLN  KELS(J,  M.  D.,  a  rising 
young  physician  and  surgeon  of  Paxton,  is 
?  a  native  of  this  State,  born  in  Coles  County, 
on  the  14lh  of  November,  1861,  and  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  H.  A.  and  Margaret  (Brashares)  Kelso,  whose 
sketch  appears  on  another  page  of  this  woik.  Our 
subject  came  to  Paxton  with  his  parents  m  1865, 
and  after  attending  the  city  schools  for  some  time, 
he  entered  the  State  Universitv  at  Champaign, 
taking  a  tliree-years' scientific  and  classical  course. 
Subsequently,  he  became  a  student  of  the  Chicago 
Medical  College,  whence  he  was  graduated  after  a 
tliree-3-ears'  course,  in  the  Class  of  '83.  On  re- 
ceiving his  degree,  he  returned  to  Paxton  at  once 
and  the  following  day  attended  his  first  case,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  in  continuous  and  suc- 
cessful practice,  which  covers  a  period  of  nine 
j-ears.  He  has  assisted  his  father  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  as  local  ph3'sician  and  surgeon  for  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company,  and  is  exam- 
ining physician  for  the  Equitable  Life  Insurance 
Company,  of  New  York,  and  for  the  Northwestern 
Mutual,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Dr.    Kelso  was  married  in  Paxton  on  the  1st  of 
November,    1887,  to  Miss  Leota  Hefner,  a  daugh- 


^. 


c^^a/mi<i  c^^/^o^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


513 


ter  of  H.  C.  and  Oren  O.  Hefner.  Mrs.  Kelso  is  a 
native  of  Illinois,  and  her  parents  are  early  settlers 
of  Ford  Count}'.  Tlie  Doctor  and  his  wife  have 
one  child,  a  son,  Lee  Woodford,  who  was  born 
August  8,  1890. 

Socially,  Dr.  Kelso  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason, 
holding  membership  with  Paxtoii  Lodge  No.  41G, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter  No.  113,  R.  A.  M.; 
and  Mt.  Olivet  Comniandery  No.  38,  K.  T.,  of 
Paxton.  He  has  by  his  skill,  industry  and  prompt- 
ness in  discharge  of  his  professional  duties,  suc- 
ceeded in  building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  prac- 
tice. No  conditions  of  road  or  weatber  are  consid- 
ered when  his  services  are  required,  and  his  patients 
and  the  public  generallj-  have  learned  that  the 
young  physician  is  no  fair-weather  doctor.  He  is 
a  meml)er  of  the  Central  Illinois  Medical  Associa- 
tion and  is  recognized  by  his  brethren  of  the  pro- 
fession as  a  well-read  and  skillful  practitioner. 


'  I  '     I  I 


\f|  AMES  ROBERTS,  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  Ford  Count}'  of  1858,  is  now  re- 
siding in  the  village  of  Roberts,  and  none 
of  its  citizens  are  more  worthy  of  repre- 
sentation in  this  volume  than  our  subject.  He 
was  bom  in  Sussex  County,  England,  August  11, 
1816,  and  is  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  numbering  five  sons  and  six  daughters, 
whose  parents  were  .John  and  Elizabeth  (Scott) 
Roberts.  His  father  was  a  horticulturist  and 
also  a  native  of  Sussex  County,  while  his  mother 
was  born  in  Kent  Countj\  Both  parents  are  now 
deceased.  The  members  of  the  family  who  still 
survive  are:  Marj',  widow  of  George  Stace,  of 
England;  Mrs.  Fannie  Hall,  a  widow,  residing  in 
England;  .Jane,  wife  of  Samuel  Winchester,  of  the 
same  count}';  .James,  of  this  sketch;  William, 
Elizabeth,  Sarah  and  Jesse,  all  of  whom  are  still 
in  their  native  land. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  acquired  a  very  lim- 
ited education  and  spent  his  early  life  upon  the 
farm.  He  has  been  twice  married.  In  his  native 
land  he  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  (lilbert,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters: 


Mercy,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Pierce,  an 
agriculturist;  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  William  Hurst, 
a  prominent  farmer  of  Lyman  Township;  and 
John  T.,  deceased.  In  1851,  Mr.  Roberts  emi- 
grated with  his  family  to  America.  He  sailed 
from  London,  and,  after  one  month  spent  upon 
the  briny  dee|j,  landed  at  New  York,  made  his 
way  up  the  Hudson  River,  went  by  canal  from 
Albany  to  Buffalo,  and  in  the  latter  place  secured 
employment  in  a  brickyard,  after  which  he  worked 
upon  a  farm.  Subsequently,  he  came  to  Prince- 
ton, 111.,  where  he  worked  at  anything  he  could 
find  to  do,  whereby  he  might  earn  an  honest  dol- 
lar. He  there  built  a  little  home  and  remained  in 
Princeton  three  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  went 
to  Chicago  and  purchased  some  of  the  railroad 
land  in  Ford  County.  Since  1858,  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  locality. 

Mr.  Roberts  lost  his  first  wife  in  New  York,  and 
December  27,  1859,  married  Miss  Alice  Hurst,  a 
native  of  Lancashire,  England.  They  have  one 
son,  Oscar  J.,  an  enterprising  and  industrious 
young  man.  In  politics,  the  son  is  a  Democrat, 
having  cast  his  first  vote  for  Grover  Cleveland.  He 
wedded  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Whorrall,  and  unto 
them  were  born  three  children:  Alice  Deborah, 
Ralph  Oscar  and  Floss. 

Uncle  James  Roberts,  as  he  is  known  through- 
out the  county,  is  an  honored  pioneer  who  has 
watched  the  entire  growth  and  development  of 
Ford  County,  and  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  its  up- 
building and  advancement.  He  is  a  self-made 
man,  who  began  life  empty-handed,  but  deter- 
mined to  win  success  in  the  world.  On  coming 
here,  he  made  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  but  had  to  let  eighty  acres  go,  and  in  those 
early  days  found  it  hard  work  to  pay  for  the 
other  eighty  acres.  However,  he  worked  on  stead- 
ily and,  as  a  result,  is  now  the  owner  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  yield  to 
him  a  good  income,  besides  his  comfortable  home 
in  Roberts.  He  is  a  public-spirited  and  progres- 
sive citizen  who  has  ever  manifested  an  interest 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  commu- 
nity and  has  given  liberally  to  the  promotion  of 
those  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit.     He   cast  his  first    Presidential   vote    for 


514 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Franklin  Pierce,  and  lias  since  been  a  stalwart  ad- 
herent of  Democratic  principles.  He  and  his  wife 
are  mernbers  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
aided  in  the  erection  of  the  house  of  wor.ship. 
They  are  benevolent  and  charitable,  and  through- 
out the  community  are  held  in  high  regard,  of 
which  the}'  are  well  deserving. 


THOMAS  W.  CAIN,  a  well-known  liveryman, 
is  one  of  the  jirominent  citizens  of  Gibson 
City.  He  claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his 
nativity,  having  been  born  in  Fairfield  County, 
November  5,  1842,  unto  Nehemiah  C.  and  Rachel 
R.  (Herron)  Cain.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  New 
York,  is  of  Irish  descent  and  in  early  life  emi- 
grated with  his  parents  to  Ohio,  where  he  was 
afterward  married.  His  wife,  who  was  also  de- 
scended from  Irish  ancestry,  was  born  in  the  Buck- 
eye State.  In  184.3,  they  came  to  De  Witt  County, 
111.,  settling  on  an  unimproved  farm,  but  Mr.  Cain 
soon  began  clearing  and  cultivating  the  land  and 
became  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the  com- 
munity. Both  he  and  his  wife  were  Methodists  in 
religious  sentiment,  and  he  was  a  stalwart  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  part}'.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  flfty-four  years  in  De  Witt  County  in  1863,  and 
she  also  passed  away  in  the  same  county  at  about 
the  same  age,  in  186G.  Their  union  was  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  still  sur- 
vive. 

Thomas  W.  Cain  w.as  the  third  child  in  order  of 
birth  in  the  family-  and  received  his  education  at 
the  old-time  district  school.  He  was  reared  under 
the  parental  roof  and,  like  a  dutiful  son,  cared  for 
his  mother  as  long  as  she  lived  and  after  her  death 
still  had  charge  of  the  home  place,  assisting  the 
younger  members  of  the  family  until  they  were 
able  to  care  for  themselves. 

A  marriage  ceremony  performed  on  the  21st  of 
September,  1876,  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Cain 
and  Miss  Palmyra  M.  Newman.  The  lady  is  a  na- 
tive of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
George  Newman,  who  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  this 


State  in  an  early  day,  settling  in  Knox  County. 
Five  children  grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  estimable  wife,  namely:  Hattie,  George  I.,Elva, 
Clinton  and  Myra,  all  of  whom  are  still  with  their 
parents. 

Religiously,  Mr.  Cain  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  to  which  his  wife  belongs.  He  has 
held  several  public  oflices  of  trust,  including  those 
of  Supervisor,  Tax  Collector,  School  Director  and 
Road  Commissioner  of  his  townsliip.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
success  of  that  party.  From  1869  until  1875,  Mr. 
Cain  bought  and  shi|)ped  stock  quite  extensivel}', 
three  years  of  the  time  being  engaged  in  that  bus- 
iness in  Kansas.  He  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty-six  acres  of  land  in  Rutledge  Townsliip,  De 
Witt  County,  111.,  in  1883,  on  which  he  resided 
until  coming  to  Gibson  City  four  years  later.  He 
here  purchased  the  livery  stable  before  alluded  to, 
which  he  has  carried  on  continuously  since.  He  is 
a  valued  citizen  and  one  of  the  successful  business 
men  of  the  community,  where  he  is  held  in  the 
highest  esteem. 


\^^ILS  DAHLGREN  is  a  plow  manufacturer 
I  jjl  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Paxton, 
I^JlL)  who  has  resided  in  the  city  for  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  is  a  native  of  Southern 
Sweden,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Sivarp  Mal- 
mohus  Lan,  on  the  26th  of  Februaiy,  1832.  The 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  in  that 
country,  where  he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade. 
Thinking  to  better  his  financial  condition  by  emi- 
grating to  the  New  World,  he  bade  good-bye  to 
his  old  home  in  1854,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America.  The  two  succeeding  years  of  his  life 
were  spent  in  Boston,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade, 
after  which  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Mo- 
line,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  great  plow  fac- 
tory of  .Tohn  Deer  for  nine  j'ears,  or  from  April, 
1856,  until  1865.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
he  came  to  Paxton  and,  establishing  a  plow  factory 
of  his  own  in  this  jilace,  h.as  since  carried  it  on  with 
marked  success. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


515 


Mr.  Dahlgren  bas  been   twice  married.     In   the 

full  of  1861,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss 
Hannah  Jolinson,  and  by  tliis  union  was  born  a 
daughter,  Ellen  A.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Fred 
Telander,  of  Paxton.  On  the  2d  of  October,  1869, 
he  was  married  to  liis  present  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Cecelia  Olson.  She  was  born  in  Swens- 
torp,  in  Kristianstads  Lan,  Sweden.  They  have 
one  child,  a  daughter,  Hannah,  who  resides  with 
her  parents.  The  family  belongs  to  the  Swede 
Mission  Church. 

In  his  political  affiliations.  Mi'.  Dahlgren  is  a 
Republican,  but  was  elected  as  an  independent 
candidate  to  the  oflice  of  County  Treasurer  of 
Ford  County  and  served  one  term  of  four  years. 
He  has  also  served  two  years  as  Trustee  of  Paxton. 
Socially,  he  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason  and  holds 
membershi|)  with  Paxton  Lodge  No.  416,  A.  F.  <fe 
A.  M.;  Ford  Chapter  No.  113,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Mt- 
Olivet  Commandery  No.  38,  K.  T.  Mr.  Dahlgren 
has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  and  by  his  industry, 
perseverance,  good  management  and  the  exercise 
of  correct  business  principles,  has  succeeded  in  ac- 
cumulating a  comfortable  fortune  His  private  and 
public  career  is  without  blemish  and  he  enjoys  in 
a  marked  degree  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fel- 
low-citizens. 


^OHN  M.  HANLEY.-  We  wish  to  add  to  the 
record  of  Ford  County's  prominent  citizens 
the  name  of  one  of  its  pioneers  and  a  lead- 
ing business  man  of  Paxton — that  of  Mr. 
Hanley.  He  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio, 
July  22,  1840,  and  comes  of  an  old  Virginia  fam- 
ily. His  father,  John  Hanley,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Mon- 
roe County,  \a.,  in  1808,  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  the  Stiite  of  his  nativity  and  there  married  Mrs. 
Margaret  Donnell3',  also  a  native  of  Monroe  County. 
After  marriage,  he  there  continued  to  engage  in 
farming  for  a  few  years,  and  in  1839  removed  with 
his  family  to  Ohio,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Greene  County.  He  resumed  farming 
and  was   also   extensively  engaged   in   the   stock 


business  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1859,  he  con- 
tinued his  journey  Westward  and  located  in  what 
is  now  Paxton,  Ford  County,  111.,  where  he  estab- 
lished the  first  lumber  yard  and  grain  office  in  the 
place.  He  was  in  active  business  here  for  a  number 
of  years  and  tiien  removed  to  a  farm  at  Ten  Mile 
Grove,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
and  stock-raising  for  some  time.  During  the  latter 
part  of  his  life,  he  laid  aside  all  business  cares  and 
enjoyed  the  rest  and  retirement  from  labor  which 
he  had  so  truly  earned.  His  death  occurred  in 
1889.  His  wife  had  passed  away  several  years 
previous,  her  death  occurring  in  1876. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest  in  a 
family  of  two  sons  and  three  daughters,  who  grew 
to  mature  years.  Isabella,  the  eldest,  is  now  de- 
ceased, and  Ingabo  died  in  Ohio  in  early  woman- 
hood; Alexander  H.  is  engaged  in  business  in 
Chicago;  William  A.,  a  man  of  superior  education 
and  intellectual  ability,  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  in  Xenia,  Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred; 
Ella  is  the  wife  of  Judge  A.  McElroj^,  of  Paxton. 

John  M.  Hanley,  who  completes  the  family,  spent 
the  da}s  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  Ohio,  and 
when  a  young  man  of  eighteen  3'ears  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Illinois.  He  acquired  a  good  education 
in  Delaware,  Ohio,  and  Monmouth,  111.,  and  after 
completing  his  studies  engaged  in  teaching,  which 
he  followed  as  a  profession  for  thirteen  years.  He 
was  very  successful  in  this  work;  for  several  years 
was  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  and  was  Principal  of  the  Paxton 
schools  for  five  years.  Failing  health  causing  him 
to  abandon  this  work,  he  removed  to  his  farm  just 
west  of  the  cit.\',  where  he  resided  for  about  two 
years,  and  on  his  return  to  Paxton  embarked  in 
the  insurance  and  loan  business.  During  the  past 
year,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  coal  business  near 
Clinton,  Ind.,  and  is  an  enterprising  and  progress- 
ive business  man. 

Mr.  Hanley  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1883,  to 
jMiss  Lucretia  H.  Wales,  the  wedding  being  cele- 
brated in  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  of  which  State  she  is  a 
native.  By  a  former  marriage,  Mr.  Hanley  has  a 
family  of  four  sons.  Tiie  eldest,  Hariy  L.,  after 
aecjuiring  a  thorough  education  in  the  Northwest- 
ern University  of  Evanston,  studied  law  with  Judge 


516 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


Burfoi'd  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Crawfords- 
ville,  Ind.  He  now  holds  a  responsible  position  in 
the  United  States  land  office  at  Oklalioma  City, 
under  Judge  Burford;  Walter  A.  holds  a  good  po- 
sition in  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  office  at  Pax- 
ton;  Herbert  R.  is  attending  the  Rice  Collegiate  In- 
stitute, and   Claude    M.  is  a  pupil    in    the    public 

schools. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Hanley  is  a  standi  Republican, 
having  supported  each  Presidential  nominee  of 
that  part}'  since  casting  his  first  ballot  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  Altliough  he  feels  an  interest  in  political 
affairs,  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office, 
preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  The  cause  of  education  has 
ever  received  his  hearty  support,  and  for  years  he 
has  been  connected  with  the  School  Board,  while 
at  this  writing  he  is  the  efficient  President  of  the 
Board.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  a  Knight  Templar,  and  has  served  as 
Eminent  Commander  for  two  years  and  as  Prelate 
for  six  j-ears.  He  also  represented  his  commander}' 
in  the  Grand  Comniandery  for  two  years.  Mr. 
Hanley  and  his  estimable  wife  are  both  .active 
workers  in  the  Methodist  Church  and  are  held  in 
high  regard  throughout  the  communit}',  where  he 
has  made  his  home  for  a  third  of  a  century. 


!^  •?••**•        "pi* 


4^ 


■il'AMES  JACKSON,  a  retired  farmer  now 
residing  in  Paxton,  is  numbered  among  the 
early  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county,  who 
'  from  an  early  day  has  been  identified  with 
its  histoiy,  has  witnessed  its  progress  and  aided  in 
its  development.  He  is  therefore  well  deserving 
of  representation  in  this  volume,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  this  sketch  to  our  readers. 
Mr.  Jackson  is  a  native  of  England,  born  Aug- 
ust 4,  1822.  He  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in 
a  family  of  four  sons  whose  parents  were  Thomas 
and  Isabel  (Remmer)  Jackson,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Yorkshire,  where  thev  spent  their  entire 
lives  as  farming  peo[)le.  .Tames  was  reared  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  having  few  advant- 
ages of  any  character,  unless  it  was  his  unlimited 


training  to  work.  His  education  has  been  mostly 
acquired  since  he  has  arrived  at  years  of  maturity. 

In  November,  1846,  in  his  native  county,  Mr. 
.lacksou  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane  A. 
C4ale,  also  a  native  of  that  country  and-a  daughter 
of  (ieorge  and  Jane  Gale.  For  about  four  years 
after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Jackson  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  week  or  day  and  then  determined  to  try 
his  fortune  in  America.  It  was  in  1850  that  he 
bade  good-bye  to  his  native  land  and  sailed  from 
Liverpool,  reaching  Nevv  York  in  May  of  that  year, 
after  a  pleasant  voyage  of  seven  weeks.  He  then 
started  for  the  West,  going  by  way  of  the  Hudson 
River  to  Albany  and  by  rail  to  Cleveland  and  on 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  made  his  first  loca- 
tion. In  that  vicinity,  he  worked  upon  a  farm  by 
the  month  a  few  years  and  then  bought  some  lots 
in  Cumminsville,  a  suburb  of  Cincinnati,  where  he 
built  a  residence  and  made  his  home  until  1865.  He 
w.as  appointed  sexton  of  Spring  Grove  Cemetery 
and  held  that  i)Osition  for  three  years.  He  then 
rented  a  small  farm  and  engaged  in  fancy  farming 
and  raising  vegetables  for  the  Cincinnati  market 
until  1863,  when  he  was  taken  sick  and  was  an  in- 
valid for  about  two  years. 

In  1861,  Mr.  Jackson  had  visited  Illinois  and 
purchased  land  in  Ford  County,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1865  he  brought  his  family  to  the  farm  which 
he  had  previousl}'  purchased,  it  being  located 
about  four  miles  south  of  Paxton.  Although  it 
was  then  in  a  poorly  improved  condition,  he 
placed  it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  built 
fences,  erected  buildings  and  added  all  the  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farm.  He  continued  to  engage 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1889,  when  he  rented 
the  place  and  removed  to  Paxton,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  en- 
joying the  rest  which  he  has  so  truly  earned. 
Years  of  toil  and  labor  at  length  brought  him  their 
reward  in  the  shape  of  a  handsome  competence 
which  now  enables  him  to  la}'  aside  business  cares. 
Himself  and  "wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  of  Paxton  and  are  numbered  among  its  most 
highly  respected  citizens.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch 
Republican,  having  lieen  identified  with  that  party 
since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  John  C. 
Fremont.     He  has  held  a  number  of  local  offices  of 


't^^^^y;^^^^^  ^.S. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


519 


honor  and  trust,  having  serTed  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Coniraissicners  of  Ford  Countj-  for 
several  .years  and  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
for  some  years. 

•  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  have  been  born  si.x 
children:  Ida  Belle,  wife  of  John  Bickett,  a  resi- 
dent of  Paxton;  John,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  Crescent,  Wash.;  George  W.,  a  stock  dealer  of 
Colorado;  Jenny,  wife  of  Ira  Blackmer,  a  resident 
of  Ludloiv;  William  T.,  who  operates  the  home 
farm;  and  Alice  Priscilla,  wife  of  John  Simons, 
who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Patton 
Township.  This  family  is  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  community. 


'  AMES  YOUNG  CAMPBELL,  M.  D.  Marked 

success  in  life  is  seldom  won  except  by 
bilit  y,  energy  and  a  persistent  application 
to  duty.  Especiallj^  is  this  true  of  those 
who  have  started  in  the  race,  unsupported  by 
the  power  of  wealth  and  influential  friends, 
and  prominent  in  the  business  circles  of  the 
world  and  in  the  learned  professions  are  to  be 
found  many  whose  life  histories  teach  a  whole- 
some lesson  to  the  young  to  encourage  them  to 
put  forth  their  most  earnest  efforts  with  hope  of 
success.  Dr.  Campbell  began  life  as  a  poor  farmer 
boy  with  limited  educational  advantages.  Hard 
manual  labor  was  his  portion  in  3'outh,  and  his 
education  was  largely  obtained  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts.  His  choice  of  a  profession  was 
luckily  adapted  to  his  disposition  and  natural 
ability,  and  its  pursuit  has  brought  him  both 
wealth  and  honor. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  1831,  our  subject  was  born 
in  Huntington  County,  Pa.,  to  Mark  and  Ma- 
tilda (Goshorn)  Camiibell.  The  father  was  of 
Scotch  and  the  mother  of  German  and  English 
descent,  but  both  were  native-born  Americans. 
The  Doctor's  father  was  a  farmer,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  that  occupation  in  Pennsylvania  until 
1837,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Frank- 
fort, Ind.,  where  he  continued  in  tlie  same  voca- 
tion, and  there  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  remain- 
der of  their  days. 


James  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  under 
good  moral  influences,  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  education  in  the  country  scliool.  At  the  age 
of  seventeen,  he  entered  the  High  School  at  Frank- 
fort, where  he  was  a  student  for  eighteen  months, 
after  which  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  merchant's  clerk,  taking  a 
course  in  a  commercial  college  at  the  same  time. 
Early  in  life  he  evinced  a  taste  for  study  and  de- 
termined to  enter  one  of  the  learned  professions. 
At  first  he  undertook  the  study  of  law,  but  soon 
decided  to  change  to  tlie  medical  profession.  He 
was  without  means  to  pay  his  way  through  col- 
lege, so  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  the  necessary  funds.  After 
three  years'  stud^'  under  the  preceptorship  of  Dr. 
R.  Q.  Wilson,  of  Rossville,  Ind.,  he  entered  Rush 
Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  and  attended  lectures 
during  1856  and  1857.  He  then  settled  in  Du- 
rand,  111.,  where  he  established  a  successful  prac- 
tice. Continuing  his  studies,  he  attended  a  regu- 
lar course  of  lectures  in  the  Chicago  Medical 
College  in  the  years  1864  and  1865,  and  was 
graduated  from  tiial  institution  in  the  spring  of 
1865. 

Dr.  Campbell  has  been  twice  married.  In  1853, 
he  wedded  Miss  ^Nlary  J.  Slipher,  of  Rossville, 
Ind.,  who  only  lived  six  months  after  her  mar- 
riage. In  1856,  he  married  Miss  Hattie  C.  Potts, 
of  La  Faj'ctte,  Ind.,  a  native  of  Ohio. 

Dr.  Campbell  continued  to  practice  in  Diirand 
until  the  fall  of  1866,  when  he  came  to  Paxton, 
where  he  soon  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice,  continuing  here  until  the 
fall  of  1869,  when  he  removed  to  Mississippi, 
opening  an  office  in  Enterprise,  where,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  professional  business,  he  engaged  in 
journalism  as  editor  and  publisher  of  The  Star, 
of  Euterprise,  a  well-known  journal  of  that  State. 
Two  3'ears  later,  he  removed  to  Meridian,  of  the 
same  State,  where  he  established  the  Meridian 
Star,  in  connection  with  his  practice,  and  at  the 
same  time  conducted  the  Star  Printing  House. 
He  was  eminently  successful  both  as  a  journalist 
and  as  a  physician,  but  was  not  in  sympathy, 
politicall}',  with  the  Southern  people,  or  over 
well   suited  with  the  hot  climate,  so,  in  August, 


520 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


1873,  he  letuined  to  Paxtoii  and  has  since  made 
this  city  his  liome,  devoting  liis  time  exclusively 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  to  scientitic 
study.  His  only  diversion  has  been  the  care  of 
his  two  fine  farms  in  the  town  of  Wall,  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  each.  Both  are  well  im- 
proved and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
are  leased  at  a  good  rental. 

Dr.  Cam])bcll  has  an  extensive  practice  both  in 
city  and  country,  and  enjoys  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion for  ability  and  skill  in  his  profession.  Not 
only  has  he  been  successful  in  practice,  but  also 
in  his  investments  and  business  management,  and 
is  held  to  be  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  his 
profession  in  Eastern  Illinois.  'In  addition  to  his 
two  large  farms,  he  owns  valuable  city  property, 
and  has  recently  completed  tiie  lincst  residence  in 
Ford  County.  The  liouse  is  commodious  and 
built  in  the  Queen  Anne  style  of  architecture.  The 
design,  both  externally  and  internally,  is  unique 
and  attractive,  and  the  interior  finish  is  of  oak 
and  cypress,  with  an  oil  linish  on  the  natural 
grain.  The  most  modern  conveniences  and  ap- 
pliances are  in  use  throughout.  The  house  is 
heated  by  hot-water  registers  and  gas  grates,  and 
it  is  lighted  by  gas,  with  electric  lighting,  and  by 
electric  lights.  It  is  being  furnished  in  keeping 
with  the  general  design  and  is  a  home  that  its 
proprietor  may  well  be  proud  of,  and  which  adds 
a  substantial  and  attractive  improvement  to  the 
city  of  Paxton.  Dr.  Campbell  has  a  library  of 
well-selected  books,  of  which  the  best  medical 
and  scientific  works  form  an  important  feature; 
while  his  collection  of  surgical  and  scientific  in- 
struments is  second  to  none  in  the  State  outside 
of  the  large  cities. 

In  his  religious  views,  the  Doctor  is  liberal 
rather  than  orthodox, and,  in  politics,  is  decidedly 
Republican.  He  has  held  various  local  offices 
since  residing  in  Paxton,  more  through  a  sense  of 
duty  than  any  desire  to  serve  in  a  public  capac- 
ity. He  was  elected  Alderman  in  1868,  was  Mayor 
in  1878  and  1879,  and  was  Supervisor  in  1879 
and  1880.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Paxton  Ma- 
sonic bodies.  Dr.  Campbell  has  now  been  in  the 
active  and  successful  practice  of  his  profession 
for  thirty-five  years,  and  enjoys  an  extensive  ac- 


quaintance among  the  citizens  of  Eastern  and 
Central  Illinois.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
State  and  American  Medical  Societies.  He  is  a 
genial,  courteous  gentleman  whose  acquaintance 
it  is  a  pleasure  to  make,  and  whose  upright  and 
straightforward  course  in  life  h.as  w(m  for  him 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


'X'  C.  DUNHAM,  the  founder,  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  Eastern  Illinois  Recjister,  of 
Paxton,  HI.,  is  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He 
was  born  in  Tolland  Count}',  on  the  31st  of 
,)uly,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  E.  and  Roxa 
(Harris)  Dunham.  Our  subject  is  descended  from 
good  old  Revolutionary  stock,  for  both  of  his 
grandfathers  were  heroes  in  that  struggle  for  in- 
dependence. His  parents  were  also  natives  of  Tol- 
land County,  Conn.,  and  his  father  was  the  first 
Methodist  Episcopal  minister  to  hold  meetings  or 
organize  a  class  in  Paxton. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  good  school 
privileges,  acquiring  an  academic  education  in  the 
East.  Under  the  ])arental  roof,  he  remained  until 
about  the  time  when  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
then  left  home  and  went  to  Canada,  where  he  re- 
sided for  a  few  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, in  1861,  locating  in  Loda,  Iroquois  County, 
where  he  resided  for  some  time,  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  dentistry.  It  was  in  1880  thaUhe  left 
that  place  and  came  to  Paxton,  since  which  time 
he  has  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  the  publish- 
ing business,  which  he  commenced  in  1875,  before 
leaving  Loda. 

Mr.  Dunham  has  been  twice  married.  He  was 
first  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Harriet  IMcBur- 
ney,  of  Peterboro,  Canada,  who  died  in  1877.  Two 
3'ears  later,  in  1879,  he  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Elizabeth  G.  Knapp, 
then  a  resident  of  Loda,  III.,  but  who  is  a  native  of 
Memphis,  Tenn.  Both  Mi.  and  Mrs.  Dunham  are 
well  known  in  this  communit}'  and  are  highly  re- 
spected people.  In  the  fall  of  1891,  he  erected  a 
substantial  two-story  brick  building  on  Pell  Street, 


rORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


521 


Paxton.  It  is  well  lighted  ami  fully  equii)perl  as  a 
printing  ottice,  being  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind 
in  Central  Illinois.  Although  ho  publishes  a  Dem- 
ocratic paper  in  a  strong  Republican  county,  he 
has  by  liis  sterling  integrity  and  ability  compelled 
the  respect  generally  of  his  most  pronounced  polit- 
ical opponents.  The  Eastern  Illinois  Bf/ister  has 
now  been  in  existence  for  about  seventeen  years. 
It  is  a  bright,  newsy  sheet,  well  edited,  and  the  suc- 
cess which  has  attended  its  publication  is  well 
merited. 


ylLLIAM  S.  MOFFETT,  of  the  firm  of 
Cook  it  Moffett,  attorneys-at-law,  of  Pax- 
^J^^  ton,  and  the  present  Master  in  Chancery 
for  Ford  County,  claims  Indiana  as  the  .State  of 
his  nativity.  lie  was  born  in  Bloom ington,  on  the 
13th  of  October,  1864,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  R. 
and  Mary  (Strong)  Moffett.  His  parents  came  to 
Paxton  in  1865,  when  their  son  was  but  a  year  old, 
so  that  for  twenty-seven  years  this  city  has  been 
his  home.  He  was  educated  in  the  Paxton  High 
School  and  further  pursued  his  studies  at  the  Rice 
Collegiate  Institute  of  this  city.  On  com|)leting 
his  literary  education,  he  entered  upon  the  study 
of  law  under  the  preceptorship  of  Judge  Alfred 
Sample,  wishing  to  make  legal  practice  his  life 
work,  and  after  a  thorough  preparation  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  in  August,  1884.  He  then  be- 
ldame a  law  partner  of  his  former  preceptor,  their 
connection  continuing  until  Mr.  Sample's  election 
to  the  bench  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  1885,  when 
the  partnership  w.as  dissolved  and  the  existing  part- 
nership with  State's  Attomej'  F.  L.  Cook  was 
formed. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1886,  in  Paxton,  Mr. 
Moffett  married  Miss  Sue  E.  Meharry,  who  was 
born  in  Patton  Township  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Margaret  (Blackstock)  Meharry,  pio- 
neer settlers  of  this  county.  By  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born  one  child, 
Frank  W.,  who  was  born  in  Paxton,  August  20, 
1888. 

Jn  his  social  relations,   Mr.  Moffett  is  a  Master 


Mason,  holding  membership  with  Paxton  Lodge 
Xo.  416,  A.  F.  it  A.  JI.,  and  he  exercises  his  right 
of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Republican  part3'. 
He  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  for  Ford 
County  in  1887,  and  is  recognized  as  a  rising 
young  lawyer  of  good  ability  and  unimpeachable 
character.  He  has  p.asscd  almost  his  entire  life  in 
this  community,  has  taken  an  active  part  in  its 
upbuilding  and  progress,  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  valued  citizens  of  Paxton. 

JOHN  Y.  DOUGHERTY,  overseer  of  the 
Sibley  estate,  is  a  i-epresentative  citizen  of 
this  community.  He  was  born  in  Monroe 
^_^  County,  Ohio,  near  the  city  of  Woodsfleld, 
on  the  7th  of  October,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of  Jere- 
miah and  Mary  (Young)  Doughertj'.  The  parents 
were  both  natives  of  the  Keystone  State,  and  the 
former  was  of  Irish  extraction,  while  the  latter 
was  of  English  descent.  The  year  1856  witnessed 
the  emigration  of  the  family  to  Illinois.  The  fa- 
ther settled  near  Cherry  Grove,  Edgar  County, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1859,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Vermilion  County,  and  settling  near 
Homer,  there  made  his  home  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  December,  1864.  His  wife  had  died 
on  the  15tli  of  September,  of  the  same  year.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Presbj-terian  Church. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Sarah  J.,  became  the  wife  of  C.  C.  Powers, 
an  attorney-at-law  living  in  Carroll  Cit}',  Iowa; 
Balford  is  a  farmer  of  Missouri;  Amanda  is  the 
wife  of  Jefferson  Cook,  a  cari)enter  and  builder  of 
Vermilion  County,  111.;  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
George  M.  Melton,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Iroquois  County.  111. ;  Maggie  resides 
in  Sibley  with  her  brother,  John  Y.;  .lerome  is  a 
farmer  of  Vermilion  County;  and  Delia  is  the 
wife  of  William  Boyd,  a  railroad  conductor. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  John 
Doughert}',  who  was  a  lad  of  seven  j-ears  when 
his  parents  came  to  Illinois.  He  attended  the 
district  schools  at  intervals  until  twenty-two  years 
of  age,  and  remained  with  his  parents  until  their 
death.     He  resided  upon  the   old   homestead   in 


522 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Champaign  Count}'  for  twelve  years,  during  which 
time  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month, 
being  employed  by  one  man  for  six  years  and 
another  for  a  period  of  fl  ve  years.  His  long  con- 
tinued service  indicates  his  faithfulness  to  his  em- 
ployers and  the  efficient  manner  in  which  he  per- 
formed his  duties. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  1879,  ISIr.  Dougherty 
wedded  Miss  Ella  M.,  daughter  of  D.aniel  and 
Laura  (McGee)  Welsh,  and  their  marriage  has 
been  blessed  with  two  children:  Eunice  E.,  born 
November  1,  liS82;  and  Eugene  E.,  November  11, 
1886.  The  same  year  of  his  marriage  our  subject 
came  to  Ford  County,  111.,  and  for  two  years  oper- 
ated a  rented  farm,  after  which  he  came  to  Sib- 
ley and  again  rented  land  for  two  j^ears.  In  1883, 
he  was  offered  the  position  of  overseer  of  the  Sib- 
ley estate,  and  is  still  serving  as  such.  He  has 
one  hundred  and  thirty -six  farms  under  his  super- 
vision, and  his  management  of  the  affairs  has 
proven  entirel}'  satisfactory  to  his  employers.  He  is 
a  straightforward  and  upright  business  man,  and 
has  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been 
brought  in  contact.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stal- 
wart Republican  and  has  held  the  office  of  Road 
Commissioner,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  Village 
Board  of  Trustees.  He  also  belongs  to  the  An- 
cient, Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  Pa^'son 
Lodge  No.-  762,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Stiawn,  111. 


S,-.-^ 


i      fILLIAM 
W^      born    Se 


(^  j^ILLIAM  ALFRED  BAKER,  D.  Y.  S.,  a  na- 
Rome,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  was 
September  3,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of 
Alfred  B.  and  Adeline  T.  (Loomis)  Baker.  The 
father  was  born  in  London,  England  and  in  child- 
hood came  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States, 
arriving  about  the  year  1827.  The  mother  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  belongs  to  the  noted 
Loomis  family  of  England,  from  which  country 
her  grandfather  removed  in  an  early  day.  Alfred 
Baker  was  married  to  Miss  Loomis  in  Oneida 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1857  went  to  Oconomowoc, 
Wis.,  where  he  engaged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing.    Both  he   and    his    wife    received    collegiate 


educations,  and  in  New  York  Mr.  Baker  learned 
the  trade  of  an  architect  and  stair  builder.  Many 
of  the  buildings  of  Oconomowoc  were  constructed 
by  him,  and  he  did  an  extensive  business,  employ- 
ing as  many  as  one  hundred  hands.  At  the  time 
of  the  great  fire,  he  went  to  Chicago  and  did  much 
of  the  fine  work  on  Hoole}''s  Opera  House.  In 
1874,  he  moved  to  Champaign  Count}',  111.,  where 
he  still  makes  his  home,  having  been  for  sixteen 
years  superintendent  of  buildings  and  repairs  for 
tlie  State  University.  In  Waukesha  County,  Wis., 
Mr.  Baker  held  several  prominent  count}-  offices, 
and  during  the  war  was  enrolling  ollicer.  He  was 
first  a  AVhig  in  political  sentiment  but  since  the 
rise  of  the  Repulilican  party  has  been  one  of  its 
stalwart  supporters.  Religiously,  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
in  the  work  of  which  they  take  an  active  part,  and 
hold  a  high  position  in  social  circles.  In  their 
family  weie  seven  children,  but  four  are  uow  de- 
ceased. The  living  are  Ilattie  A.,  wife  of  L.  A. 
Stare;  Kittle  M.,  wife  of  John  G.  Wadswortli,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  State  University  and  a  noted 
singer  and  instructor  in  voice  culture;  and  our 
subject. 

W.  A.  Baker  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  in  the  academy  of  Oconomowoc,  AVis. 
At  the  State  University,  he  took  a  course  in  the 
line  of  his  profession,  and,  in  1884,  entered  the 
Chicago  Veterinary  College,  graduating  in  the  Class 
of  '86.  Locating  in  Champaign,  he  was  api)ointed 
Assistant  State  Veterinarian  in  .Tune  of  that  year, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  In  .Tanuary,  1891, 
he  removed  to  Gibson  City,  where  he  still  resides 
and  is  one  of  the  industrious  and  enterprising  citi- 
zens. He  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  A'eterin- 
ary  Medical  Association,  of  which  he  was  Vice- 
president  in  1887. 

At  Elgin,  Minn.,  on  the  28th  of  September, 
1880,  Mr.  Baker  was  united  in  marriage  to  Etta 
E.,  daughter  of  Harry  and  Caroline  (Mixer)  Good- 
rich, both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York, 
from  which  State  they  removed,  about  1844,  to 
Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  and  in  1867  went  to  Elgin, 
Minn.,  where  they  have  since  passed  away,  beloved 
by  all  who  knew  them.  Mr.  Goodrich  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven  years,  and  his  wife  was  fifty-four 


Cyt 


-=2=^^cy2^ 


"P . 


'i  ^^m^Kr 


^a^^x  ^^z^y. 


POKTRAIT  AND  EIOGRAPIIICAL   RPX'ORD. 


527 


years  when  she  was  called  to  her  final  rest.  Mrs. 
Baker  is  tlie  fifth  child  in  order  of  birth  in  their 
family  of  six  cliildreii,  and  her  l)irth  occurred  in 
Dodge  Count\',  Wis.,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1861. 
Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  bcrn  one 
child,  Frank  lUicklaml. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  IJakcr  are  members  of  the  Fresby- 
terinn  Church  and  have  many  friends  in  this  com- 
munit_y,  where  they  are  widely  and  favorably 
known.  Socially,  he  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason. 
Dr.  Baker  is  acconuted  a  skillful  veterinarian  and 
is  one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of   Ford  County. 


'ifOSEPH  B.  LEACH,  an  honored  veteran  of 
the  late  war,  who  has  long  been  identified 
witli  the  history  of  Roberts  and  the  up- 
_  building  of  its  social,  educational  and 
moral  interests,  deserves  special  mention  in  the 
county's  history.  He  was  born  near  Springfield, 
Mass.,  June  22,  1833,  and  was  the  younger  of 
two  children.  His  sister,  Mary  Ann,  is  now  a 
resident  of  West  Millbury,  Mass.  The  father, 
Elisha  B.  Leach,  was  a  boot  and  shoe  maker  b}' 
trade,  and  was  of  Spanish  descent.  He  died  on  his 
way  across  the  plains  to  Pike's  Peak.  He  was  twice 
married.  He  first  wedded  Ruth  Metcalf  and  after- 
ward Laura  Bceman  became  his  wife. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  he  was 
only  three  months  old,  and  he  was  left  in  cliarge 
of  his  aunt,  F'annic  Ciane,  at  Mormon  Hollow, 
Mass.  His  early  boyhood  days  weie  an\tiiing  but 
pleasant.  At  the  age  of  eight,  he  went  to  live 
with  L.  B.  Anderson,  a  farmei-  of  Montague,  Mass. 
His  educational  ailvantages  were  very  meagre,  for 
he  could  only  attend  school  about  one  month  in 
tiie  year.  Whenever  he  could  pick  up  a  |)iece  of 
printed  pai)er,  he  would  study  it  over  and  over, 
until  he  had  mastered  its  contents,  and  if  became 
across  a  word  whose  meaning  he  did  not  know, 
he  wouhl  listen  until  he  heard  the  word  used  in 
conversation,  and  tlius  learn  its  meaning.  He  is 
now  a  well-informed  man,  but  it  has  been  only 
through  his  own  efl'orts.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  he 
22 


started  out  in  life  for  himself.  It  was  his  desire 
to  become  a  mechanic,  bnt  he  was  forced  to  learn  the 
tinner's  trade  instead,  and  worked  at  that  occupa- 
tion until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion. 
While  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  he  lost  all  that  he  had  in 
the  financial  panic  of  1857.  From  there  he  went 
to  Utica,  M.  Y.,and  entered  tiie  employ  of  I.  A. 
Williams,  a  manufacturer  of  locomotive  head- 
lights, with  whom  he  remained  for  seven  years. 
He  is  really  the  inventor  of  the  air  cliamber  in  the 
head-light  of  the  locomotive.  Tliis  has  made  a 
fortune  to  the  manufacturers,  but  Blr.  Le.ach  only 
received  $1.50,  although  out  of  his  brain  was 
evolved  the  idea. 

On  the  11th  of  August,  1852,  Mr.  Leach  wedded 
Miss  Mary  Millard,  a  native  of  Stamford,  Vt.,  and 
unto  them  were  born  two  daughters:  Lillian  and 
Mary,  both  of  whom  reside  in  Stamford.  The 
mother  died  in  1856,  and  Mr.  Leach  was  again 
married,  August  10,  1857,  his  second  union  being 
with  JMi.ss  Mary  E.  .Jones,  a  native  of  Manchester, 
England,  who,  when  a  maiden  of  ten  summers, 
came  with  her  grandparents  to  America.  The^' 
sailed  in  the  "  Brittauica,"  and  when  they  came 
around  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  there  vvas  a 
heavy  fog  and  they  just  escaped  two  large  ice- 
bergs. They  were  wrecked  on  a  shoal,  but  signals 
of  distress  were  given  auct  small  boats  came  to  the 
rescue  of  the  passengers,  who,  with  ropes  around 
tiieir  waists,  were  lowered  into  the  little  fishing 
Ixiats,  two  hundred  and  fifty  thus  being  saved. 
Tliey  were  landed  at  St.  John's,  Newfoundland, 
and  there  resided  four  years,  when  they  started  for 
Boston,  but  were  again  siiipwrecked  and  delayed 
for  two  weeks.  They  afterward  made  their  way 
to  Utica,  N.  Y.,  where  Mrs.  Leacli  resided  for 
fifteen  years,  llei  education  was  limited,  liul  by 
reading  siie  lias  ke|)t  well  informed  on  tiie  events 
of  the  day.  .She  is  the  mother  of  one  child  and 
has  two  ado|)ted  daughters.  Geoige,  the  only  son, 
died  at  the  age  of  three  months;  Adda  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Chuicli,  and  is  (piite 
proficient  in  both  vocal  and  instrunu'utal  music. 
Jennie,  the  adopted  daughter,  is  now  attending 
the  public  schools. 

Wiien  Presi<lent  Lincoln  issued  his  call  for 
seventy-live  thousand  troops  on   the  hicaking  out 


528 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFX'ORD, 


of  the  Rebellion,  Mr.  Leach  was  working  at  his 
trade,  but  he  and  his  companion  decided  to  at 
once  enter  the  service.  He  went  to  his  home,  and 
to  his  wife  said:  "  Nellie,  I  have  enlisted.  You 
must  go  to  your  father  in  Chicago."  So  they 
both  left  home,  and  Mr.  Leach  joined  Company  E 
of  the  New  York  Fourteenth  Regiment  Infantry, 
which  was  ordered  to  Albany  for  drill  and  then 
sent  to  Washington.  While  there  the  citizens  pre- 
sented the  regiment  vvitli  a  beautiful  flag,  valued 
at  $600,  with  the  request:  "  Col.  IMcWade,  we  ask 
only  that  your  regiment  will  protect  these  stars 
and  stripes,  and  not  a  star  be  dropped  from  the 
field."  The  Colonel  replied:  "  This  flag  shall  re- 
turn unsullied,  or  our  bodies  will  find  graves  in 
Southern  soil."  The  regiment  originally  num- 
bered seven  hundred  and  fifty,  but  only  forty- 
six  were  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
Mr.  Leach  participated  in  the  battle  of  Hanover, 
the  seven  days'  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  and 
at  Gaines'  Mill  was  appointed  to  put  all  the 
damaged  shells,  powder  and  broken  guns  in  a  tent, 
which  he  was  to  fire  when  the  troops  left.  On 
the  approach  of  the  rebels,  he  applied  the  torch 
and  jumped  down  an  embankment  just  in  time  to 
save  his  life.  He  saw  Jeff  Davis  in  an  old  hut, 
and  was  about  to  fire  upon  him  when  two  women 
took  their  station  in  front  of  him.  Mr.  Leach 
also  participated  in  the  battles  of  Big  Bethel, 
Malvern  Hill,  Cold  Harbor,  Fair  Oaks,  South 
Mountain,  Antietam,  Chancellorsville,  Fredericks- 
burg, Gettysburg,  and  many  others  of  importance. 
He  was  in  active  service  for  two  years  and  six 
months,  and  was  then  honorabl.y  discharged.  He 
was  a  true  soldier,  ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty, 
and  his  army  record  is  one  of  which  he  may  justly 
be  proud. 

On  his  return,  Mr.  Leach  spent  about  a  year  in 
the  Adirondack  Mountains,  after  which  he  again 
worked  in  Utica,  N.  Y.  In  1865,  he  came  to 
Onarga,  111.,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  a  year, 
when  he  entered  the  employ  of  Cultra  ik  Pearson, 
of  Onarga,  with  whom  he  remained  seven  years. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  an  honored  and 
respected  citizen  of  Roberts.  In  1886,  he  patented 
Leach's  improved  roaster  and  liaker,  and  for  two 
years  engaged   in  its  manufacture,  when  the  sales 


became  too  large  for  his  labor  alone,  and  a  stock 
company  was  formed  in  1888.  The  first  plant  was 
located  in  Roberts,  but  on  account  of  the  better 
shipping  facilities  was  removed  to  Paxton.  About 
five  thousand  bakers  are  manufactured  and  sold 
each  month,  and  twenty  men  are  emplo^'ed  in  tliis 
work.  Mr.  Leach  is  paid  a  good  royalty,  and  now 
ifi  his  declining  years  is  enabled  to  live  retired, 
being  surrounded  by  all  the  comforts  and  many  of 
the  luxuries  of  life. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Leach  was  an  old-line  Whig,  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  James  K.  Polk.  Since  the 
organization  of  the  Re|)ublican  party,  he  has  been 
one  of  its  stanch  advocates.  He  was  a  charter 
member  and  the  first  Chaplain  of  Melyju  Post 
No.  500,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  also  served  as  its  Com- 
mander. His  wife  is  a  leading  member  of  the 
Women 's  Relief  Corps,  and  the  parents  and  their 
daughter  Adda  are  members  of  Roberts  Lodge 
No.  323,  I.  O.  G.  T.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leach  both 
hold  membership  with  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
take  an  active  interest  in  its  ui)building  and  in 
Sunday-school  work.  They  are  charitable  and 
benevolent  people,  and  the  upright  lives  which 
they  have  led  have  won  them  the  high  regard  of 
their  many  friends.  As  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Roberts, and  an  honored  veteran,  Mr.  Leach  is  well 
deserving  of  representation  in  the  history  of  his 
adopted  county. 


-M- 


RVIiJ.K  I).  SACKETT,  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  well-known  and  highly  respected 
citizens  of  Paxton,  and  it  is  but  justice  to 
his  friends  that  he  be  represented  in  this  volume. 
He  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Chenango  County, 
N.  Y''.,  on  the  11th  of  Januar3',  1837,  and  was  a 
son  of  Dexter  and  Electa  (Bement)  Sackett,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Empire  State  and 
were  of  English  extraction.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children:  J.  B.,  who  is  now  living  in  St. 
Peters,  Minn.;  Orville  I).,  whose  name  heads  this 
record;  Addison,  ex-State  Senator  of  Minnesota, 
and  extensively  engaged  in  the  milling  business 
in  St.  Peters,  Minn.;  Clarissa,  wife  of  Peter  Ben- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


529 


nett,  a  farmer  residing  near  Courtland,  111.;  Mary, 
wife  of  E.  O.  Newman,  who  is  engaged  in  meiean- 
lik'  pursuits  at  Sibley;  Franklin,  who  died  in 
18(58;  and  De  L.,  a  photographer  making  his  home 
in  Chicago;  Helen  died   in  her  twentieth  year. 

The  Sackett  family  came  to  Illinois  in  1866, 
and  the  father  settled  in  Courtland,  De  Kalb 
County,  where  he  purchased  land  and  still  makes 
his  home.  Our  subject  attended  the  district  schools 
until  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out 
in  life  for  himself,  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the 
month.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  he  went  to  South- 
ern Wisconsin,  where  he  spent  one  year,  working 
on  a  farm  by  the  mouth,  and  then  returned  to 
his  home  in  the  East,  there  i-emaining  until  1866. 
That  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  DeKalb  County, 
111.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  Ford  Count}',  and 
located  in  Lyman  Township,  where  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  unimproved  land 
and  began  the  development  of  a  farm,  making 
one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  that  section. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  1859,  Mr.  Sackett  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Angeline,  daughter 
of  Marvin  and  Maria  (Curtis)  Steward.  The  fam- 
ily' is  of  Scotch  descent.  Two  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  a  daughter  and  a  son:  Jennie,  now 
the  wife  of  Lawrence  E.  Campbell,  a  dealer  in  im- 
ported horses;  and  .lay  B.,  a  resident  of  Paxton. 

After  locating  in  this  county,  Mr.  Sackett  con- 
tinued to  eng.age  in  farming  until  1884,  when  he 
aljandoned  agricultural  pursuits  and  removed  to 
Paxton.  In  tins  city  he  purchased  a  meat-market, 
and  to  that  business  devoted  his  attention  for 
some  time.  In  1880,  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  State  Board  of  Equalization  of  Illinois,  and 
held  that  office  until  the  time  of  his  death  In 
politics,  he  was  a  supporter  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples and  took  an  active  interest  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  success  and  growth  of  his  party. 
He  twice  served  as  Supervisor,  and  several  years 
as  Assessor,  while  residnig  in  Lyman  Township, 
and  proved  an  eflicient  oflicer.  Socially,  he  was  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  in  religious  belief  was  a 
Congregationalist.  He  jjassed  away  December  30, 
1887,  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  in  his 
death  the  county  lost  a  valuable  citizen,  his  neigh- 
bors a  faithful  friend,  and   his    family    a    loving 


husband  and  father.  He  had  come  to  Ford  County 
in  an  early  day,  and  had  ever  borne  his  part  in 
its  history  and  upbuilding.  He  was  a  man  hon- 
orable in  all  his  dealings,  and  one  that  ever  mer- 
ited the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


s^E 


ANIEL  DWYER  is  classed  among  the  rep- 
resentative and  practical  agriculturists  of 
Ford  County.  He  resides  on  section  20, 
Patton  Township,  where  he  owns  and  operates 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  good  land. 
Upon  this  farm  he  has  many  rods  of  tiling,  fields 
of  convenient  size  are  separated  by  well-kept 
fences  and  near  the  substantial  residence  are  good 
outbuildings,  such  as  are  necessary  for  the  care  of 
stock  and  grain.  The  land  is  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  in  return  for  the  care  and 
labor  bestowed  upon  it  yields  a  golden  tribute  to 
the  owner. 

Mr.  Dwyer  was  born  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland, 
November  9,  1836,  and  spent  his  youth  upon  a 
farm  until  the  age  of  sixteen  3'ears,  when,  in  1854, 
he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic.  In  the  month  of 
June  of  that  year  he  boarded  a  sailing-vessel  at 
Liverpool,  and  after  thirteen  weeks  and  foiu-  days 
spent  upon  the  bosom  of  the  deep,  arrived  safely' 
in  New  York.  However,  they  experienced  many 
dangers  during  the  passage.  They  encountered 
some  terrible  storms  and  were  three  times  ship- 
wrecked, but  no  lives  were  lost.  The  first  wreck 
occurred  off  the  coast  of  Scotland,  the  next  off  the 
coast  of  Newfoundland,  but  they  arrived  safely  in 
September  of  that  year,  and  Mr.  Dwyer  secured 
employment  as  a  farmhand  in  the  Flinpi  re  State, 
where  he  worked  for  four  years,  being  in  the  em- 
ploy of  one  man  during  that  entire  period.  In 
1858,  we  find  him  a  resident  of  Wisconsin,  but 
after  a  short  time  spent  in  that  State  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  in  what  is  now  Ford  County. 
For  twenty-one  years,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  a 
firm  in  Paxton,  a  fact  which  indicates  his  trust- 
worthiness and  fidelity.  During  this  time  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  and  afterward   added 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  it  by  additional  purchase,  until  lie  now  owns 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres — his  present  home. 

In  New  York,  in  1856,  Mr.  Dwjer  was  joined 
ill  wedlock  with  Miss  Mary  Doran,  also  a  native  of 
Ireland.  Unto  them  has  been  liorn  a  family  of 
seven  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Margaret,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Frank  Little,  a  resident  of  Dallas, 
Tex.;  Maiy  is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Sullivan,  a 
teacher  residing  in  Chicago;  John,  who  is  now  a 
railroad  engineer,  makes  his  home  in  Dallas, 
Tex.;  Kate  is  the  wife  of  E.  Shugrue,  who 
is  living  in  Chicago;  Daniel  and  Richard  aid 
their  father  in  operating  the  home  farm;  and 
Nora  is  now  a  student  in  Paxton  College.  They 
also  lost  two  children:  Richard,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  months;  and  Nellie,  who  was  called  to 
the  home  beyond  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Dwyer  has  resided  in  Ford  County  since  its 
organization  and  is  well  known  tlirougliout  the 
community  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  up- 
right character.  He  has  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem of  neighbors  and  friends,  for  his  life  has 
been  well  spent  and  his  trustworthiness  is  shown 
by  his  long  continuance  in  one  service.  In  local 
politics,  he  casts  his  ballot  for  the  man  whom  he 
thinks  will  best  fill  the  office,  regardless  of  party 
affiliations,  but  on  questions  of  national  impor- 
tance he  votes  with  the  Democratic  party.  He 
and  his  family  arc  members  of  the  Catholic  Churcli. 

■^GHN  M.  VAUGHN,  a  dealer  in  farm  ma- 
chinery and  real  estate  in  Gibson  Cit^^ 
was  born  near  Loudonville,  Ohio,  June  21, 
1844,  and  is  a  son  of  .John  and  Susan 
(Danner)  Vaughn,  botli  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Richland  Count}',  Ohio.  The  old  homestead  of 
the  Vaughn  family,  that  was  entered  by  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject  from  the  Go^'crnment,  is  still 
in  the  possession  of  one  of  his  descendants.  The 
father  died  in  May,  1865,  at  the  age  of  sixtj'- 
seven  years,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life  in  Sep- 
tember, 1862. 

Our  subject  remained  at  home  until  the  27th  of 
Maj%  1861,  when  he  responded    to  the  country's 


call  for  troops,  enlisting  as  a  member  of  Company 
D,  Twenty-fifth  Ohio  Infantry,  in  which  regi- 
ment he  served  until  the  18th  of  November  of  the 
same  year,  wjien  he  was  honorably  discliarged  on 
account  of  physical  disability.  On  the  3d  of  Feb- 
ruaiy,  1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  Comiiany  G,  Twenty- 
third  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  uiiiil  after  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  took  part  in  the  light  at 
Cloyd  Mountain,  in  the  battles  of  Lynchburg, 
Winchester  and  Cedar  Creek,  and  was  mustered 
out  August  10,  1865. 

On  leaving  the  armj',  Mr.  Vaughn  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  immediately  afterwards  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Peoria  County  on  the  Tith  of 
August,  1865.  He  there  continued  to  reside  until 
the  fall  of  1869,  when  he  came  to  Drummer 
Township,  Ford  County,  where  he  rented  a  farm 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  187  1. 
In  that  year,  he  removed  to  Gibson  City,  and  in 
1875  embarked  in  his  present  business.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  dealings  in  farm  implements,  since  1885 
he  has  carried  on  an  extensive  real-estate  liusiness, 
mostly  in  lauds  in  Northwestern  Iowa  and  Min- 
nesota. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  1862,  Mr.  Vaughn 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  Emmon  Valley,  Pa., 
to  Miss  Priscilla  Riblet,  who  was  born  in  Ashland 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Mary 
Riblet.  With  the  Baptist  Church  she  holds  mem- 
bership. Eleven  children  have  been  born  of  this 
union,  four  sons  and  seven  daughters:  Lines  A., 
who  married  Miss  Trac.y  Kopesca  and  is  the  en- 
gineer in  charge  of  the  Gibson  City  Electric  Light 
Works;  Mary  Ida,  wife  of  Edward  Smith,  of  Gil- 
man,  111.;  Ettft  J.,  who  married  Frank  J.  Van  Hou- 
ten  and  resides  in  Knox  County,  Neb.;  Annie, 
wife  of  Ed.  Conner,  a  resident  of  Chicago;  Amy, 
wife  of  James  Reese,  of  Ford  Count}-;  Ella,  Luther 
J.,  Benjamin,  Fuller  P..  Jessie  and  Dollie  E.,  who 
are  still  at  home. 

In  |)olitics,  Mr.  Vaughn  is  an  earnest  Rejjub- 
lican,  a  warm  advocate  of  that  party's  principles. 
Sociall}-,  he  is  a  member  of  Gibson  Lodge  No. 
542,  I.  O.  0.  F.,of  Brothers'  Encampment  No.  158, 
and  he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Rebecca  Degree 
of  the  same  order.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Lott 
Post  No.  70,  G.  A.  R.    Mr.  Vaughn  has  prosiiered  in 


.-Mfii 


h^^' 


.^ 


% 


D 


i^ 


I 


^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


533 


his  business,  his  efforts  being  crowned  with  a 
well-deserved  success,  and  he  has  a  large  and 
varied  stock  of  goods  in  his  line,  pr()l)ahly  the 
largest  and  most  complete  stociv  of  farm  machinery 
to  he  found  in  Ford  County. 


I  LI  HARVEY,  general  nieichanl  and  Post- 
master of  Sibley,  is  the  only  remaining  set- 
/j' — ■^)  tier  of  the  first  group  who  were  em|)loycd 
by  Mr.  Sullivant  in  improving  and  developing 
what  IS  now  tiic  town  of  .Sullivant.  In  1867,  he 
planted  the  first  hedge  plant  that  was  set  out  in 
tliat  township,  and  was  there  engaged  in  farming  j 
for  a  year. 

Our  suf»ject  was  horn  in  Clinton  County,  Ohio, 
June  20,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and  Sarah 
(Dakin)  Harvey.  His  father  was  l)orn  in  Pitts- 
boro,  Chatham  County,  N.  C,  April  ;"),  l.SO.'j,  and 
was  descended  from  Scottish  ancestry,  also  was  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  or  <Juakers. 
His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Rome,  N.  Y.,  and  was  descended  from  an  old 
family  of  the  Empire  State.  Mr.  Harvey's  father 
removed  from  Nortli  Carolina  with  his  parents 
to  Clinton,  Ohio,  in  childhood,  was  there  reared 
and  married,  and  was  obliged  to  withdraw  from 
tiie  (Quaker  Society  on  account  of  his  marriage 
with  one  not  a  Friend.  In  18,51,  the  family  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Bureau  County,  where 
Mrs.  Harvey  ilied  shortly  afterward.  Mr.  Harvey 
engaged  in  farming  in  that  county  until  1854, 
when  he  removed  to  Maiden  and  engaged  in  the 
grain  business,  carrying  it  on  for  many  years.  His 
death  occurred  in  November,  1878. 

Eli  Harvey  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois, 
spent  three  years  on  a  farm  in  Bureau  County 
and  in  attending  the  district  schools,  and  in  1858 
went  to  Maiden  with  his  father,  whom  he  assisted 
in  the  grain  business.  He  also  attended  the  iniblic 
schools  of  that  place,  and  in  1851)  came  to  Ford 
County,  where  for  a  time  he  was  associated  with 
Mr.  Sullivant  in  the  opening  up  of  SullivantTown- 
ship  to  settlement.  One  year  later,  he  became  over- 
seer on  a  large  farm  lying  a  little  nortli  of  I'axton. 


for  Adam  .Smith,  a  Chicago  banker,  holding  the  po- 
sition from  1861  until  the  summer  of  1867,  inclu- 
sive. In  the  last-named  year,  he  assisted  Mr. 
Sulliv.ant  in  circulating  petitions  for  the  organ- 
ization of  the  township  (>f  Sullivant,  and  was  ap- 
pointed Clerk  of  the  first  town  meeting  held  in 
that  township,  Mr.  Sullivant  being  Moderator. 
This  was  in  the  spring  of  1868.  The  fall  previous, 
he  had  returned  to  the  Smith  farm  and  was  only  in 
Sullivant  temporaril\',  in  the  spring  of  1867,  to 
assist  Mr.  Sullivant  in  the  organization  of  the 
town.  He  continued  as  overseer  of  the  Smith 
farm  until  1875,  when  he  returned  to  Sullivant 
Township  and  located  in  Sible)-,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  w.as  overseer  of  the  farm  under 
Mr.  Sullivant,  and  was  in  charge  of  the  tenants  on 
the  farm  under  Mr.  Sibley  and  for  the  estate  until 
1885,  when  he  engaged  in  merchandising  in  Sib- 
ley, having  successfully-  continued  that  business 
since. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  1881),  Mr.  Harvey  w.as 
commissioned  Postmaster  of  Sibley  by  President 
Harrison,  being  the  first  one  commissioned  in  this 
district.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has 
been  chosen  to  various  local  oltices.  For  sixteen 
years  he  has  been  a  Director  on  the  School  Board, 
Township  Assessor  for  thirteen  years,  and  is  hold- 
ing those  offices  at  this  writing.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Village  Board  of  Sibley  from  its  oi-gan- 
ization  until  1890,  and  was  Constable  from  1876 
until  1887,  Commissioner  of  Highways  from  1875 
until  1889,  and  held  various  other  offices  at  the 
same  time. 

On  the  lOUi  of  December,  1859,  Mr.  Harvey  was 
married,  in  the  town  of  Princeton,  Bureau  Countys 
to  Miss  Eliza  Campbell,  who  was  born  in  Athens, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  A. 
(Grimes)  Campbell.  They  have  two  children, 
daughters:  Emma,  now  the  wife  of  Albert  Lough, 
of  Fairbury,  Livingston  County;  and  Eva,  who 
is  employed  in  dress-making  in  Bloomington,  111. 
Slie  almost  completed  the  course  in  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Asylum,  of  Jacksonville,  III.  The  mother 
died  August  9,  1869.  On  the  15th  of  September, 
1870,  i\fr.  Harvey  was  again  married,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  in  Loda,  III.  His  present  wife, 
wiiose    maiden   name  was  Anna    AVoodward,  was 


534 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


born  in  Jefferson  ville,  lud.,  July  25,  1852,  nnd  is 
a  daughter  of  George  H.  and  Mary  (Leland) 
Woodward.  Four  children  gr.ace  this  union: 
William  R.,  who  is  now  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
is  a  partner  in  his  father's  store  and  is  also  en- 
gaged in  stock-buying;  Ida  May  is  clerking  in 
the  post  office  for  her  father;  Franklin  MacVcagh 
and  Zola  .are  the  youngest.  Mr.  Harvey  is  a  Knight 
Templar  Mason,  belonging  to  Sibley  Lodge  No. 
761,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Gibson  Chapter  No.  183, 
R.  A.  M.;  and  St.  Paul  Comraandery  No.  38,  of 
Fairbury,  111.  He  has  aided  in  the  erection  of  the 
church  edifices  of  Sibley,  and  the  cause  of  education 
has  found  in  him  a  warm  friend.  His  labors  have 
been  laigt-ly  instrumental  in  securing  the  excellent 
schools  for  which  Sibley  is  noted. 

Mr.  Harvey  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  he  and  his  comrades  walking 
two  miles  in  order  to  deposit  their  ballots.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of  the 
Republican  part^-.  He  does  the  largest  general 
business  in  Sible3',  his  annual  sales  amounting  to 
fully  $20,000.  He  carries  a  full  and  complete  line 
of  dry-goods,  fancy  and  staple  groceries,  hats  and 
caps,  boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  in  fact,  ever^'thing 
found  in  a  first-class  store.  In  his  business  he 
has  been  quite  successful,  and  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  to  the  citizens  of  Ford  and  adjoin- 
ing counties  as  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  who  has 
ever  proved  faihful  to  every  public  trust,  and 
exact  and  correct  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  In 
his  business  relations  with  his  customers,  he  is  ac- 
commod.ating  and  fair,  and  enjoys,  as  he  deserves, 
the  good-will  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  him. 


I^EV.  ERIC  PETER  OLSSON,  pastor  of  the 
v^  Ev.angelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Paxton, 
was  born  in  the  Province  of  Norrland, 
Sweden,  November  24,  1857,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  M.argaret  Olsson.  In  1869,  his  par- 
ents bade  good-bj'e  to  their  old  home  and  emi- 
grated to  America,  accompanied  by  their  children. 
On  reaching  this  countiy,  the  family  settled  in 
Susquehanna  County,  Pa.,   where  tlicy  resided  un- 


til 1874,  and  then  removed  to  Western  Kansas, 
locating  near  Larned,  on  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
&  Santa  Fe  Railroad,  where  Mr.  Olsson,  Sr.,  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-growing  and  where  the 
family  still  reside. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public 
schools  near  his  home  in  Pennsylvania  for  three 
years  and  then  went  with  his  parents  to  Larned, 
Kan.  In  1879,  he  became  a  student  in  Augustana 
College,  of  Rock  Island,  III.,  where  he  pursued  a 
literary  and  scientific  course  and  was  graduated 
in  the  Class  of  '85,  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  He 
then  entered  upon  a  theological  course  in  the 
same  institution  and  was  graduated  in  1887,  after 
which  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  livangeli- 
cal  Lutheran  Church  at  Chicago  in  June  of  the 
same  year.  While  a  student  in  Augustana  Col- 
lege, he  frequently  served  the  congregation  of  his 
church  in  Marquette,  McPherson  County,  Kan., 
during  vacations,  and  when  ordained  he  was  as- 
signed to  that  place,  it  being  his  first  regular  pas- 
torate. From  June,  1887,  until  December,  1888, 
he. continued  his  pastoral  labors  in  the  JMarquette 
Church,  after  which  he  was  assigned  to  the  Pax- 
ton  Church,  of  which  he  has  since  been  pastor,  cov- 
ering a  period  of  nearly  four  years.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Olsson  is  a  scholarly  man,  of  commanding- 
presence,  affable  and  courteous  in  manner,  earnest 
and  able  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  and  has 
grown  in  popularity  witii  his  congregation  from  the 
time  of  his  becoming    their    pastor  to  the  present. 

The  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  Paxton 
was  organized  in  1863,  by  Dr.  T.  N.  Ilasselquist, 
who  was  the  first  pastor,  and  the  following-named 
members  were  its  first  officers:  P.  Erickson,  Secre- 
tary; P^ric  Carlson,  C.  M.  Johnson  and  Emanuel 
Collins,  Trustees;  P.  Peterson,  S.  Randall,  C.  An- 
derson, N.  P.  Nelson,  J.  Olson  and  Swan  Ander- 
son, Deacons.  The  first  meetings  of  the  society- 
were  held  m  the  public  school  building,  which 
was  subsequently  purcli.ased  and  used  for  a  house 
of  worship  in  1872,  when  the  congregation  hav- 
ing increased  beyond  its  capacity  of  accommod.a- 
tion,  the  present  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$10,000.  The  building  is  45x100  feet,  with  a 
spire  one  hundred  feet  in  height;  1*700  was  ex- 
pended for  seats  and    in    1884    a    fine  pipe  organ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


535 


was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  ^1,200.  Besides  the 
church  edifice,  tlie  society  has  a  schoolliouse 
worth  $1,000  and  a  parsonage  wortli  $1,200.  At 
this  writing,  the  church  property  of  this  society  is 
valued  at  $15,000.  Two  teachers  are  employed  in 
the  parochial  school,  and  the  scholars  number  one 
hundred,  while  the  Sunday-school,  with  oHlcers, 
teachers  and  scholars,  numbers  three  hundred  and 
twenty-seven.  Dr.  Hasselquist  served  as  pastor 
from  1863  until  1875,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
the  Rev.  N.  T.  Winquist,  who  served  from  1875 
until  1879,  when  Rev.  A.  I'^dgren  became  pastor. 
He  remained  in  charge  from  18711  until  December, 
1888,  when  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Olsson,  tiie  present 
pastor,  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  position. 
The  congregation  of  this  church  numbers  nine 
hundred  and  eight^'-five  members,  of  whom  six 
hundred  and  nine  are  communicants,  and  is  the 
largest  church  in  Ford  County.  Many  of  its  mem- 
bers are  farmers  living  in  Patton  and  adjacent 
townships. 


TACY  DANIELS,  the  oldest  living  settler 
of  Paxton,  and  a  plasterer  by  trnde,  was 
born  in  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  December 
27,  1825.  He  is  descended  from  one  of 
the  Revolutionary  heroes,  his  grandfather  serving 
in  the  struggle  for  independence  and  his  father  in 
the  War  vf  1812.  His  mother  was  in  her  maiden- 
hood Jliss  Lottie  Carnahan  and  by  her  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  six  children:  Jacob,  who 
died  in  18(U;  Martha,  wife  of  William  Hoffman, 
died  in  1889;  William  died  in  1877;. John  is  a  car- 
riage maker  of  Paris,  Ky.,  and  Sheriff  of  his  county; 
Frances  M.  is  the  wife  of  Herman  Lawrence,  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Stacy  is  the  next  younger.  The 
father  was  called  to  his  final  rest  October  12,  1825, 
but  the  mother  long  survived,  her  death  occurring 
in   1879. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  knowing  that  this  record  of  his  life  will 
prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  During 
his  boyhood,  the  winter  mouths  were  spent  in  at- 


tendance at  the  district  schools,  while  in  the  sum- 
mer season  he  aided  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  At 
the  age  of  seventeen,  he  began  life  for  himself  and 
the  occupation  to  which  he  was  reared  he  no 
longer  followed,  but  turned  his  attention  to  the 
plasterer's  trade,  at  which  he  served  a  four-years' 
apprenticeship.  It  has  been  his  life  work  and  he 
has  followed  it  faithfully,  therebj"^  accumulating  a 
comfortable  competence. 

Mr.  Daniels  was  married,  December  27,  1849,  to 
Miss  Margaret  Rush,  who  died  February  13,  1859, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Old  Settlers'  Graveyard  of 
Paxton.  Four  children  were  born  of  that  union, 
but  Martha  and  Mary  A.  are  now  deceased;  and 
Cora,  the  youngest,  died  in  infancy.  Emma,  the 
third  child,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Field,  a  travel- 
ing salesman  employed  by  the  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany of  Chicago.  On  the  25tli  of  July,  1865,  Mr. 
Daniels  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Mary  Williams.  They  had  one  child  that 
died  in  infancy.  His  wife  died  October  1,  1867. 
On  June  23,  1868,  he  married  Rebecca  Kempton, 
by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Albert  K. 

Mr.  Daniels  first  came  to  Illinois  in  October, 
1856,  locating  in  what  is  now  Paxton,  but  the 
same  winter  returned  to  Ohio,  and  in  April,  1857, 
brought  his  family  to  Prospect  City,  as  Paxton 
was  then  called.  There  were  not  more  than  twelve 
families  in  the  place  at  that  time  and  the  mercan- 
tile trade  was  carried  on  in  one  small  store,  the 
properly  of  Messrs.  Lewis  cfe  Donley.  Mr.  Daniels 
purchased  twelve  acres  of  land,  where  the  beauti- 
ful home  of  Geo.  Shepherdson  now  stands.  In  the 
fall  of  1859,  he  went  to  California,  making  the 
trip  by  water  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  until  the  spring  of  1861,  when  he  re- 
turned to  his  home  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting  in 
the  service  of  his  country.  Going  to  Ohio,  on  the 
22d  of  August,  1862,  a  private  of  the  P:igiit3'-third 
Ohio  Infantry,  he  was  made  (Quartermaster-Sergeant 
until  August  3,  1863,  when  he  was  mustered  as 
(Quartermaster,  continuing  in  the  service  until  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  when  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Natchez.  Having  received  a 
Captain's  commission,  he  was  mustered  out  as  such. 
The  most  important  engagements  in  which  he 
participated  were  at  Chickasaw    Bluffs,    Arkansas 


536 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Post,  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  Pleasant  Hill,  Vicks- 
burg  and  tlie  battle  of  Mobile.  His  army  experi- 
ence covered  a  period  of  three  j^ears  and  he  had 
proved  himself  a  faithful  soldier  and  made  an 
honorable  war  record. 

On  again  coming  to  Paxton,  Mr.  Daniels  once 
more  resumed  work  at  his  trade  and  lias  since 
made  this  city  his  home.  Upright  and  honorable 
in  all  his  business  relations,  he  has  won  the  confi- 
dence of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact,  and  has  thereby  received  a  liberal  patron- 
age. In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Repub- 
lican principles,  and  in  his  social  relations  was  an 
Odd  Fellow  for  many  years.  He  has  long  been 
ideiiliiicd  uilh  the  history  of  Paxton,  has  witnessed 
almost  ils  entire  growth  and  has  ever  borne  his 
part  in  the  promotion  of  those  interests  calculated 
to  prove  of  public  benefit.  His  wife  and  daughter 
arc  cliurcli  members. 


-^^- 


..jl  NDREW  D.  ANDERSON,  who  owns  and 
(©/lJU  operates  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres 
on  section  28,  Patton  Township,  was  born 
in  Sweden  on  the  1st  of  May,  1842,  and 
spent  his  childhood  daj's  in  his  native  land.  No 
event  of  S))ecial  importance  occurred  during  his 
youth.  He  resided  upon  his  father's  farm  and  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  where  he  acquired  a 
fair  education.  On  attaining  his  majority,  he 
bade  good-bye  to  the  land  of  his  birth  and  emi- 
grated to  the  New  World,  sailing  in  1863  from 
Copenhagen  to  Hamburg,  where  he  boarded  the 
well-known  steamer  "Saxonia,"  and  after  sixteen 
days  arrived  in  New  York,  about  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber. It  was  an  important  day  of  his  life  when  he 
determined  to  come  to  America,  for  his  career 
has  been  a  prosperous  one,  and,  although  in  those 
early  days  he  had  many  obstacles  to  encounter, 
he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward  and  is 
now  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

Mr.  Anderson  made  his  first  location  in  Chicago, 
but  spent  only  a  week  there,  after  which  he  came 
to  Paxton,  and  spent  the  winter  with  Prof.  Hazel- 
quist.     In  the  summer  of   1864,  he  began  working 


upon  a  farm  by  the  month,  entering  the  employ 
of  Ben  Dei,  witli  whom  he  remained  for  ten  years, 
or  until  the  death  of  that  gentleman.  Mr.  Dei  in- 
terested himself  in  behalf  of  our  subject  and 
bought  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land  for  him, 
which  he  was  to  pay  for  as  he  could  find  oppor- 
tunity. In  1874,  Mr.  Anderson  returned  to 
Sweden,  and  spent  two  months  in  visiting  the 
old  home  and  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  and 
passing  many  happy  hours  with  his  relatives  and 
friends  of  his  youth.  Tlie  following  July  lie  re- 
turned to  this  country  and  the  next  year  located 
on  the  land  which  he  had  previously  purchased, 
and  which  is  still  his  home. 

In  March,  187o,  in  Ford  County,  Mr.  Anderson 
married  Miss  Augusta  Carlson,  who  is  a  native  of 
Sweden  and  came  to  Paxton  when  a  young  lady. 
They  have  two  children,  a  sou  and  a  daughter: 
Emil  Ephraim  and  Anna  Sophia,  botli  attending 
school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  the  farm  which  is  still  their  home. 
Although  it  was  then  uncultivated,  he  at  once  be- 
gan to  clear  and  operate  it,  and  soon  rich  and  fer- 
tile fields  were  j'ielding  him  a  golden  harvest  in 
return  for  his  labors.  As  time  passed  and  his 
financial  resources  increased,  he  added  to  his  farm 
by  additional  purchase,  and  now  has  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  in  Patton  Township,  together  with  a 
quarter-section  of  land  in  Iowa.  Near  his  com- 
fortable home,  which  is  a  substantial  residence, 
are  good  buildings,  and  these,  in  turn,  are  sur- 
rounded by  well-cultivated  fields. 

In  his  political  attiliations,  Mr.  Anderson  is  a 
Republican,  having  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  that 
party  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  However,  he  has  never  sought 
public  office,  the  attractions  of  the  political  arena 
having  never  called  his  attention  from  his  business 
cares.  He  and  his  wife  are  memliers  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church,  of  Farinersville,  and  take  an  active 
interest  in  its  work,  Mr.  Anderson  having  served 
for  about  fifteen  years  as  Trustee  of  the  church. 
His  residence  in  Ford  County  covers  a  period  of 
about  thirty  years,  and  he  has,  therefore,  wit- 
ne.ssed  much  of  the  growth  and  development,  and 
has  aided  in  its  upbuilding  and  advancement.  He 
is  <me  of  its  representative  early  settlers,  as  well  as 


PORTRAIT  AND  ItlOGRAPIIICAL  RECORD. 


53!' 


one  of  its  leading  agriculturists  and  valued  citi- 
zens. His  life  lias  been  well  and  woitliily  spent 
in  the  pursuit  of  legitimate  liusiness,  and  the  re- 
ward of  earnest  labor  has  come  to  him  in  the 
shape  of  a  comfortable  competence. 


^^ 


"^  ONATIIAX  R  LOTT,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  February  14,  183!». 
and  when  eight  years  of  age  came  with  his 
parents  to  McLean  County,  111.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm.  He  was  a  school- 
mate of  C4ov.  Fifer,  and  when  the  war  broke  out 
enlisted  on  the  same  day,  in  Company  C,  Thirty- 
third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  with  the  regiment 
forover  three  3'ears.  On  tlie  1st  of  .January,  1864, 
he  veteranized  and  served  until  discharged  at 
New  Orleans,  .June  lf>,  1865.  He  was  twice 
wounded,  once  a  ball  cutting  across  the  top  of  his 
head,  inflicting  a  scalp  wound,  and  ere  that  was 
healed,  contrary  to  the  orders  of  the  surgeon,  ho 
ran  away  from  the  hospital  and  joined  his  regiment. 
A  few  days  later  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm, 
which  partially  disabled  it  for  life.  Wlien  Joe 
Fifer  was  wounded  and  the  doctor  said  only  ice 
would  save  his  life,  Mr.  Lott  volunteered  to  make 
the  attempt  to  i)rocure  it,  which  though  very  haz- 
ardous, was  successful.  Gov.  Fifer  has  often 
spoken  of  Mr.  Lott  as  the  one  who  saved  his  life. 
Mr.  Lott  was  a  brave  soldier,  ever  found  at  his 
post  of  duty,  and  when  discharged  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Sergeant. 

After  returning  from  the  war,  Mr.  Lott  attended 
the  Wesleyan  College,  of  Bloomington,  111.,  and  in 
that  city  he  was  married,  on  the  1st  of  .January, 
1867,  to  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  .James  and  Maiy 
E.  (Stevenson)  Gibson.  Mr.  Gibson  was  born  in 
South  Carolina,  being  of  Swiss  and  Irish  extraction, 
and  when  seventeen  }'ears  of  age.  went  to  Gieene 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss  Stevenson, 
who  was  a  native  of  that  county.  He  died  in 
Greene  County  in  1849,  but  his  wife,  who  after- 
waud  married  again  and  emigrated  to  Indianapolis, 
survived  until  18!)  1.  Of  the  first  marriage  were 
two  children:  Margaret  A.,  and  Martha  R.,  now  the 


wife  of  Bruce  McCoinLick.  She  came  to  Bloom- 
ington, III.,  in  1865,  where  she  was  joined  by  her 
sister  the  next  year.  Having  married  Mr.  Lott, 
she  came  with  him  to  Gibson  City  in  1861),  and 
was  soon  after  joined  by  her  sister. 

The  shanty,  12x14  feet  in  dimensions,  liuilt  by 
Mr.  Lott  w.as  the  first  building  to  mark  the  site 
of  what  is  now  Gibson  City,  but  before  winter 
was  over  he  had  a  good  frame  house  erected.  He 
laid  out  the  town  in  1871,  and  named  it  Gilison, 
in  honor  of  his  wife's  maiden  name.  He  was  in- 
strumental in  securing  the  post-ottice  there,  but  as 
it  was  so  much  like  Gilson,  another  town  in  the 
State,  the  oftiee  was  changed  to  Gibson  City.  He 
was  the  prime  mover  in  securing  the  railroad  for 
(iribson,  and  in  every  public  enter|iri.-c  took  an  act- 
ive interest. 

Mr.  Lott  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  not 
an  oflice-seeker.  He  was  very  popular,  much  be- 
loved, and  always  in  sympathetic  touch  with  the 
poor.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  died  in  that  faith  on  the  18th  of  September, 
1879.  In  honor  of  him,  the  Grand  Army  Post  of 
Gibson  City  was  named  Lott  Post,  No.  70.  He 
left  no  family  save  his  wife,  who  is  now  ISIrs.  O.  II. 
Damon  and  is  the  oldest  living  settler  of  Gibson. 
In  every  thing  that  would  lietter  society,  he  took 
a  deep  interest  and  was  very  liberal  vvith  ins  means. 
After  Gibson  City  was  laid  out,  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  the  real-estate  business,  accumulating  good 
property.  He  deserves  great  credit,  as  he  was  a 
self-made  man,  and  one  of  which  any  community 
might  be  proud. 

[era        .       \i,   , 


p^  AMUEL  MACK  WYLIE,  jM.  D.,  of  P  axt(  n 
^^^^   established  a  practice  in  this  city,  in  1878, 
%jff_^  Jind  has  since  conducted   it  with  marked 
success  up  to  the  present  time,  covering  a 
period  of  fourteen  years.     The  Doctor  was  born  in 
Oakland,  Coles  County,  111.,  on  the  15tli  of  July, 
1855,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  .Jonathan  D.  and  Agnes 
(Crawford)  Wylie,  a  sketch  of  wliiini  appears  else- 
where in  tliis  work. 

Our  subject  received  his  literary   education    in 


540 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Indiiiiiapolis  Higli  School  and  Monmouth  Col- 
lege, of  Monmouth,  111.  After  completing  his 
collegi.ate  CDurse,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of 
medicine  n,t  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  honors  in  1878,  be- 
ing the  valedictoiian  of  his  class.  On  taking  his 
degree,  he  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Paxton,  wliere  he  iiad  made  his 
home  in  1868.  In  order  to  better  perfect  himself 
in  the  line  of  liis  profession,  Dr.  Wylie  spent 
some  months,  at  intervals,  in  study  and  hospital 
practice  in  New  York  City,  and,  in  1890,  for  the 
same  purpose,  lie  made  a  tour  to  Europe  and  pur- 
sued tlie  study  of  medicine  and  surgery  under  the 
most  distinguished  practitioners  of  London,  Eng- 
land; Loipsic,  Dresden  and  Berlin,  riermany;  and 
of  Paris,  France. 

On  the  I'JtIi  of  June,  1879,  Dr.  Wylie  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Emily  Bushnell,  the  wedding 
being  celebrated  in  Paxton.  The  lady  is  a  native 
of  Illinois,  born  iu  Lisbon,  Kendall  Count}-,  and  a 
daughter  of  S.  P.  Buslinell,  lately  President  of  the 
First  Nati(jnal  Bank  of  Paxton.  The  Doctor  and 
his  wife  are  b:)th  members  of  tlie  Methodist  Church 
of  this  city  and  hold  a  high  rank  in  social  circles. 

Tlie  political  views  of  Dr.  Wylie  are  those  of 
the  Republican  i)arty,  but  he  has  never  sought  or 
desired  public  olHoc,  the  only  office  he  has  held  be- 
ing that  of  Cit}'  Piiysician  of  Paxton,  and  that 
position  he  resigned  on  going  to  Europe  in  1890. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Central  Illinois  Medical 
Society,  of  the  State  Medical  Society  and  of  the 
American  iNIedical  Society,  being  President  of  the 
first-named.  He  also  belongs  to  Paxton  Lodge 
No.  416,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,and  Ford  Chapter  No.  113, 
R.  A.  M.,  of  Paxton. 

Dr.  Wylie  has  proved  very  proficient  in  surgery, 
for  which  he  has  a  decided  talent  and  special  fond- 
ness and  he  has,  by  uniform  success — often  in  com- 
plicated cases — won  a  State-wide  reputation  in  that 
branch  of  his  profession,  while  in  general  practice, 
he  has  been  uniformly  successful.  His  surgical 
instruments  and  appliances  are  of  the  best  modern 
stj'le  of  manufacture  and  were  purchased  in  the 
Inrgest  cities  of  America  and  P^urope  as  opportunity 
offered,  and  iu  extent  and  variet}'  are  unexcelled 
iu  the  State.     He  has   a  large   and    well-selected 


lil)rary  of  medical,  scientific  and  historical  works 
and  standard  books  in  other  fields  of  literature. 
He  is  a  liberal  patron  of  current  literature  in  the 
line  of  his  profession,  so  that  he  keeps  well  up  with 
the  scientific  and  medical  discoveries  of  the  time,■^. 


^ 


\f  AMKS  C.  KIRKPATRICK  is  a  merchant 
and  grain  dealer  of  Kirks,  111.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Adams  Count}',  Ohio,  born  February 
13,  1837.  Mitchell  Kirkpatrick,  his  father, 
was  born  in  the  same  county  and  State,  wiiile  liis 
grandfather,  Adam  Kirkpatrick,  w.as  also  a  native 
of  Adams  County,  of  Irish  parentage,  the  Kirk- 
jjatrick  family  being  among  the  first  settlers  of 
Adams  County. 

Adam  Kirkpatrick  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  was  twice  married  and  reared  a  family 
of  eighteen  children, nearly  all  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture years  and  became  heads  of  families.  Mitchell 
Kirkpatrick  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  county 
and  there  married  Susan  Gylinger.  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  West  Virginia  and  who  moved  to  Adams 
County,  Ohio,  with  her  father,  George  G^ylinger,  in 
an  early  day.  After  their  marriage,  Mitchell 
Kirkpatrick  engaged  in  farming  in  Adams  Count}' 
for  a  number  of  ye.ars,  and,  in  18.51,  removed  to 
Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  McLean  County, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in  1854.  His  re- 
mains were  interred  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery.  His 
wife  survived  Jiim  a  number  of  years  and  departed 
this  life  at  the  residence  of  her  daughter  near  Den- 
ver, Col.,  in  1889,  but  was  buried  in  Oak  Grove 
Cemetery  l\y  the  side  of  the  body  of  her  husband, 
where  a  monument  marks  lier  last  resting  place 
Both  were  lifelong  members  of  the  United  Pres- 
b3terian  Church. 

James  C.  Kirkpatrick  is  third  in  order  of  birth 
In  a  family  of  live  sons  and  three  daughters  who 
grew  to  mature  years.  Of  this  family,  the  eldest, 
George  L.,  died  in  Kansas  in  1889,  leaving  a  large 
family;  Adam  IC.  resides  in  Arkansas  City,  Kan., 
living  a  retired  life;  James  C.  is  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Joseph  P.  resides  in  Arkansas  City,  Kan. 
and  is  now  living  a  retired  life;    he  was  a  soldier 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


541 


during  the  late  war.  Wilson  B.  resides  in  Topcka, 
Kan.,  and  is  engaged  in  merchandising;  Susan  L 
is  the  wife  of  J.  AV.  Wannsfield  of  Arkansas  City, 
Kan.;  Catlierine  C.  is  the  wife  of  Franlv  Woodley 
and  resides  near  Denver,  Col. 

.James  C.  Kirkpatrick  came  to  I  lliiiois  with  his 
parents  a  youth  of  sixteen,  and  remained  on  tlie 
farm  of  his  father  until  his  father's  death,  and  with 
his  mother  until  his  majority'.  lie  had  but  limited 
school  advantages.  After  the  death  of  his  father, 
the  management  of  the  farm  and  the  care  of  the 
family  greatly  depended  on  him,  his  school  d.ays 
being  thus  cutshort.  lie  was  united  in  marriage  in 
McLean  County,  April  16,  1857,  to  Miss  Sarah  A. 
White,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Wash- 
ington County.  When  but  eleven  years  of  age,  she 
removed  with  her  father,  Patterson  White,  to  Ohio, 
and  to  McLean  County,  111.,  in  1851.  After  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  rented  land  and  farmed 
for  four  years  in  McLean  County.  lie  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  at  Oak  Grove  in  that  county, 
where  he  remained  two  j-ears  and  then  sold  and 
moved  to  Livingston  County,  where  he  bouglit 
raw  land  and  opened  up  a  farm  and  continued 
there  for  six  years.  In  1871,  he  sold  his  Living- 
ston County  farm  and,  removing  to  Ford  Count}', 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Button 
Township,  near  Kirk  Station.  Only  forty  acres  of 
this  land  had  been  broken,  but  a  small  residence 
had  been  erected  on  it.  He  at  once  commenced 
the  work  of  improvement  and  afterwards  pur- 
chased more  land,  and  at  this  time  owns  five 
hundred  and  eight}'  acres  which  is  under  cultiva- 
tion. In  addition  to  this,  he  has  helped  his  two 
oldest  sons  each  to  a  good  eighty-acre  tract. 

In  1879,  Mr.  Kirkpatrick  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  at  Kirk  Station  and  a  little  later  also  en- 
gaged in  merchandising,  in  which  lines  of  business 
he  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  In  1888, 
he  moved  his  family  to  the  village.  lie  has  lately 
erected  a  fine  large  residence  whicli  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  place.  He  has  also  built  a  grain  eleva- 
tor in  this  i)lace. 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick  commenced  life  for  himself  a 
poor  man  with  no  means  but  with  a  good  consti- 
tution and  two  willing  hands,  and  by  his  industry 
enterprise,  and  witli  the  assistance  of  his  most  esti- 


mable wife,  accumulated  a  large  estate  and  is  at 
this  time  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Ford  County. 
He  has  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
since  he  became  a  voter,  casting  his  first  Presi- 
dential ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has  voted 
for  the  nominees  of  the  Repuljlican  party  at  every 
Presidential  as  well  as  local  election  since  that 
time.  In  local  politics,  he  has  taken  quite  an  active 
part  and  has  served  in  several  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  He  served  eight  years  as  one  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors,  and  has  held  other  local 
offices.  A  friend  of  education,  he  is  a  strong  be- 
liever  in  and  supporter  of  the  public  schools. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirkpatrick  have  a  family  of  seven 
children.  The  eldest,  Anna  M.,  is  the  wife  of  Wal- 
ter Atha  of  Sparland,  111.;  L.  M.  is  a  farmer  of 
Ford  County;  John  B.  resides  in  Clarence  and 
assists  his  father  in  the  mercantile  and  grain  busi- 
ness. He  is  married  and  has  a  family;  Minnie  is 
the  wife  of  J.  W.  Healey,  a  railroad  agent  of  Kirk 
Station;  Lorenzo  J.  resides  at  home;  Ellie  C.  is  the 
wife  of  Sherman  Frederick,  an  active  and  promi- 
nent business  man  of  Kirk  Station ;  Jessie  Maud  re- 
sides at  home. 

Mr.  Kirkpatrick  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois 
since  the  age  of  sixteen  and  of  Ford  Count}' 
nearly  a  cpmrter  of  a  century.  He  is  well  known 
in  Ford  and  adjoining  counties.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  and  public-spirited  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Button  Township, and  is  a  man  of  sterling, 
upright  character,  esteemed  by  all.  He  and  his 
wife  are  active  members  of  the  United  Presbyte- 
rian Church. 


;«l  Ik ILLIAM  H.  H.  ELLIOTT,  an  enterprising 
\/\/i  '^•'"'""'''  ''esiding  on  section  25,  Button 
\^f^  Township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  was 
born  in  Morgan  County,  on  tlie  7th  of  December, 
1835,  and  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  eight  children,  burn  unto  Matthew  and 
Anna  (Wilson)  Elliott.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Thomas  Elliott,  was  of  Irish  descent.  His  son 
Matthew  was  born  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  in 
17!l'.(,  and   when  a  young  man  of    about   nineteen 


542 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years,  went,  to  ()l)erlin.  Ohio,  where  he  located, 
becoming  one  of  tlie  pioneers  of  liiat  State.  Some 
years  after  liis  marriage,  lie  settled  in  Morgan 
Count}',  where  he  made  his  home  for  a  number  of 
years,  or  until  18.52,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He 
took  up  his  residence  upon  a  tract  of  land  in  Ford 
Count}',  which  is  now  the  home  of  our  subject, 
and  made  his  home  in  this  community,  an  honored 
and  respected  citizen,  until  18K1.  His  land,  he 
entered  from  the  Government  and  developed 
therefrom  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  acres,  upon 
which  he  reared  his  family  and  continued  to  make 
his  home  until  his  death,  in  1881.  He  was  an  old- 
line  Whig,  and,  at  the  organization  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  joined  its  ranks,  becoming  one  of  its 
stanch  sui)porters.  He  held  a  number  of  local 
oHices,  was  a  valued  citizen  and  was  a  member  of, 
and  helped  to  organize.  Pleasant  (Jrove  Chapel,  a 
Methodist  Church.  His  wife  still  survives  hiin, 
and  is  now  living  with  a  daughter  in  \'ermiIion 
County. 

The  children  of  their  family  were:  Matilda, 
who  is  deceased;  W.  H.  II.,  of  this  sketch;  Amos 
W.,  who  died  in  September,  1891;  Sarah,  also  de- 
ceased; Thomas  1\I.,  a  farmer  of  Nebraska;  Hannah 
.].,  wife  of  E.  P.  I)awgus,  of  A'ermilion  Count}'; 
Plnube  A.,  wife  of  W.  R.  Wilson,  of  Hismark,  Ver- 
milion County;  and  George  R.,  who  has  been 
called  to  his  final  rest. 

We  now  take  up  the  (lersonal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  came  with 
his  parents  to  Illinois.  His  educational  privileges 
were  limited.  While  two  of  his  brothers  were  in 
service  during  the  late  war,  he  remained  with  his 
father  upon  the  farm  and  managed  all  the  business 
affairs  connected  with  it. 

In  1859,  in  Ford  County,  Mr.  Elliott  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Demeris  Lyon,  who  was  born  in 
Indiana  and  there  resided  until  fourteen  years  of 
age,  when  her  family  removed  to  Illinois,  becom- 
ing residents  of  Champaign  County.  Her  father, 
Thomas  Lyon,  is  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of 
that  county. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elliott  have  been  born  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living  at  this  writing: 
Thomas  M.,  who  is  engaged  in  merchandising,  in 
]>lue  (Jrass,  Vermilion  County;  Charles  W.,  farmer 


of  Sioux  County,  Iowa;  AV.  IL,  who  is  engaged  in 
the  drug  business,  in  I^udlow;  Jesse,  a  student  in 
a  school  of  |>harmacy  in  Chicago;  RoI)ert  E.,  Allen 
L.,  Sarah  A.,  and  John  R.,  all  yet  at  home.  Lillie 
B.  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

The  parents  of  this  family  arc  members  of 
Pleasant  Grove  Chapel,  Mothodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  Mr.  Elliott  served  as  an  officer 
for  a  number  of  years.  Politically,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, having  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln.  lie  has  been  called  upon  to  fill 
a  number  of  local  offices,  and  the  duties  of  those 
positions  he  has  ever  discharged  with  promptness 
and  fidelity.  The  greater  jiart  of  his  time,  how- 
ever, is  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  he 
now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
six  acres,  the  old  homestead,  which  he  purchased 
of  the  other  heirs  after  the  death  of  his  father. 
It  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved,  and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place 
indicates  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner. 
Mr.  Elliott  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of 
this  community,  few  having  longer  resided  in 
Button  Township  than  he.  He  has  ever  borne  his 
part  in  the  promotion  of  its  best  interests  and  is 
numbered  among  the  valued  citizens,  as  well  as 
the  honored  pioneers,  of  Ford  County.  As  a  far- 
mer, he  has  made  his  life  a  success  and  has  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence. 


\tl  ENRY  C.  SPELLINIEYER  is  a  dealer  in 
hardware,  stoves  and  tinware,  and  Melvin 
finds  in  him  one  of  its  enterprising  and 
progressive  business  men.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  H.  C.  Spellmeycr  &  Co., 
undertakers,  of  the  same  place.  His  life  record  is 
as  follows:  He  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth 
having  occurred  near  Lostant,  La  Salle  County, 
on  the  20th  of  January,  1864.  His  parents,  Charles 
and  Louisa  Spellmeyer,  are  both  natives  of  Ham- 
burg, Germany  and  in  their  youth  left  the  Father- 
land, emigrating  to  America.  Their  marriage  was 
celebrated  in  this  country,  and  Mr.  Spellmeyer  en- 


£^Jy<^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


545 


gaged  in  farming  in  La  Salle  County,  III.,  until 
187G,  wlica  he  came,  with  liis  family,  to  Ford 
County,  lie  now  follows  agiioultural  pursuits  in 
Wall  'i'ownshi|),  where  he  and  his  wife  have  a 
pleasant  home. 

Henry  C.  Spellmeyer,  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads.  In  the  winter 
season,  he  attended  the  district  schools  and  in  the 
summer  months  his  labors  were  devoted  to  farm 
work,  but  after  he  had  attained  to  man's  estate, 
he  turned  his  attention  to  other  pursuits. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1888,  a  marriage  cere- 
mony was  performed,  in  Peach  Orchard  Township, 
wliieh  united  the  destinies  of  our  subject  and  Miss 
Ida  Helen  Otto,  one  of  Ford  County's  fair  daugh- 
ters. The  lady  was  born  in  that  township,  her 
father,  Michael  Otto,  being  one  of  its  early  settlers. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  German  Methodist  Church 
and  an  estimable  lady,  who  has  many  friends 
throughout  this  community. 

Mr.  JSpellmeyer  continued  to  engage  in  farming 
until  1889,  when  he  removed  toiNIclvin  and  estab- 
lished his  present  business.  In  the  thiee  years 
that  have  since  passc^d,  he  has  built  up  a  very  sat- 
isfactory trade  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ing merchants  of  the  town.  As  a  citizen,  he  is 
public  spirited  and  progressive  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  upbuilding  and 
welfare  of  the  community.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
sup|K)rter  of  the  Democratic  party  but  has  never 
sought  or  desired  public  office. 

•-5- ^^ -5— 

S^.EMEMBRANCE  CLARK,  an  iionoied  [liu- 
V^/  neer  of  Ford  County,  was  for  many  years 
a  prominent  merchant  of  Paxton,  where  lie 
^^iStill  resides.  He  is  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, his  birth  having  occurred  in  .Strafford 
County,  that  State,  September  29,  1810.  He  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  his  native  State, 
and  in  1834  went  to  Frankfort,  Me.,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  about  thirteen  years.  In  1847,  we 
find  him  a  resident  of  Bangor,  devoting  his  ener- 
gies to  mercantile   business,  and   in   1860,  he  came 


to  Illinois,  locating  in  Paxton.  He  soon  became 
a  prominent  merchant  of  this  place,  and  in  1867 
erected  the  largest  brick  house  in  this  city.  It  is 
known  as  Clark's  Block  and  contains  Clark's  Hall, 
the  principal  public  hall  in  town.  In  1872,  he 
opened  a  store,  taking  as  partners  his  sons-in-law, 
R.  Cruzen  and  II.  R.  Daggett.  That  connection 
was  continued  until  1882,  when  he  sold  out  his 
share  in  the  business  to  Mr.  Cruzen. 

In  1834,  Mr.  Clark  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Henrietta  Durgin,  a  daughter  of  Francis  Dur- 
gin  and  a  native  of  the  old  Granite  State.  The 
wedding  ceremony  w.as  performed  in  Tamworth, 
N.  H.,  and  by  their  union  were  born  six  children, 
but  only  two  are  now  living:  Annie  E.,  the  wife 
of  R.  Cruzen;  and  Mary,  wife  of  II.  R.  Daggett, of 
Petoskey,  Mich. 

]\Ir.  Clark's  life  was  a  busy  and  useful  one, 
until  he  was  obliged  by  the  weight  of  j'ears  to  re- 
tire from  active  business.  His  career  has  been 
distinguished  by  strict  integrity  and  a  uniform 
kindliness  that  has  endeared  him  to  all  vvho  were 
privileged  to  enjoy  his  intimate  acquaintance. 
No  blemish  or  shadow  of  wrong-doing  has  ever 
fallen  across  the  open  page  of  his  life,  and  his  de- 
clining years  are  being  spent  in  quiet  retirement, 
after  a  well-spent  and  prosperous  business  career. 
His  wife,  the  worthy  helpmate  of  a  long  life,  still 
lives  and  shares  with  hir  husband  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  nianv  friends. 


i^^ 


ICNRY  CL  HALL  is  a  grain  and  commission 
merchant  of  Paxton,  III.,  and  one  of  the 
leading  liusiness  men  of  the  city.  He  is  a 
[^^  native  of  Indiana,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Fountain  Connty,  (ui  the  1  1th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1841,  and  he  is  a  son  of  .lames  I),  and  Eliza 
(Wisman)  Ihill.  in  Feliru:ny,  1852,  when  a  lad  of 
eleven  years,  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents, 
who  settled  in  what  is  now  known  as  Henderson '^ 
Grove,  N'ermiiion  Connty,  since  included  in  Ford 
County.  In  the  nsual  manner  of  fanner  lads,  he 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and.  attended  the 
piililic  schools  of  the  pioneer  days  of   that   region. 


546 


PORTRAIT  AND  UIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Coming  to  Paxton,  he  began  business  m  his  pres- 
ent line  of  trade  in  INIareh,  IHtJ'i,  and  was  associ- 
ated with  Tim  Ross,  under  the  lirni  name  of  Ilall 
ife  Ross,  at  Gibson,  as  general  deah'rs  in  grain  until 
1889, since  which  time  it  has  been  known  as T.  Koss 
&  Co. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1872,  an  important 
event  occurred  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Hall.  He  was 
married  in  Paxton  to  Miss  Mary  Pierpont,  daugh- 
ter of  Leonard  I'iei-pont,  and  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, who  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in  18;")8. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  IMr.  ami  Mrs. 
Hall,  three  daughters  and  one  son,  and  the  family 
circle  'yet  remains  unbroken.  They  are  Blary  T., 
Bertha  M.,  Edith  and  Pierpont.  All  were  born  in 
Paxton,  where  Mr.  Hall  has  made  his  home  since 
1860,  or  for  a  period  covering  almost  a  third  of  a 
century. 

In  his  [Kilitical  atliliations,  Mr.  Hall  is  a  Republi- 
can, having  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  at  the  election  of  1864.  For 
six  years,  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Paxton 
City  Council,  proving  a  capable  and  efficient  of- 
ficer. In  their  religious  views,  he  and  his  wife  are 
Congregationalists,  holding  membership  with  tlie 
church  of  tliat  denomination  in  Paxton. 

\'  ^  ETER  C.  BOWEN,  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
))'  tiers  of  Illinois,  was  born  in  Montgomery 
County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  8th  of  .January, 
1816,  and  is  a  son  of  Caleb  and  Ruth  (Ran- 
dall) Bowen.  The  great-graudfatiier  of  Mr.  Bowen 
on  the  paternal  side  came  from  Wales  and  settled 
in  Montgomei'v  County,  N.  Y.,  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  in  which  Peter  Bowen,  the  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  served. 

Caleb  Bowen,  the  father,  was  born  October  5, 
1790,  in  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  married  to  Miss  Ran- 
dall, who  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  though  her 
grandfather,  on  her  mother's  side,  w.as  from  Ire- 
land. When  two  ycar.s  of  age,  she  emigrated  with 
her  parents  from  her  native  vState  to  Montgomery 
County.     Caleb  Bowen  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade, 


and  in  1838  came  by  wagon  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Augusta,  Hancock  County,  where  he  improved  a 
farm  for  another  man,  on  which  he  continued  to 
reside  until  1845.  IJemoving  to  INIason  County, 
he  purclia.sed  a  farm  and  improved  it.  and  there 
he  and  his  wife  si)ent  the  remainder  of  their  da3'S. 
In  their  family  were  nine  children,  three  sons  and 
six  daughters,  of  whom  only  three  are  still  living. 

Peter  C.  Bowen  is  the  ehlest  child  of  the  above 
family  and  was  reared  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  re- 
ceiving but  a  limited  education  at  the  district 
schools.  Until  twent3-eight  years  of  age,  he  re- 
mained at  liome  helping  his  father  to  develop  a 
good  farm,  which  was  then  divided,  our  subject's 
share  being  forty  acres.  By  industry,  he  increased 
his  land  until  he  wa^  the  i)ossessor  of  one  hundred 
and  sixt}'  acres,  which  he  sold,  and  then  removed  to 
Hancock  County,  where  he  bought  the  same 
amount.  The  Wabash  Railroad  ran  through  his 
farm,  and  he  laid  out  the  town,  which  was  called 
Bowen  in  his  honor.  In  1864,  he  wemoved  to 
Logan  County  and  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  through  which  a  railroad  ran, 
but  afterward  sold  this  and  went  to  McLean 
County,  where  he  purchased  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  Financial  difficulties  overtaking  him, 
he  came  to  Gibson  City,  where  for  four  years 
he  was  night  policeman,  and.  in  1885,  was  police- 
man in  the  Legislature  of  the  State.  Since  that 
year  he  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
in  Giljson. 

In  iNIason  County,  111.,  on  the  17th  of  June, 
1845,  Mr.  Bowen  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  Camp,  a  native  of  Morgan  County,  this 
State.  She  died  Noveml)er  21),  1846,  leaving  one 
son,  William  IL,  an  enteri)rising  merchant  of  Gib- 
son City.  Mr.  liowen  w.as  again  married,  August 
2,  1849,  this  time  to  Sarah  A.  Layman,  but  she, 
too,  w.as  called  to  her  final  rest,  .July  16,  1878. 
By  this  marriage  he  became  the  father  of  five  chil- 
dren, but  only  one  is  now  living,  Charles  E.,  the 
well-known  actor.  His  present  wife  was  Martha 
A.  .Snediker,  whom  he  married  September  29,  1880. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Bowen  was  a  Whig 
until  the  rise  of  the  Republican  party,  when  he  be- 
came one  of  its  supporters,  but  since  Grant's  sec- 
ond terra  he  has   been  atflliating   with   the  Democ- 


1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


547 


racy,  of  which  he  is  a  stanch  advocate,  though  not 
an  olllce-seeker.  Religiously,  he  has  been  a  mem- 
bei-  of  the  Methodist  E|)iscopal  Church  for  fifty- 
one  years  and  is  one  of  the  active  workers  in  his 
Master's  vinej'ard.  lie  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth 
and  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  whi)  know  him  as 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  community. 
Socially,  he  is  a  Master  M.isou. 


f/_^KNRY  T.  STEINMANN  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  on  section  3,  Wall  Town- 
ship, lie  may  well  be  called  one  of  the 
^)  self-made  men  of  the  county,  for  when  he 
started  out  in  life  fur  himself  he  had  no  capital 
save  a  3'ouug  man's  bright  ho|)e  of  the  future  and 
a  determination  to  succeed,  and  he  has  succeeded. 
By  his  industrj'  and  enterprise,  he  has  worked  his 
way  upward  and  is  now  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm 
which  yields  him  a  good  income. 

Mr.  Steinmann  was  born  in  the  town  of  Blots- 
lieim,  Prussia,  on  the  9th  of  August,  1838,  and 
was  the  fourth  child  of  Gerhardt  Steinmann  who 
is  mentioned  in  the  sketch  of  Frederick  Steinmann 
on  another  page  of  this  work.  Our  subject  grew 
to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  acquired  his 
education  in  the  public  schools,  which  he  attended 
between  the  ages  of  six  and  fourteen  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  twenty-eight  j'ears,  wiien,  witli  his 
father,  he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America, 
in  1866,  sailing  from  Bremen  to  New  Orleans, 
where  he  anived  about  ten  weeks  later.  He  then 
went  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  St.  Louis,  where 
lie  si)ent  a  short  time,  after  which  he  resided  for 
one  year  in  La  Salle  County,  working  as  a  farm 
hand+by  the  month.  The  year  1868  witnessed  Ins 
arrival  in  Ford  County,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  He  rented  land  for  five  years  and  then 
bought  eighty  acres  on  section  4,  Wall  Township, 
where  he  has  since  c.nrried  on  general  farming  and 
stock-raising. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Steinmann 
occurred  ere  leaving  his  native  land — his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Cliarlotte  Winter,  who  was  born  in 
Sockhausen,  and  roared  in  the  same  neiii;hborliood 


as  her  husband.  Their  union  was  celebrated  in 
April,  1851,  and  has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of 
three  children:  Henry,  who  was  born  in  (Jermany, 
and  died  in  his  native  land;  Henry,  the  second  of 
that  name,  who  was  born  in  German^'  and  is  a 
merchant  of  Roberts,  111.;  and  Frank,  who  was 
born  in  Ford  County  and  is  still  living  on  the 
htune  farm.  The  sons  were  given  good  educations 
both  in  German  and  English. 

Mr.  Steinmann  and  his  family  hold  membership 
with  the  Lutheran  Church  and  are  quite  promi- 
nent people  in  this  community,  being  held  in  high 
esteem  for  their  sterling  worth.  In  addition  to 
the  property  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Steinmann  owns 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  good  land.  In 
politics,  our  subject  is  a  Republican  and  cist  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  (irant.  He  has 
served  as  School  Director  and  is  a  warm  friend  of 
educational  and  other  interests  calculated  to  bene- 
fit the  communit3\  but  has  never  sought  public 
office,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  attention  to 
his  business,  and  the  success  which  has  crowned  his 
efforts  shows  the  wisdom  of  this  course. 


^^Tl= 


,p^  AMUEL  G.  RANDLES,  who  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  f>n  his  farm  on  section  18, 
Patton  Township,  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive citizens  and  honored  pioneers  of  the 
county.  A  native  of  the  Empire  State,  he  was 
born  in  W.asliington  County,  under  the  shadows 
of  the  Green  Mountailis,  October  15,  1830.  The 
family  is  of  Irish  origin  and  was  founded  in 
America  by  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Hugh 
Randies,  who  left  his  home  on  the  Emerald  Isle 
and  Ijecami  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Washing- 
ton County,  N.  V 

In  that  county.  William  Randies,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  and  reared,  acquiring  a  g(;od  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  schools.  lie  served  as  a  sol- 
dier on  the  north  frontier  in  the  War  of  1812. 
After  lie  had  anived  at  man's  estate,  he  married 
Nancy  (iiilhrie,  also  a  native  of  New  York,  and 
after  his  marriage  engaged  in  farming  in  Washing- 
ton County,  whure   he  reared  his  family  and  S[)ent 


548 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


the  greater  pari  of  Lis  life.  The  death  of  his  wife 
occurred  iu  1857.  and  in  1868  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  spent  two  3'ears  wilii  his  son,  but  on  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  returned  to  his  old  home, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1870,  an  hon- 
ored and  I'especled  old  gentleman.  lie  held  dur- 
ing his  life  several  local  otlicial  [)Ositions  of  honor 
and  trust  and  was  a  lifelong  member  of  the  Pres- 
byto-ian  Church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  took  an 
AcWfe  interest. 

Our  subject  is  tiie  third  in  order  of  birtli  in  a 
family  of  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom 
four  sous  are  yet  living.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  count}'^  and  his  youth  was  spent  upon 
a  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  common  school. 
He  afterwards  completed  his  education  in  a  higiier 
school  in  his  native  State.  He  then  engaged  in 
teaching,  which  profession  he  followed  for  several 
years  during  the  winter  months,  while  in  the  sum- 
mer season  he  worked  upon  a  farm.  Wlien  he 
had  attained  to  man's  estate,  he  engaged  in  clerk- 
ing for  about  a  year,  wlien  tlie  sickness  of  his 
father  called  him  from  the  store  to  the  liome  farm, 
and  he  afterwards  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
iu   partnership  with  his  brothers  for  several  jears. 

On  the  30th  of  November,  186"!,  Mr.  Randies 
and  Miss  Margaret  P.  Barkiey  were  married.  The 
lady  was  also  a  native  of  Washington  County,  N.  Y., 
and  a  daugiiter  of  Robert  Barkiey,  who  was  born 
on  the  Emerald  Isle  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  a  youngman.  In  1867,  Mr.  Randies  brought 
his  family  to  Ford  County,  III.,  locating  on  a  farm 
adjoining  the  then  small  village  of  Paxton.  His 
land  was  but  slightly  improved,  but  he  has  had  it 
tiled,  built  good  barns  and  oilier  outbuildings,  a 
comfortable  residence,  and  made  other  improve- 
ments which  have  transformed  the  farm  into  one 
of  the  valuable  places  in  tlie  count3^  With  the 
exception  of  one  j'ear  spent  in  mercantile  pursuits 
in  Paxton,  he  has  devoted  his  energies  to  nothing 
but  agricultural  pursuits.  However,  he  is  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  after  many  years  spent  in  faith- 
ful labor  which  brought  him  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence and  now  enables  him  to  rest  from  active 
business. 

In  188;5,  Mr.  Randies  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife.     Two  children  had  been  born 


of  that  union:  Willie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sis 
months,  iu  1868,  aud  Hattie,  who  died  May  2, 
1879,  in  her  fifteenth  year.  On  tlie  8th  of  Jul}', 
1891,  Mr.  Randies  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Mrs.  Lucretia  Wilson,  who  was 
horn  and  reared  in  Indiana.  Her  father,  .John 
Castle,  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina  and  became 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Hoosier  State.  He 
removed  with  his  family  to  Iowa  when  his  daugh- 
ter was  a  maiden  of  sixteen  summers.  In  Albia, 
Monroe  County,  that  State,  she  afterwards  became 
the  wife  of  David  Wilson,  who  was  one  of  the  bo^'s 
in  blue  during  the  late  war,  serving  in  an  Indiana 
regiment.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  afterwards  came 
to  Ford  County,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Pat^ 
ton  Township  for  a  number  of  years  prior  to  his 
death.  Two  children  were  borp  unto  them  but 
both  are  now  deceased:  Anna  Eudora,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  ten  \'ears,  and  Laura  Amanda,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  six  years. 

jMr.  and  Mrs.  Randies  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Paxton,  of  which  he  is  an 
Ehler.  This  worthy  couple  rank  high  in  social 
circles  and  are  well  and  favorably  known  through- 
out the  community,  being  greatly  esteemed  by 
their  many  friends.  They  well  deserve  represen- 
tation in  this  volume  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that 
we  record  their  sketch- 


iii^ 


eHARLES  A.   NORDGREN    is  a  member  of 
.  the  firm    of    R.   Cruzen    &    Co..    hardware 
,      merchants  of  Paxton,  and  is  recognized  as 

one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  the  jilace.  His 
life  record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  Wester- 
gotland,  Sweden,  on  the  23d  of  October,  1861, 
and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Caroline  Nordgren. 
He  received  liberal  educational  advantages,  pur- 
suing a  collegiate  course  in  Jonkoping  College, 
and,  at  the  age  of  t\ventj%  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
America.  This  was  in  1881.  The  first  year  after 
his  arrival  iu  tiie  United  States  was  spent  in  Chi- 
cago and  in  1882,  he  came  to  Paxton,  where  he 
secured  a  position  as  salesman  with  the  hardware 
firm  of  Clarke  ik  Cruzen,  serving  these  gentlemen 


i^M.ccn  t' 


'^'-(yiAX^^ 


((2ii<^  ^iAA 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


553 


ill  tli;it  capacity  until  1!S',M),  wlioii  he  bought  an 
iiiti'ivst  in  tlie  liusinos.s  aiul  has  since  been  a  iiiem- 
lier  of  the  linn. 

On  the  nth  of  Felinmry,  1885,  Mr.  Nordgren 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Emma  S.  Krickson, 
a  (iaiighler  of  .lohn  Eiickson.  The  lady  is  also  a 
native  of  Sweden  and,  when  a  maiden,  came  to 
America,  taking  up  her  residence  in  Paxton.  The 
father  of  our  subject  died  in  the  Old  Country  but 
his  mother  still  survives  and  is  yet  living  in  .Swe- 
den. 

Since  becoming  an  American  citizen,  Mi"-  Nord- 
gren has  held  the  views  of  the  Republican  party 
but  has  never  sought  or  desired  official  preferment. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Paxton  Camp,  'SI.  W.  A., 
and  he  and  his  wife  hold  meinbershii)  with  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church  of  this  place.  An  active 
young  business  man  is  Mr.  Nordgren  and  a  thor- 
ough master  of  his  business,  and  lie  also  maintains 
an  excellent  reputation  for  integrity  and  fair  and 
honest  dealing.  The  firm  receives  a  liberal  pat- 
ronage, of  which  it  is  well  deserving. 


i 


■5o~~ ^ 

■^ffAMES  B.  FOLEY,  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Drummer  Township,  who  is  also 
extensively  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  tine 
horses,  owns  a  i)leasant  home  on  section  20. 
He  w.as  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  October  30, 
1847,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Burnside) 
Foley,  natives  of  Washington  County',  Pa.  They 
were  married  in  that  county  in  1844.  Shortly 
afterward  they  removed  to  Ohio,  and  wlien  our 
subject  was  a  child  of  three  summers,  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  on  a  farm  in  Putnam  County,  where 
they  resided  until  1891.  In  that  year,  they  re- 
moved to  Gibson  City,  where  they  are  now  living 
retired.  Both  are  members  of  the  Presbytcri.an 
Church,  and  are  highly  respected  people.  In  his 
political  alliliations,  Mr.  Foley  is  a  Republican,  and 
is  a  very  prominent  citizen.  Tlu'  children  of  the 
family,  eight  in  numlier,  are  as  follows:  lMary,now 
deceased;  James,  of  this  sketch:  Martin,  William 
C,  Martha,  Anna,  Elmer  and  Frank.  In  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads,  James  15.  Foley  was  reared 
23 


to  manhood.  His  primary  education,  acquired  in 
the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  was  sup- 
plemented by  a  year's  study  in  the  Normal  School, 
of  Normal,  HI.,  and  one  year  in  the  University  of 
niinois,  and  he  was  thus  well  fitted  for  business. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  twentj'- 
two  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  and  engaged  in  farming  through  the  sum- 
mer months  .and  teaching  in  the  winter  season,  fol- 
lowing the  latter  profession  for  eight  terms.  An 
important  event  in  his  life  occurred  on  the  24th 
of  December,  1874,  when  was  celebrated  his  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Olive  Skeel,  who  was  lioin  in  Put- 
nam County,  111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  L.  li.  and 
Flora  (Morrison)  Skeel,  who  were  of  Welsh  and 
Scotch  descent.  Two  children  have  been  born  of 
their  union,  but  F'rank  V.,the  younger  son,  is  now 
deceased.     John  L.  is  still  with  his  parents. 

In  1874,  Mr.  F^oley  came  to  this  county  and  is 
now  numbered  among  its  most  substantial  farmers. 
He  owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable 
land,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved,  and  in  connection  vvith  general  farming, 
he  makes  a  specialty  of  the  breeding  of  fine  horses. 
In  1887,  he  made  a  trip  to  England  to  purchase 
heavy  draft  horses.  He  now  has  fifteen  full-blooded 
shire  horses  on  his  farm.  Mrs.  Foley  accompanied 
him  to  the  old  world.  The^'  visited  Glasgow, 
Edinburg,  Perth,  Sterling  and  Alierdeen,  in  Scot- 
land, and  Manchester,  Liverpool,  Leeds,  Rugby  and 
Shefiield,  England.  They  spent  four  days  in  the 
city  of  London,  being  present  at  the  time  of 
Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee,  in  September,  1887,  when 
was  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  her  reign. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foley  were  admitted  to  see  the  i)res- 
ents  given  the  Oueeu. 

Mr.  Foley  has  led  a  busy  life,  yet  has  found 
time  to  serve  his  fellow-citizens  in  public  posi- 
tions, having  filled  the  offices  of  Highway  Com- 
missioner and  School  Trustee.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Republican  and  one  of  the  stalwart  advocates  of 
that  party's  principles.  Himself  and  wife  are 
prominent  members  and  active  workeis  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  Mr.  Foley  has  served  .as 
an  officer  both  in  church  and  Sunday-school.  In 
May,  1892,  he  was  one  of  the  commissioners 
elected   by  the  Bloomington  I'resbytery  as  its  rep- 


554 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGEAIillCAL   RECORD. 


resesentatives  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Fourth 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His 
wife  accompanied  him.  They  made  the  journey 
by  way  of  the  Union  Pacific  Hailroad  and  returned 
by  the  Nortliern  Pacific.  Mr.  Foley  is  a  charitable 
and  benevolent  man,  iniblic-spiritcd  and  progres- 
sive, and  has  the  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he 
has  come  in  contact. 


4^ 


=^|e 


?RANK  S.  DAVIS,  one  of  the  oldest  native 
irAVS"  citizens  of  Fold  County,  and  a  resident  of 
/li,  Gibson  Citj',  was  born  in  Drummer  Town- 

ship, .September  24,  185'J.  lie  is  a  son  of  Dr.,).  E. 
and  Ellen  (Hall)  Davis,  the  former  a  native  of 
Dublin,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  in 
early  life  began  the  study  of  medicine,  laler  grad- 
uating from  the  Cincinnati  Eclectic  Medical  Col- 
lege. Soon  after  his  graduation,  he  went  South  and 
practiced  in  Rodnej'  and  Grand  Gulf,  Miss.,  and 
during  the  cholera  scourge  remained  at  his  post  of 
duty,  while  many  other  doctors  fied  the  countr}'. 

In  Mississippi,  Dr.  Davis  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Hall,  a  native  of  Indiana.  About  1849, 
the  Doctor  came  to  Saybrook,  McLean  County, 
111.,  there  practicing  about  a  year,  when  he  came 
to  Ford  Count}^  He  had  an  extensive  practice 
and,  as  he  accumulated  means,  bought  land,  until 
he  owned  seven  hundred  and  five  acres,  wliich  he 
greatly  improved  and  cultivated.  He  was  also 
agent  for  much  of  the  land  in  this  county.  Through 
him,  J.  B.  Lott  bought  the  tract  on  which  Gib,son 
City  was  built.  He  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen 
and  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  many  official  posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust  in  the  county,  including 
that  of  Supervisor  and  man}' minor  ones.  In  pol- 
itics, he  was  a  Whig  in  early  life,  but  since  the  rise 
of  the  Republican  party  has  been  one  of  its  stanch 
advocates.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention 
that  nominated  "Dick"  Yates  for  Governor,  beinar 
one  of  his  earnest  supporters.  On  account  of 
rheumatism,  he  has  had  to  abandon  his  practice 
and  for  the  last  two  years  has  lived  a  retired  life. 
Socially',  he  is  a   member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

Until   1875,  Dr.  Davis    remained  on   his  farm. 


which  he  then  sold.  In  addition  to  farming  and 
practicing  medicine,  he  was  extensively  engaged  in 
handling  live  stock,  in  partnership  with  another. 
Financial  reverses  ovotook  them  and,  as  the  Doc- 
tor was  a  responsible  man,  it  devolved  upon  him 
to  pay  #2 1,000,  which  took  nearly  all  the  accumu- 
lations of  his  many  years  of  toil  and  sacrifice. 
Coming  to  Gibson  City,  he  practiced  medicine, 
while  his  wife  and  son  ran  the  Gault  House,  but 
in  1881,  he  removed  to  Bloomington,  remaining 
there  two  years  and  then  went  to  Chicago,  where 
he  and  his  wife  still  live.  He  was  a  very  successful 
physician  and  during  his  entire  practice  never 
lost  a  case  of  lung  fever.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
In  their  family  were  eight  children,  of  whom 
seven  still  survive,  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Frank  S.  Davis,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
roared  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm  and  re- 
ceived his  literary  educ.-ition  in  the  district  schools 
of  this  county.  With  his  parents,  he  came  to 
Gilison  City,  and  assisted  his  mother  in  running 
the  hotel,  but  when  his  parents  moved  to  Bloom- 
ington, he  went  to  Grundy  County,  111.,  where  he 
clerked  in  a  grocery  store  and  assisted  in  carrying 
on  a  creamer^-.  Returning  to  Gibson  City,  he 
there  remained  for  a  time  and  then  removed  to  a 
farm  which  he  carried  on  until  1891,  when  he 
went  to  Vermilion  Parish,  La.,  there  j)urchasing 
rice  land.  Rheumatism  caused  him  again  to  re- 
turn to  Gibson  Cit}',  where  he  is  now  engaged  as  a 
book-keeper  for  the  firm  of  Kisser,  Holmes  & 
White,  Grain  Elevator  Company. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Davis  was  celebrated  in 
Gibson  City,  on  the  2d  of  December,  1880,  when 
he  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  IMiss  Ida  R,  Meeks,  a 
native  of  JIcLean  County,  and  a  daughter  of  Win- 
ston and  CheurLssa  (Crigler)  Meeks.  Her  parents 
were  both  born  in  Virginia  and  came  in  the  same 
colony  to  Me  Lean  County,  in  1850,  which  they 
made  their  home  until  1873,  when  they  came  to 
this  county,  where  the  father  afterward  died  and 
the  mother  still  makes  her  home.  Of  the  four 
children  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  BIrs.  Davis  is 
the  eldest.  The  family  circle  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  has  been  increased  by  the  birth  of  six 
children:  Earl  M.,  Mamie  R.,  Tottie  M.,  Thomas  E., 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


555 


Dora  D.  .iiid  Kdiia  M.  Tlie  mother  of  tliis  faniilj' 
lioldi  nieinlifisliii)  with  Ibo  C'umbeilaiul  rresb}'- 
terian  Church  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its 
work. 

In  |)olilical  sentiment,  Mr.  Davis  is  a  Ucinililican, 
and  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  that  party.  He  has 
served  a  year  as  Town  Clerk  and  a  year  as  City 
Clerk.  In  social  circles,  he  ranks  high  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Modern 
Woodmen. 


AMUEL  W.  NEWLIN,  a  contractor  and 
builder,  residing  in  Paxton,  is  one  of  the 
111  well-known  citizens  and  business  men  of 
Ford  County,  and  we  feel  assured  that  this 
record  of  his  life  will  be  received  with  interest  by 
many  of  our  readers.  He  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery County,  Ind.,  on  the  18th  of  October,  1834, 
and  is  of  English  descent.  His  father,  John  New- 
lin,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  the  Ncwlin  family  being 
numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  Buckeye 
State.  He  there  grew  to  manhood  and,  after  at- 
taining to  mature  years,  wedded  Mary  Denniston, 
also  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  removed  thence  to 
Indiana,  locating  in  Waynetown,  Montgomery 
County,  where  Mr.  Newlin  followed  his  trade  of 
coopering,  and  also  operated  a  farm  which  he 
owned  close  by.  He  lost  his  wife  about  183U,and, 
after  a  few  years,  married  again.  Subsequently, 
he  removed  to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  and  later 
to  Putnam  County,  111.,  where  his  death  occurred 
in  18.54. 

After  the  death  of  his  mother,  .Samuel  Newlin 
went  to  live  with  an  aunt,  with  whom  he  resided 
until  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  the  lady 
was  called  to  her  final  rest.  Two  years  later,  he 
began  .serving  an  a|)prenticesliip  to  the  carpenter's 
trade,  working  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  then 
continued  to  follow  his  choien  trade  in  Indiana 
until  18,57,  when  he  went  to  Kansas  and  was  em- 
ployed as  a  cariienter  and  builder  in  Atchison 
until  the  w-ar.  Promi)ted  by  i)atriotic  impulses 
and    desiring  to  aid  his  country  in   her  efforts  to 


preserve  the  Union,  he  enlisted,  on  the  8th  of 
September,  18G1,  as  a  member  of  Company  C, 
Eighth  Kansas  Infuntry,  serving  until  his  discharge 
in  September,  1861.  For  the  first  eighteen  months 
he  was  on  guard  dutj-  on  the  frontier  of  Kansas. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
where  he  received  a  gun-shot  wound  in  the  foot 
which  disabled  him  for  further  service,  and  for 
several  months  he  was  in  the  hospital  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky.  He  then  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kan., 
where  he  was  mustered  out,  his  three-j^ears'  term  of 
enlistment  having  expired. 

After  receiving  his  discharge,  Mr.  Newlin  came 
to  Paxton,  111.,  to  visit  relatives  and  recuperate  his 
health,  which  was  broken  down  through  hard  ser- 
vice, and  after  this  object  was  accomplished,  he 
decided  here  to  locate  and  engage  in  cabinet-mak- 
ing for  a  year.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to 
carpentering,  and  for  a  (juarter  of  a  century  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders 
of  Paxton.  For  the  first  ten  years,  his  work  was 
mostly  in  the  adjoining  country,  but  since  that 
time  he  has  been  emplojed  almost  exclusively  in  the 
city  and  some  of  the  best  residences  of  Paxton  are 
his  handiwork. 

A  marriage  ceremony,  performed  October  29, 
1869,  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Newlin  and  Miss 
May  A.  Copeland,  who  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio  and  Illinois, 
coming  to  this  State  when  a  maiden  of  thirteen 
summers.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
been  born  t'we  children:  Frederick  F.,  a  well-edu- 
cated young  man,  now  studying  dentistry  in  Pax- 
ton; Willie  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  Paxton  High 
School,  now  working  at  the  carpenter's  trade  with 
his  father;  Gertrude  L.  and  Myrtle  1!.,  who  attend 
the  home  schools.  They  also  lost  three  children  in 
infancy  or  early  childhood,  namely:  Evalina,  Lcona 
and  Harry. 

Mr.  Newlin  cast  his  first  Presidential  ballot  for 
Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  and  has  since  been  identified 
with  the  IJeiniblican  party.  As  every  true  Ameri- 
can citizen  should  do,  he  feels  an  interest  in  politi- 
cal affairs  liut  has  never  sought  or  desired  prefer- 
ment for  himself,  lie  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  Chini-li  of  Paxton,  and  he  also 
belongs  to  the  (irand  Army  Post  and  the  Mjisonio 


556 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


orders  of  this  cit}'.  Mr.  Nowliii  is  well  anil  favora- 
bly known  as  a  straightforward  business  man 
whose  dealings  have  ever  been  eharaeterized  by 
uprightness, and  botli  in  business  and  social  circles 
he  is  highly  esteemed. 


-^3. 


^+^ 


[^ 


/p^EORGE  W.  15.  JOIIiS.SON,  Road  Comniis- 
[II  ^ — ;  sioner  of  Drummer  Township,  was  born  in 

^^  McLean  County,  111,  July  U!,  1«15,  and  is 
a  son  of  Isaac  and  Margaret  (Barnett)  .lohnson. 
The  former  was  born  in  Kentucky-,  where  his  par- 
ents were  married,  but  his  father  was  from  Ireland 
and  his  mother  from  Wales.  In  his  native  State, 
Isaac  Johnson  grew  to  manhood  and  married  Bliss 
Barnett,  who  was  also  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
though  her  father  was  of  English  and  her  mother 
of  German  extraction.  Her  father,  Moses  Barnett, 
was  an  extensive  horse-raiser  and  the  Morgan 
stock  of  horses  is  traced  back  to  Barnett 's  "Money 
Changer."  Among  the  first  settlers  of  McLean 
County,  111.,  were  Mr.  Barnett  and  his  family-,  and 
prior  to  "the  winter  of  the  deep  snow,"  1830,  the 
Johnson  family  also  came  to  the  same  county,  both 
families  locating  in  the  same  community.  John- 
son's Point  of  Buckle's  Grove  was  named  in  honor 
of  Isaac  Johnson's  father.  Both  the  Johnsons  and 
Barnetts  passed  through  all  the  hardshii)S  of  |)io- 
neer  life  in  Illinois,  and  so  scarce  were  the  ordinary 
implements  used  on  a  farm,  that  Margaret  Barnett 
rode  fifteen  miles  on  horseback  to  borrow  an 
auger. 

In  McLean  County,  111.,  Isaac  Johnson  and  Miss 
Margaret  Barnett  were  married  in  1833,  he  being 
nineteen  years  of  age  and  she  seventeen.  They  be- 
gan their  domestic  life  in  an  old-time  log  cabin. 
In  his  younger  years,  Mr.  Johnson  farmed,  but  later 
worked  at  the  plasterer's  trade.  Though  deprived 
of  school  advantages,  he  became  a  well-informed 
man,  especially  in  the  .Scriptures,  and  for  many 
years  was  a  local  minister  in  the  Missionary  Baptist 
Church.  For  six  or  seven  years  lefore  his  death, 
he  was  an  invalid  from  rheumatism  and  heart 
trouble  and  was  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1864.  In 
politics,  he  was  first  a  Whig,  and  subseipiently  an 


Abolitionist,  but  on  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican i>arty,  he  joined  its  ranks  and  became  one 
of  its  stalwart  supporters.  His  wife,  who  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  Church,  died 
in  1888.  In  their  family  were  thirteen  children, 
seven  sons  and  six  daughters,  of  whom  nine  are 
still  living.  Five  of  the  boys  served  their  country 
during  the  late  war,  the  eldest,  AVilliam  (i.,  being 
a  member  of  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventh  Illinois  Infantr}',  serving  in  the  cai)acity 
of  a  blacksmith;  Andrew  joined  Company  C, 
Twentieth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  after  serving  a 
short  time  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability; 
Thomas  served  in  Company  C,  Twentieth  Illinois 
Infantry,  three  jears,  and  then  veteranized  but 
died  in  Andersonville  Prison,  on  the  llth  of 
February,  1861;  Joshua  H.  served  three  years  in 
Company  I,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
tlieu   veteranized,  serving   in  all  nearly  Ave  years. 

George  W.  B.  Johnson,  who  served  in  the  same 
company,  is  the  sixth  child  in  the  above  family'. 
He  was  reared  McLean  County  and  received  his 
education  in  the  old  log  schoolhouse.  When  four- 
teen 3ears  of  age,  he  began  carrying  mail  from 
Bloomington  to  Champaign  on  horseback,  a  dis- 
tance of  flfty-one  miles,  making  the  trip  twice  a 
week,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  three  years. 

In  August,  1863,  Mr.  Johnson  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany I,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  his 
regiment  was  sent  to  the  Army  of  the  James.  The 
first  battle  in  which  he  participated  was  Bermuda 
Hundred, and  was  followed  by  the  battles  of  Duras 
Bluff,  Weir  Bottom  Church,  siege  of  Petersburg, 
Deep  Bottom,  Chapen's  Fiirm,  and  Darliytown 
Crossroads,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  knee, 
injuring  him  for  life.  This  was  followed  by  the 
battles  of  Ft.  Gregg  and  Appomattox  Court 
House.  In  all,  he  was  in  twenty-three  engage- 
ments, or  in  all  in  which  his  regiment  took  part 
after  he  joined  it.  He  was  discharged  at  Richmond, 
on  the  2d  of  May,  186.5. 

Returning  to  McLean  County,  Mr.  Johnson  en- 
gaged in  farming,  and  on  the  3d  of  April,  1867,- 
married  Sarah  Ferguson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  By 
this  union  were  born  nine  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Ernest  E.,  .lohn  I.,  Harry  F.,  Mary 
E.  and  Georgie  B.     Upon  his  marriage,  our  subject 


.^>^" 


.^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


659 


came  to  Ford  County,  where  lie  suijcrintcndcd  the 
breaking  and  improving  of  a  large  farm,  but  a 
3'ear  later  returned  to  McLean  County  and  carried 
on  mole  ditching.  In  1870,  lie  .again  came  to  Ford 
Count}-  and  engaged  in  fanning,  but  in  the  year 
1875,  he  superintended  one  of  the  Sullivant  farms 
in  Sullivant  Township.  The  following  year,  he 
came  to  Gibson  City,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  dealing  in  live  stock. 

On  the  27th  of  December,  18.S8,  Mrs.  .Tohnson 
was  called  home,  being  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  .Johnson  was 
again  married,  August  22,  1889.  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Z. 
lirickey,  daughter  of  Lemuel  N.  and  Elsa  A.  (IJrad- 
ford)  IMshop.  Mrs.  .Johnson  was  born  in  Me- 
chanicsliurg,  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  August  19, 
1819,  and  when  two  and  a  half  years  old  came 
with  her  parents  to  McLean  Count}',  111.,  where,  on 
the  28th  of  December,  18G9,  she  wedded  .John  II. 
Brickey,  who  was  a  school  teacher  by  profession. 
He  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  political  sentiment 
and  was  Assessor  of  his  townshij)  for  eight  ^-cars. 
lie  departed  this  life  October  1,  1883,  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  liiiu. 

Mv.  .Johnson  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of  that  party 
l)ut  has  never  been  an  offlce-seeker.  In  1891,  lie 
was  chosen  Roa<l  Commissioner  and  is  now  filling 
that  olRce  to  the  s.atisfaetion  of  all  concerned. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Lott  Post  No.  70 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Gibson  City,  in  wliii-h  he  lias  filled  tlic 
office  of  Vice-Commander. 


■^T]  C.  LINN,  who  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  section  32,  Pella 
Township,  was  born  in  Ucach  Creek,  Clin- 
_  ton  County,  Pa.,. June  12,  1830.  His  father, 
Tlionias  Linn,  w.as  a  native  of  Centre  County,  and 
engaged  in  fanning  and  cliopping  wood  for  an  iron 
furnace.  lie  married  Rachel  Laynion,  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Kejstone  State,  and  in  1857  came  with 
his  family  to  the  West,  locating  in  Platlville,  Ken- 
dall County,  111.,  wliere  he  resided  for  several 
years.     Tlie  last  six  years  of  iiis  life  were  spent  in 


Chatsworth,  where  he  died  in  1885.  He  was  a  life- 
long Democrat  and  w.as  a  good  business  man.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
pa.ssed  away  two  }'ears  before  the  death  of  her 
husband.  The)-  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two 
daughters:  Joseph,  who  is  now  living  in  Colorado; 
.J.  C,  of  this  sketch;  Thomas,  who  served  in  tiie 
army  and  died  from  the  effects  of  its  hardships; 
Harris,  a  resident  of  Livingston  County;  Mrs.  Sa- 
rah Sanders,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Barnuin,  a  widow  of 
Livingston  County. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Mr.  Linn 
whose  name  heads  this  record.  He  was  reared  to 
manhood  u])on  a  farm  in  Clinton  County,  and  ac- 
quiied  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  which 
he  attended  only  in  the  winter  season,  his  w.ay 
leading  over  the  ridges  and  hills  of  that  commun- 
ity. He  remained  at  home  until  he  had  attained 
his  majority  and  then  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self. He  has  been  twice  married.  In  Clinton 
County,  he  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Gulbreth,  who 
died  in  Pennsylv.ania,  leaving  one  son,  William, 
who  is  now  a  farmer  of  Pella  Township.  Mr.  Linn 
was  again  married,  October  9,  1856,  in  Center 
County,  Pa.,  his  second  union  lieing  with  Drusilla 
Linn,  a  native  of  Clinton  County,  and  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Mary  Linn,  botii  of  whom  are  living 
in  Pennsylv.ania. 

Iiiiiiiediately  after  their  marri.age,  our  subject 
and  his  wife  started  for  Illinois  and  made  a  loca- 
tion in  Kendall  County,  where  Mr.  Linn  engaged 
in  operating  his  father's  farm  for  a  time.  lie  after- 
ward rented  land,  upon  which  he  resided  until  1869, 
when  lie  purchased  one  hundred  .and  sixty  acres  of 
raw  prairie  on  section  32, Pella  Township.  His  labors 
since  tliat  time  have  developed  the  wild  tract  into  a 
rich  and  fertile  farm.  A  neat  residence  has  been  Iniilt, 
shade,  fruit  and  ornamental  trees  set  out,  and  the 
farm  has  been  divided  into  fields  of  convenient 
size  by  good  fences.  In  connection  with  general 
fanning,  Mr.  Linn  engages  in  stock-raising. 

Nine  children  have  been  born  unto  our  subject 
and  his  wife:  (Tcorge,  wiio  w.as  born  in  Kendall 
County,  is  employed  on  the  railroad  at  Savannah; 
Elizabetli  is  the  wife  of  Elias  Doan(\  of  La  S.alle 
County;  Oscar  married  Stella  Davis  and  resides  in 
Cass  County,  N.  Dak.;  I'.clle   is  the  wife  of  lleber 


560 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Allen,  of  Fella   Township;    Morris,  Nellie,  Jennie, 
Irene  and  Bessie  are  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Linn  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  in  1852 
for  Franklin  Pierce,  voted  for  J.  C.  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  since  that  time  has  generally-  supported 
the  Democratic  party.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
Ford  County  since  1869,  has  aided  in  the  advance- 
ment of  its  public  enterprises,  has  ever  borne 
his  share  in  its  development  and  upliuilding,  and 
schools  and  churches  have  found  in  liim  a  friend. 


EI X HOLD  A.  KEITZMANN,  a  prominent 
and  leading  farmer,  residing  on  section  16, 
Wall  Township,  Ford  County,  is  a  native 
^S)  of  Germany.  He  was  born  in  Schonlanke, 
Prussia,  on  the  9th  of  May,  1838.  His  father,  Michael 
Keitzmann,  w.as  born  in  the  same  country,  where 
he  married  Miss  Mina  Yerke,  who  died  in  that 
country  in  1855.  Michael  Keitzmann  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Germany  and  there  engaged  in  f.arm- 
ing  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1856,  when 
he  was  forty  years  of  age.  He  and  his  wife  were 
both  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  are 
now  deceased.  Those  living  are  Julia,  who  resides 
in  Germany;  our  subject  is  next  in  order  of  birth; 
Mina  and  William,  who  still  reside  in  their  native 
land;  llulda,  and  liertha,  who  makes  her  home  in 
Germany. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  farm 
labor  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
land  until  fourteen  j^cars  of  age,  in  accordance 
with  the  laws  of  that  country.  After  leaving  the 
schoolroom,  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  some  time  and  then  entered  the  German  army. 
He  served  in  the  war  with  Austria  in  1864,  re- 
maining in  the  service  seven  months,  and  partici- 
pating in  several  important  battles. 

In  18C6,  Mr.  Keitzmann  decided  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  America,  and  therefore  set  sail  from  Ham- 
burg, and  after  a  voj-age  of  fourteen  days  landed 
in  New  York  Cit^-.  He  did  not  remain  in  the  East, 
but  came  directly  to  Illinois,  going  to  Marshall 
Countj',  where  he  worked  l)y  the  month  as  a  farm- 


hand. He  came  to  this  country  empty-handed 
and  has  had  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
After  farming  in  that  county  for  several  years,  he 
came  to  Ford  County  in  1875,  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine  land, 
which  has  now  been  his  home  for  nearly  twenty 
years.  He  is  a  successful  farmer  and  is  highly  es- 
teemed by  his  neighbors  and  friends  for  his  sterling 
worth.  He  is  progressive  and  industrious  and  is 
one  of  the  self-made  men  of  the  community.  He 
now  carries  on  general  farming  and  his  land  is  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Keitzmann  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Wilhelmcna  Sabel,  the  marriage  ceremony  being 
performed  in  Marshall  County,  in  1872.  The  lady 
is  a  native  of  the  same  country  as  her  husband, 
and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother  of 
nine  children,  of  whom  seven  are  still  living: 
William,  who  assists  his  father  in  the  management 
of  the  home  place;  Augusta,  Emil,  Alvena,  Rein- 
hold,  Otto  and  Eddie,  who  are  still  with  their  par- 
ents. The  children  have  all  received  good  educa- 
tional advantages,  both  in  the  English  an<l  Ger- 
man languages. 

Our  subject  was  formerly  a  Republican  in  politics, 
casting  his  first  vote  for  James  A.  Gartteld,  but 
now  attiliates  with  the  Democrac3'  and  is  a  stnuch 
supporter  of  Grover  Cleveland,  for  whom  he  voted. 
He  and  his  family  hold  membership  with  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church  of  Melvin,  and  are  highly 
respected  people  of  this  communit}-,  where  they 
are  widely  and  favorablv  known. 


ILTON  D.  WORRELL,  Postmaster  of  Gib- 
son City  since  February  10,  1891,  was 
born  in  Wheeling,  in  what  is  now  West 
Virginia,  April  11,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Isabella  (JNIcLean)  Worrell.  His  par- 
ents were  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  when  our 
subject  was  a  year  and  a  half  old,  they  removed 
from  Wheeling  to  Fajette  County,  Ohio.  There 
Milton  D.  passed  his  childhood  and  youth,  receiv- 
ing his   education  in  its  public   schools.     In  1852, 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


561 


he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  jjarents,  settling  in 
Putnam,  and  later  in  La  Salle  County,  lie  was 
employed  in  farming  until  the  fall  of  1851),  when, 
while  threshing,  he  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 
right  arm  near  the  shoulder,  by  having  it  caught 
in  the  cylinder  of  a  threshing  machine.  After 
that  he  worked  at  various  occupations  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war  for  the  Union,  when 
he  .secured  a  pl.ace  in  the  Quartermaster's  Depart- 
ment, as  forageniaster,  at  Nicholasville,  Ky.,  serv- 
ing until  the  close  of  the  war. 

In  18(58,  Mr.  Worrell  settled  at  Molvin,  Ford 
County,  or  at  what  was  the  site  of  the  present 
village, and  hauled  lumlier  from  Loda  to  build  the 
first  house  of  that  place.  From  Melvin  he  came 
to  Gibson,  in  February,  1871,  being  among  the  first 
settlers  of  that  place.  For  the  succeeding  eighteen 
years,  he  was  engaged  in  the  insurance  business  and 
in  official  duties.  lie  was  the  first  Constable  in 
the  town;  was  Street  Commissioner  for  four  years; 
for  the  same  length  of  time  served  as  Tax  Collec- 
tor; and  was  Assessor  for  ten  years.  For  four 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Town  Board;  Direc- 
tor of  the  School  Hoard  one  term;  served  for  six 
years  as  Deputy  SheritT;  was  the  first  Notary  Pub- 
lic of  the  town;  for  twelve  years  was  .lustice  of 
the  Peace;  and  has  been  Postmaster  since  February 
10,  18'Jl.  Of  course  he  was  holding  two  or  three 
of  these  ottices  at  Ihe  same  time.  These  show  that 
he  is  held  in  high  regard  by  his  fellow-citizens  and 
has  filled  all  the  otlices  with  credit  to  himself  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all. 

Mr.  Worrell  was  united  in  mariiage,  in  Paxton, 
on  the  20tli  of  October,  1868,  to  Miss  Jennie  Ham- 
ilton, a  daughter  of  Alfred  and  Susan  Ilainilton. 
They  have  liecome  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Susie  Janet,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Her- 
bert Rowlans  of  Jlelvin,  and  is  the  only  one  of  the 
family  married.  The  \'Ounger  members  are  Harry 
F.,  Fmma  Isabella,  Milton  Leroy,  Dick  Hay,  Zadie 
Ilerniee  and  Ralph. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Worrell  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  in  religious  sentiment  is  a  Presbyterian,  as  is 
also  his  wife.  He  holds  membership  with  Gibson 
Lodge  No.  542,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Since  canying  on  the 
post-office,  our  subject  has  kept  a  news-stand  and 
a  stock  of  1 ks   and   stati^)nerv  in  the  front  part 


of  the  ollice  building  and  has  built  up  a  prosper- 
ous trade  in  that  line.  As  his  record  shows,  he  has 
been  almost  continuously  in  public  office  since 
coming  to  Gibson  City,  and  it  can  be  truthfully 
said  of  him  that  he  has  discharged  the  various 
duties  of  his  several  ollices  with  ability,  impartial 
ity  and  fidelity. 


^^>-^^<i 


(eiy- 


y,,.,  LEXANDER  MCELROY,  County  Judge 
S^£J]|  of  Ford  County,  who  has  been  a  resident 
lii  of  Paxton  since  1859,  is  a  native  of  Greene 
County,  Ohio.  He  was  born  October  27, 
1836,  and  is  a  sou  of  Daniel  and  Grizella  (John- 
ston) McElroy.  His  father  was  born  near  Peters- 
burg,Va.,and  removed  to  Ohio  about  1812,  locating 
near  Cedarville.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Nova  Scotia.  They  both  died  in 
the  fall  of   1851,  and   less  than  one  month   apart. 

Judge  McElroy  attended  High  and  select  schools, 
after  which  he  went  to  Antioch  College,  located  in 
Yellow  Springs,  Ohio,  where  he  was  a  student  over 
two  years.  On  the  7th  of  April,  1857,  he  went  to 
Monmouth,  III.,  where  for  two  jears  he  eng.aged  in 
reading  law,  and  then  came  to  I'axton,  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  in  September,  1860.  Before 
leaving  Ohio,  he  had  read  law  a  year  with  Col.  J. 
W.  Lowe.  He  established  practice  in  this  place 
and  here  continued  the  prosecution  of  his  profes- 
sion until  elected  County  Judge  in  the  fall  of 
1890,  except  for  three  years,  from  1875  until  1878, 
when  he  was  engaged  in  fanning.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  for  ten  years  has  filled  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  County  Judge  in  December,  1890. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1866,  Mr.  McElroy  was 
joined  in  wedlock,  in  Paxton,  with  Miss  Mary  E. 
Hanley,  who  was  born  in  Charlestown.  Va.,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  John  llanley,  a  pioneer  of  Ration 
Township,  now  decea.sed.  Judge  and  Mrs.  McEl- 
roy have  two  chililieu,  a  son  and  daughter:  .John 
Hanley,  a  graduate  of  the  Paxton  High  School,  is 
now  in  the  insurance  Inisiness  in  Chicago;  and 
Margaret  Grizella,  the  daughter,  is  a  student  of 
the  State  Normal  Fniversity,  at  Normal,  111.,  and 


562 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


will  graduate  in  the  Class  of  '93.  The  Judge  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  tiie  United  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Paxton,  and  are  liighly  respected  mem- 
bers of  society,  their  friends  indeed  being  many. 
He  raiiks  high  in  business  circles  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  this  sketch  to  our  readers. 


HARL  FOGAR  is  a  practical  and  enterpris- 
ing fanner  residing  in  Paxton,  his  land 
lying  just  without  the  city  limits.  A  na- 
tive of  Sweden,  our  subject  was  born  on  the  28th 
of  August.  182S,  and  is  a  son  of  Swan  and  Sarah 
(.lolmsdii)  Fogar,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives 
of  Sweden.  In  the  family  were  seven  children, 
the  eldest  of  whom  is  the  one  whose  name  heads 
this  record;  John,  the  second  in  order  of  birth,  is 
still  residing  in  .Sweden;  August  is  a  farmer  of  his 
native  land;  Gus  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Sib- 
ley, 111.;  Lottie  is  tiie  wife  of  Alfred  Leingquist,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Patton  Townsliip;  and  twociiil- 
dren  died  in  infancj'. 

The  subject  of  this  sketcli  spent  the  d!i3'S  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  farm,  and  attended 
school  until  sixteen  years  of  .age,  acquiring  a  fair 
education  in  his  native  tongue.  Under  the  pa- 
rental roof  he  remained  until  twenty-flve  years  of 
age,  when  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
America.  He  bade  good-bye  to  home,  friends  and 
native  land,  and  sailed  for  the  United  States  in 
1853.  After  thirteen  weeks  spent  upon  the  bosom 
of  the  Atlantic,  the  vessel  dropped  anchor  in  the 
harbor  of  New  York,  and  Mr.  Fogar  landed  in  the 
New  World.  From  New  York  City  he  went  di- 
rectly to  La  F.ayette,  Ind.,  where  he  arrived  with 
only  fifty  cents  in  his  pocket.  He  literally  began 
life  in  this  country  empty-handed,  and,  in  order 
to  earn  a  livelihood,  he  began  working  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand.  About  seven  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  La  F.aj'ette,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Warren  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  a^ain  engaged  in  farming  for  about  five  years. 
On  tiie  expiration  of  that  period  we  find  him  a 
resident  of  Ford  County,  111.  '  This  was  in  1865. 
lie  purchased  eighty  .acres  of  Land  in  Wall  Town- 


ship, on  section  33,  to  which  he  added  till  he  had 
two  hundred  acres  which  he  still  owns,  and  to  its 
cultivation  and  improvement  devoted  his  energies 
until  1883,  when  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
just  inside  the  city  limits  of  Paxton,  whicli  is  now 
his  home. 

Mr.  Fogar  has  been  twice  married,  lii  1857,  he 
was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Jlary  L!irK)n, 
who  died  in  1864,  leaving  two  children,  daughters, 
Mary  and  Annie.  In  1865,  Mr.  Fogar  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Sophia  Peter- 
son. Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children,  namely:  Matilda,  Hulda  and  Martin.  The 
first  two  children  are  married;  Marj'  is  the  wife 
of  John  P.  Louden,  and  Annie,  the  wife  of  Charles 
Aspergren.  Mrs.  Fogar  had  three  children  bv  a 
former  marriage:  one  deceased;  Emma,  wife  of 
T.  J.  Larson ;  and  Charles  Peterson,  a  resident  of 
Indiana. 

In  his  political  aHiliations,  Mr.  Fogar  isa  Repul)- 
lican,  but  has  never  sought  or  desired  public  office, 
and  in  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Lutheran,  belong- 
ing to  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  of  Paxton. 
He  is  accounted  an  enterprising  and  successful 
fanner,  and  b}-  industry,  perseverance,  good  man- 
agement and  close  attention  to  business,  has  se- 
cured a  comfortable  competence.  It  was  a  fortu- 
nate day  for  him  when  he  decided  to  emigrate  to 
America,  for  he  has  here  met  with  prosperity  and 
has  never  _yet  had  occasion  to  regret  iiis  coining. 


^  ATTINSON,  WILSON  A  CO.,  liankcis  of 
Gibson  City,  111.,  do  a  general  banking 
business,  receive  deposits,  buy  and  sell 
exchange,  loan  money  and  make  collec- 
tions. This  is  a  private  banking  house  and  its  re- 
sponsibility is  based  on  the  large  capital  employed 
in  the  business,  and  on  the  large  lauded  and  other 
property  ownership  of  its  proprietors  and  their 
good  repute  in  the  financial  circles  of  the  county 
and  State.  The  bank  was  established  March  8, 
1873,  by  M.  T.  Burwell.  Some  changes  occurred 
in  the  ownership  befurc  1878,  when  William  J.AVil- 


jg/f^  .H^^^^^^/^-^^-^-t.^-^^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


565 


son  was  afliiiilted  to  partnerslii|)  and  the  lirm  name 
was  made  Harwell  &  Wilson.  About  two  j'ears 
later,  Edward  Leffel  joined  the  firm,  which  took  the 
title  of  Burwell,  Leffel  tfe  Co.  In  the  spring  of 
1882.  Mr.  Leffel  retired  and  the  firm  became  Bur- 
well,  Mattinson  A-  Wilson.  That  connection  con- 
tinued until  the  fall  of  that  year,  when  Mi-.  liur- 
well  retired  and  the  existing  firm  of  Mattinson, 
Wilson  &  Co.  was  formed,  William  J.  AVilson  lie- 
ing  President  and  Evan  Mattinson,  Cashier.  This 
is  the  oldest  Ijanking  house  in  Gibson  City,  having 
a  continuous  existence  of  nearlj'  twenty  years.  Its 
history  shows  it  to  have  a  successful  career,  while 
the  uniform  covirse  of  the  bank  has  been  distin- 
guished by  a  fair,  liberal,  yet  conservative  treat- 
ment of  its  patrons,  thereby  winning  in  a  marked 
degree  popular  favor  and  confidence. 

^^^  AMUEL  D.  CULBERTSON,  M.  D.,  with 
one  exception,  is  the  oldest  praetiticmer  in 
Ford  County,  and  in  connection  with  his 
practice  also  carries  on  the  drug  business 
in  Piper  City.  He  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  Sept- 
ember 5,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  John  Culbertson, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  same  locality,  be- 
ing of  English  descent.  lie  followed  farming 
throughout  his  entire  life  and  died  on  the  old  home- 
stead. His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Hannah 
Reed.  He  took  quite  an  active  part  in  politics, 
supporting  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  Associate 
Judge  of  the  county.  He  also  served  in  the  State 
militia  with  the  rank  of  Captain.  In  his  religious 
belief,  he  was  a  United  Presb3'terianand  took  quite 
an  active  part  in  the  growth  of  that  denomination. 
The  Doctor  is  the  fourth  child  in  a  family  of 
eight  children.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon 
a  farm  and  in  attendance  at  the  common  schools. 
He  afterward  attended  the  higher  schools  of  the 
county  and  in  1863  entered  the  Jefferson  Medical 
College,  pursuing  his  studies  under  some  of  the 
most  eminent  physicians  and  surgeons  of  the 
country,  including  S.  D.  Gross,  Joseph  Pancoast, 
Robley  Dunglison,  Samuel  Dixon,  Prof.  Biddlc, 
Prof.   Rand.   Prof.  Mitchell  and  Prof.  E.  AVallace. 


He  s|)ent  three  years  in  the  college,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1866.  He  also  took  a  special 
course  in  operative  surgery  under  Dr.  Forbes,  late 
surgeon  in  the  Crimean  W.ar,  intending  to  fit  him- 
self to  serve  as  a  surgeon  in  the  army.  AVhen 
reading  medicine,  he  enlisted  in  1862  as  a  member 
of  Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  I'enn- 
sylvania  Infantry,  under  Col.  H.  I.  Zinn,  who  w.as 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  and  vvas  suc- 
ceeded b^'  Col.  Marsh.  He  participated  in  the  sec- 
ond battle  of  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain  and 
Antietam,  where  the  regiment  suffered  heavily. 
He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg  at  Ray's 
Hill,  where  seven  of  his  school-mates  were  killed 
by  his  side.  At  Chaucellorsvillc,  he  was  right,  in 
front  of  the  place  where  Stonewall  Jackson  was 
killed  after  his  famous  charge  on  the  Eleventh 
Corps.  After  nine  months,  his  time  having  ex- 
pired, he  received  his  discharge.  He  was  wounded 
at  Fredericksburg,  shot  through  the  arm,  and  was 
in  the  hospital  for  two  months. 

On  finishing  his  medical  studies,  Mr.  Culbertson 
came  to  the  West,  locating  first  in  Keokuk,  Iowa, 
after  which  he  came  to  Piper  City,  in  tlie  spring  of 
1867,  and  has  here  been  in  continuous  practice 
since.  He  has  traveled  over  the  prairies  when  all 
was  wild  and  uncultivated,  his  i)ractice  extending 
over  a  radius  of  many  miles.  F'rom  the  beginning, 
he  has  had  a  liberal  patronage  .and  his  success  is 
but  the  just  reward  of  his  skill  and  ability.  For 
the  past  year,  he  has  also  engaged  in  the  drug 
business,  and  in  his  absence  his  wife,  who  is  a  reg- 
istered pharm,acist,  attends  to  the  store. 

On  the  5th  of  September,  1866,  in  Springfield, 
111.,  the  Doctor  wedded  Miss  Clara  K.  Culver,  a  na- 
tive of  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Zug)  Culver.  Her  father  died  of 
cholera  in  Pittsburg  many  years  ago,  but  her  mo- 
ther is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
daughter.  Mrs.  Culbertson  spent  her  maiden- 
hood days  in  her  native  city  and  graduated  with 
honors  from  the  Nevvville  Normal  and  the  York 
Female  College.  She  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
^schools  of  Mt.  Holly  and  holds  a  prfifessional 
certificate. 

Dr.  Culbertson  .and  his  wife  have  a  family  of 
four    children:     John    C,   now   an    electrician     of 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Chicago;  Samuel  C,  who  g^raduated  from  Rochester 
Academy  of  New  York,  is  [)iirsiiing  a  five-years' 
course  of  study  in  the  North westeru  University, 
fitting  himself  for  tlie  medical  profession;  Helen 
M.  and  Joza  I.  are  at  home. 

In  politics.  Dr.  Culliertson  has  been  a  Republi- 
9an  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  quite  an  influential 
member  of  his  |)arty  in  this  communit}'  and  has 
held  several  local  offices,  although  he  has  never 
been  an  otHce-seelrer.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  Cliurch,  with  which  she  has 
been  prominently  connected  for  years.  She  also 
takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  the  Missionary 
Society  and  is  a  lady  whose  benevolent  and  chari- 
table spirit  lias  won  her  tlie  high  regard  of  all. 
The  Doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Arm3-  Post 
at  Piper  City,  of  wliich  he  has  been  Surgeon  since 
its  organization  and  is  now  Senior  Vice-Com- 
mander. He  has  witnessed  the  entire  growth  and 
develo|)meiit  of  Piijcr  City  and  has  ever  borne  his 
share  in  its  advancement.  He  is  a  well-informed 
man  who  stands  higli  in  the  community  and  is 
alike  prominent  among  his  professional  bretliren 
of  the  county.  He  is  a  raeml)er  of  the  Illinois 
State  Medical  Society,  and  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Medical  Society,  as  well  as  the  county  medical 
societies  of  Livington  and  Irocpiois  Counties.  To 
tlie  literature  of  the  profession,  lie  has  contributed 
a  nimilier  of  well-written  articles.  In  the  Cliats- 
worlli  railroad  wreck,  in  18)^7,  he  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  care  of  the  wounded.  None  arc  more 
deserving  of  representation  in  this  volume  than  the 
Doctor  and  it  is  with  i)leasure  that  wc  record  his 
sketch. 


BRAINI  SEYMOUR  HOPKINS,  the  senior 
(J^/lJIi  member  of  the  firm  of  Hopkins  Ai  Co., 
Is  dealers  in  wagon  and  carriage  wood  stock, 
hardwood  lumber,  paints,  oils  and  paint- 
er's supplies,  of  Paxton,  is  a  pioneer  settler  of 
Illinois,  dating  his  settlement  here  back  si.Kty  years. 
He  was  born  in  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y..  Septem- 
ber '.).  181G,  and  is  a  son  of    Nathan    and    Laura 


(Seymour)  Hopkins.  He  acquired  a  common- 
school  education,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
come  to  Illinois,  in  1832,  locating  in  Will  County, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  stock-raising. 

In  IKil,  Mr.  Hopkins  was  married,  in  that 
county,  to  Miss  Phrobe  Ann  Tomlinson.  She  was 
born  in  1814,  in  the  same  town  as  was  her  husband, 
was  his  schoolmate  in  childhood  and  in  1834  came 
to  Will  County,  111.  Three  children  were  born  of 
their  union,  one  of  whom  is  yet  living:  William 
T.,  the  eldest,  wedded  Miss  Eliza  Hughes  and  is  en- 
gaged in  Inisiness  with  his  father  in  Paxton;  John, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  a  memlier  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers, 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Mnrfreesboro,  or  Stone 
River,  Tenn.,  Decemlier  31,  18G3;  Nathan,  the 
youngest,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

In  18G8,  Paxton  became  possessed  of  a  valuable 
citizen  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Hopkins,  who  came 
hci-e  to  help  his  son  start  in  business  in  carriage 
and  wagon  making,  and  engaged  in  the  boot  and 
shoe  trade.  In  an  early  day,  he  went  to  Chicago, 
where  his  son  w.as  engaged  in  the  real-estate  busi- 
ness, and,  becoming  interested  in  that  line,  he  in- 
vested considerable  money  in  suburban  pro|)crty. 
Subsequently,  he  traded  some  Chicago  properly  for 
a  small  fruit  farm  near  St.  Joseph,  ]Micli.,  which  he 
held  for  a  time  and  then  traded  for  three  acres,  a 
store  building  and  a  stock  of  general  merchandise 
at  a  country  cross-roads  in  Central  Michigan.  He 
sold  goods  there  for  a  short  time,  then  i)acked  and 
ship|ied  his  stock  to  Chicago,  intending  to  sell  it 
at  auction.  In  the  meantime,  he  had  traded  for  a 
half  interest  in  a  wagon  and  carriage  factory  and 
other  propertjr^  including  a  store  building  at  Sand- 
wich, 111.,  and  his  son  William  T.  was  there,  help- 
ing to  conduct  the  business.  Piv  the  son's  advice, 
Mr.  Hopkins  took  his  stock  of  merchandise  to 
Sandwich  and  in  a  vacant  store  building  began 
business,  which  he  carried  on  successfully  for  two 
years  and  then  transferred  the  stock  to  Millington, 
111.,  where,  after  selling  goods  for  two  years,  he 
closed  out  the  business.  Not  long  afterward,  he 
sold  out  his  interest  in  the  factory  and  other  i)rop- 
erty  at  Sandwich  and  concentrated  his  interests  in 
Paxton,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

One   imiioitiint   episode    in   flic  life  of  Mr.  Hop- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


567 


kins  has  tlius  far  been  oniittcd  in  tliis  sketch.  It 
is  his  experience  in  C'alifurnia.  during  the  gold  ex- 
citement, lie  was  not  exactly'  what  is  termed 
a.  'I'.ler,  but  it  was  in  the  spring  of  1850  that,  in 
company  with  other  emigrants,  he  crossed  the 
plains  and  mountains  with  teams  to  California, 
where  he  spent  four  years,  being  variously  era- 
ployed.  He  engaged  in  merchandising,  mining 
and  hotel-keeping,  and  in  18.55  returned  to  the 
States  by  way  of  the  ocean  and  Panama  route  to 
New  York  and  thence  to  his  home  in  Illinois.  His 
experience  during  his  stay  in  California  and  on  his 
outward  trip  and  return  voyage  would  make  an 
interesting  story  of  itself,  had  we  space  for  its  in- 
sertion . 

Mr.  Hopkins  is  a  Repulilican  in  politics,  and  has 
served  six  years  as  a  ineml)er  of  the  Paxton  City 
Council,  but  has  not  otiierwise  distinguished  him- 
self m  pulilic  life.  In  all  the  relations  of  life,  he 
has  proved  a  true  man,  industrious,  intelligent, 
ujiright  and  honorable  and  always  reliable. 


li7SAAC  OTTO  BLOOM, a  leading  grocer  of  Gib- 
son  C'it3',  established  business  in  that  place  in 

l\  April,  1882.  He  was  born  in  .lonkoping,  Swe- 
den, February  19,  1816,  and  is  a  son  of  .lohn  and 
Mary  Bloom.  His  education  was  obtained  in  llie 
schools  of  his  native  country,  after  which  lie  served 
a  regular  apprenticeship  to  the  tailor's  trade,  and 
in  1867,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  emigrated  to 
America. 

After  his  arrival  in  this  country,  Mr.  Bloom 
came  to  Ford  County  and  engaged  with  Mr.  Sulli- 
vant,  of  .Sullivant  Township,  as  a  farm  hand,  con- 
tinuing with  that  gentleman  for  two  years.  He 
then  vvent  to  Paxton,  where  for  thirteen  years  he 
was  employed  at  his  trade  in  the  shop  of  Peter  [.ar- 
son, the  founder  of  the  well-known  clothing  house 
of  P.  Larson  ik  Co.  On  leaving  Mr.  Larson,  he 
went  toP.loomington,  where,  with  his  accumulated 
earnings,  he  started  in  the  grocery  business.  This 
venture  proved  disastrous  and  he  lost  heavdy. 
After    only  a    lirief  sojourn    in   Bloomington,  he 


came  to  Gilison  Cit3',  and  in  April,  1882,  opened 
his  present  store,  which  he  has  since  carried  on 
very  successfully.  Since  coming  to  this  place,  he 
has  prospered  and  has  now  placed  himself  on  a 
sound  financial  footing. 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1870,  Mr.  Bloom  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clara  C.  Selbnrg,  a 
daughter  of  John  Selbnrg,  their  wedding  being 
celebrated  in  Paxton.  Mrs.  Bloom  was  born  in 
Sweden  and  came  to  the  linited  States  in  1864. 
Six  children  were  born  of  this  union,  but  three 
died  in  infancy.  Those  living  are:  Theodore  J., 
George  H.  and  Linda  M.  On  the  22d  of  May, 
1885.  Mr.  Bloom  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  had  been  a  devoted  compan- 
ion and  faithful  heli)mato  to  him  for  fifteen  years. 
He  was  again  married,  August  13,  1888,  his  pres- 
ent wife  being  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Ida  1\L 
Gustafson,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Sweden.  She 
was  born  in  .Jonkoping,  that  country,  and  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1882.  They  have  become 
the  parents  of  two  children:  Hen  ton  Is.aac  and 
Selma  C. 

In  politics,  INIr.  Bloom  is  independent,  voting 
for  the  man  whom  he  thinks  will  best  fill  theottice, 
regardless  of  political  sentiment.  He  and  his  wife 
are  both  devoted  memliers  of  the  Swedish  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  lie  is  a  member  of  the 
Gibsf)n  Land  Improvement  C(jmpaiiy.  Mr.  Bloom 
is  esteemed  one  of  the  prosi)erous  and  enter|)rising 
business  men  of  (iibsou  and  is  highly  respected  for 
his  sterling  worth  and  integrity. 


_^] 


~SJ 


^+^ 


[3_ 


[^~ 


"^  AMES  R.  REZENER,  Sheriff  of  Ford  County, 
and  a  resident  of  Paxton,  was  born  in  Mon- 
roe County,  Tenn.,  June  22,  1837,  and  is  a 
son  of  Nicholas  and  Mary  (Taylor)  Rczener. 
His  father,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  born  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  in  1797.  and  died  in  18t(>. 
The  mother  was  born  in  Cunilierlaud  County,  Pa., 
in  1801,  and  died  in  1852. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  State  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.     In  1858,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 


568 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


settled  in  Henderson  Count}',  where  he  engaged  in 
farming.  (Jn  the  27th  of  November,  1861,  lie  en- 
listed for  the  War  for  the  Union  as  a  member  of 
Company  II,  Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  of  which 
the  celebrated  Robert  IngersoU  was  Colonel.  He 
was  promoted  to  be  Second  Lieutenant,  September 
6.  1864,  became  First  Lieutenant,  March  28,  1865, 
and  served  until  mustered  out  on  the  16th  of  Sep- 
tember following,  after  the  close  of  the  war.  Dur- 
ing his  term  of  service,  he  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Shiloh;  the  siege  and  battle  of  Corinth, 
October  .3  and  4,  1862;  the  capture  of  Vicksburg, 
battle  of  Lexington,  and  in  various  skirmishes  and 
in  much  scouting  duty.  He  was  made  a  prisoner  at 
the  battle  of  Lexington,  on  the  14th  of  December, 
1862,  was  taken  to  Murfreesboro,  and  parolled,  af- 
ter a  detention  of  twenty  days.  In  a  skirmish  at 
Egypt  Station  on  tiic  Mobile  &  Oliio  Railroad,  he 
was  wounded,  on  the  28th  of  Decemtier,  1864,  by  a 
gun  shot  in  the  right  hip,  that  rendered  him  unfit 
for  active  duty  until  June,  1865. 

On  his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Rezener  re- 
sumed farming  in  Henderson  County,  111.  He  was 
married  on  the  16th  of  September,  1869,  in  that 
county,  to  Miss  Louisa  Shopshirc,  who  was  born 
in  Muscatine,  Iowa,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William 
Shopshire.  Foiu-  children  have  been  born  of  their 
union:  Cena,  George,  Jennie  and  Dakota,  but  the 
last-named  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

Mr.  Rezener  continued  to  reside  in  Henderson 
Count}'  until  1871,  when  he  removed  to  Ford 
County,  and  settled  in  ri()er  City,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  made  his  home.  In  1884,  he 
took  up  a  soldier's  claim  and  a  tree  claim  in  Steele 
County,  N.  Dak.,  made  the  necessary  improvements 
and  proved  up  on  the  soldier's  claim,  returning  to 
his  old  home  in  Ford  County  after  an  absence  of 
a  little  less  than  a  year.  He  still  holds  the  title  to 
both  of  those  tracts.  Mr.  Rezener  continued  farm- 
ing until  the  fall  of  1890,  when  he  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  Ford  County  on  the  Democratic  ticket. 
The  county  has  a  strong  Republican  majority,  and 
our  subject  was  the  only  successful  candidate  of 
his  party  at  the  election,  which  fact  he  has  reason 
to  be  proud  of  as  it  is  a  compliment  to  his  personal 
worth.  On  tlic  1st  of  December  of  that  year,  on 
the  opening  day  of  court,  he  entered  upon  the  dis- 


charge of  the  duties  of  the  office  for  a  term  of  four 
years.  While  residing  in  Piper  City  he  held  the 
ottice  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  two  years.  Mr. 
Rezener  is  a  Master  Mason,  a  member  of  Piper 
City  Lodge  No.  608,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Piper  City  Post  No.  361,  G.  A.  R.  On  his 
election  to  the  office  of  Sheriff,  he  removed  liis 
family  to  Paxton,  but  still  considers  Piper  City  his 
place  of  residence.  Mr.  Rezener  makes  an  efficient 
and  popular  officer,  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  all 
witli  wiiom  he  has  had  business  or  social  relations. 


■  >l  iiyi'iiy  H^i^ 


?      I     (     I     I  1^.^^ 


ALPII  B.  ROCK  WOOD,  senior  memlier  of 
the  firm  of  Rockwood  &  Foley,  dealers  in 
tii  \V  groceries,  glassware  and  queensware,  is 
y^^  numbered  among  the  leading  young  busi- 
ness men  of  Gibson  City.  This  firm  is  doing  an 
excellent  trade  and  deserves  the  liberal  jiatronage 
which  it  receives. 

Our  subject  cbiinis  Illinois  as  the  State  of  his 
nativity,  having  been  born  near  Ottawa,  Febru- 
ary 11,  1858.  He  is  a  son  of  John  A.  and  Sarali 
J.  (Lewis)  Rockwood,  wlio  are  mentioned  else- 
where in  this  work.  His  boyhood  days  were  passed 
at  work  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attendance  at 
the  district  schools  of  the  county.  When  four- 
teen years  of  age,  he  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Ford  County,  and  continued  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1883.  At  that  date  he  came  to  Gibson  City 
and  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  J.  H.  White,  continu- 
ing in  his  employ  for  six  years,  thus  showing  how 
highly  liis  services  were  appreciated  by  Mr.  White. 
In  1889,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  E.  E.  Foley 
in  their  present  business,  and  the  fiiTn  became 
Rockwood  i&  Foley.  They  have  one  of  the  largest 
stores  of  the  kind  in  Gibson  City  and  do  a  thriv- 
ing business. 

Mr.  Rockwood  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Sarah  M.  Moore,  tlie  wedding  being  celebrated 
on  the  8th  of  April,  1882,  in  Gibson  City. 
The  lady  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Josiah  Moore.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  this  worthy  couple:  Grace  and  Ger- 
trude.   The  parents  are  active  workers  in  the  Pres- 


a/ 

■f/ 


,#:^<(»^ 


.\ 


?*aai5!- 


X 


4 


CORBLY. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


571 


byterian  Church,  he  being  a  chorister  of  both  tlie 
church  and  Sunday-school. 

Mr.  Hoekwood  deserves  liigli  coiniiicudiilion  for 
Ills  success  in  business  life,  fur,  notwilhsliuiding 
tlie  fact  tliat  he  lias  twice  had  to  stai  t  at  tlie  bot- 
loniround  of  the  ladder, lie  has,  by  untiring  indus- 
try and  perseverance,  worked  his  way  ujiward  to 
jus  picsent  position.  He  is  now  one  of  the  suc- 
eessfu!  young  business  men  of  the  city,  and  has 
secured  all  that  he  possesses  b}'  enterprise  and  fair 
dealing.  He  is  public-spirited  and  progressive,  and 
stiinds  high  in  social  as  well  as  business  circles. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Rockwotid  is  a  Republican,  and 
lakes  an  active  interest  in  tlie  welfare  of  his 
party. 


\f/  INDSEY  CORBLY,  an  early  settler  of  the 
I  (@)  territory  now  comprised  in  Ford  County, 
/IL^^  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  lie  was  born 
in  Greene  County,  tiiat  State,  on  the  loth  of  Ko- 
vember,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Ueliecca 
(Stevens)  Corbly,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Greene  County.  His  father  was  a  son  of  tlie  Rev. 
John  Corbl}',  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church  and 
a  native  of  England,  who  emigrated  to  America 
some  time  prior  to  the  AVar  of  the  Revolution 
and  settled  in  Greene  County,  I'a.,  which  was  then 
a  wilderness.  He  had  three  children  in.assacicd  by 
the  Indians,  and  his  history  has  been  commemor- 
ated by  several  centennial  sketches  of  historic 
interest,  pertaining  to  the  early  settlement  of  that 
part  of  the  Keystone  State.  He  vviis  an  active  and 
influential  minister,  and  was  the  founder  of  sev- 
eral churches.  Great  energy  and  decision  were 
his  prominent  traits  of  character.  Ills  death 
occurred  in  1803. 

William  Corbly,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Greene  County,  and 
the  same  was  true  of  his  wife.  Thc\' had  a  lamily 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  Lindse^ywas  the  fourth, 
and  he  and  three  sisters  are  all  that  now  survive. 
In  1837,  the  family  emigrated  to  Athens  County, 
Ohio,  now  Vinton,  and  settled  atMcArlhiir,  where 
our  subject  attended  the  public  schools    until   six- 


teen years  of  age,  at  which  time  lie  left  home  and 
entered  the  service  of  an  uncle,  Thomas  Stevens, 
who  was  largely  engaged  in  the  live-stock  business 
in  Fairlield  County, Ohio,  and  with  whom  he  made 
several  trips  across  the  mountains  with  stock  to 
Philadelphia  and  New  York.  In  18r)3,he  came  to 
Illinois  and  first  settled  in  Cliain|iaign  County. 

On  the  24tli  of  February,  1856,  in  Vermilion 
County,  this  State,  Mr.  Corbly  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  Wood,  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Wood.  Their  union  has  been  graced  with  three 
children,  who  yet  survive:  Henry  L.,  who  married 
Julia  B.  Webber,  is  a  farmer  of  Harwood  Town- 
ship, Champaign  County;  William  Sherman,  who 
wedded  Mary  Youle,  is  an  agriculturist  of  Button 
Township,  Ford  County;  and  James  L.,  who  mar- 
ried Ellen  Shehan.  His  home  is  in  Kerr  Town- 
ship, Chami)aign  County,  and  he  also  follows 
agricultural  pursuits. 

In  the  fall  of  1855,  Mr.  Corbly  removed  to 
what  is  noA'  Ford  County,  and  here  resided  until 
1863,  when  he  returned  to  Champaign  County, 
locating  on  a  farm  in  the  near  neighborhood  of 
his  Ford  County  farm.  His  wife,  an  estimable 
woman,  died  Jaiiuaiy  17,  1866,  and  on  the  24th 
of  March,  1867,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock,  in 
Meadville,Pa.,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Sclioll,  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Woodring)  Sclioll. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Pa.,  where 
her  family  resided  for  many  years.  They  have 
three  children:  Freddie  M.,  Lora  F.  and  Evalyn. 

Mr.  Corbly  continued  to  reside  in  Champaign 
County  until  the  fall  of  1881,  when  he  came  to 
Paxton,  wlieie  he  has  since  made  his  home,  a 
valued  and  respected  citizen.  He  has  been  an 
industrious  and  thrifty  man,  and  lias  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a  large  property,  having  at  the 
present  time  four  farms,  aggregating  about 
seventeen  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land.  He 
has  been  largely  engaged  in  growing  and  deal- 
ing in  live-stock,  and  for  many  years  has  bought, 
fed  and  sold  stock,  and  as  a  rule  has  been  quite 
successful  in  the  business.  In  [jolitics,  he  was  a 
Whig  in  early  life,  joining  the  Republican  [larty 
on  its  organization.  He  served  .as  a  member  of 
the  first  election  board  in  the  town  of  Gibson, 
Ford  County,  was  a   member  of  the  liist   Boaid  of 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


County  Coinniissiouers  that  divided  P'oid  County 
into  lownsliips,  and  served  as  a  niemhcr  of  the 
flr3t  Grand  Jury  of  that  county.  He  was  Super- 
visor of  Kerr  Township,  Champaign  County,  for 
eleven  years,  was  Trustee  twenty  3ears,  and  ff)ur 
years  Treasurer  of  the  same  township.  From 
youth,  he  was  a  Metliodist,  and  regularly  attended 
that  eliurch.  but  did  not  unite  with  it  until  1875. 
His  wife,  two  daughters  and  eldest  son  are  mem- 
bers of  the  same  church.  Mr.  Ctirbly  is  a  steward 
of  the  Paxton  ciuirch.and  is  active  and  influential 
in  its  support.  His  wife  is  one  of  the  efficient 
workers  among  the  ladies  of  her  church,  and  is 
always  to  be  relied  upon  to  perform  her  full  duty. 
Mr.  Corbly  is  well  known  to  the  citizens  of  Ford 
and  adjacent  counties  as  a  man  of  unimpeachable 
integrity  and  financial  respt>usiliility. 


«        l^n.LlAM  PHEBUS,  who  IS  ei 

\/\/l/    '^''■'''  f!i'''"'"g  t>"  section  16, 
W^l     shii),  is  a  native  of  Indiana. 


SI  I^,ILL1AM  PHEBUS,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
Button  Town- 
ip,  IS  a  native  oi  inaiana.  He  was  born 
in  Fountain  County,  on  the  10th  of  September, 
1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Edou  Phebus,  who  was  born 
near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  February  14,  1814.  The 
grandfather,  Lewis  Phebus,  was  a  n.ative  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  his  familv  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
that  State.  He  served  as  a  soldier  of  the  War  of 
1812.  Al)Out  1826,  he  removed  from  Ohio  to  In- 
diana, and  was  among  the  honored  pioneers  of 
Fountain  C<junty.  Settling  in  the  midst  of  the 
forest,  he  there  developed  a  good  farm  and  made 
a  pleasant  home. 

Edon  Phebus  grew  to  manhood  in  Fountain 
County,  Ind.,  and  married  Miss  Susan  Brewer,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  who,  during  her  child- 
hood, came  to  Indiana  with  her  parents.  Her  fa- 
ther, Robert  Brewer,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Fountain  County.  Mr.  Phebus  opened  up  a 
farm  in  that  county,  and  there  still  makes  his 
home,  living  with  his  son.  His  wife  died  in  the 
spring  of  1862.  In  the  family  were  two  sons  and 
live  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years, 
are  yet  living  and  are  heads  of  families:  William 


is  the  eldest;  Elizabeth  is  tiie  wife  of  T.  Van  Dorn, 
a  resident  of  Iroquois  County,  111.;  Elmeda  is  the 
wife  of  Thomas  Tuning,  of  Oklahoma;  Serena  is 
the  wife  of  John  Kcenin,  of  Arkansas  City,  Kan.; 
Mary  is  the  wife  of  Jefferson  Spinlcs;  E.  C.  is  a 
resident  farmer  of  Fountain  County,  Ind.;  and 
Serelda  is  the  wife  of  Abraham  Dunliani,  of  In- 
diana. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  his  father's  farm  in  the  county  of  his 
nativity.  After  acquiring  a  fair  education,  and 
attaining  his  majority,  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  was 
married  in  Fountain  County,  in  1855,  to  Mary 
Jane  Brewer,  daughter  of  Robert  Brewer,  also  a 
native  of  Fountain  County.  After  their  marriage, 
Mr.  Phebus  purchased  a  small  farm  which  he  oper- 
ated for  ten  j-ears.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Illinois  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  wild  land  in  Ford  County,  upon  which  he 
now  resides,  but  the  once  raw  prairie  has  been 
transformed  into  rich  and  fertile  fields,  well  fenced, 
and  improved  with  good  buildings  and  all  the 
accessories  of  a  model  farm.  He  suffered  much 
from  sickness  during  those  early  days,  but  as  soon 
as  his  health  was  partially  restored,  he  began  his 
woik  with  renewed  energy  and  vigor,  and  has 
been  very  successful.  He  now  owns  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  which  pa3'S  to  him  a  golden  tribute 
for  the  care  and  cultivation  he  bestows  upon  it. 
His  home  is  a  large  and  commodious  residence. 
There  is  also  a  good  orchard,  and  this  farm  is  one 
of  the  valuable  places  in  the  township. 

Unto  Mr.  and  ]Mrs.  Phebus  have  been  born  nine 
children:  Ira  C,  who  is  married  and  follows  farm- 
ing in  Vermilion  County;  Emma,  wife  of  William 
Swimm.  of  Phillips  County, Kan.;  William  M.,who 
is  married  and  engages  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Iroquois  County;  F.  M.,  who  is  married  and  makes 
his  home  in  Danville,  111.;  Alice,  wife  of  George 
Mahone}',  of  this  county;  Catherine,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Murphy,  of  Ford  County;  Edon  D.,  who  aids 
Ins  brother  in  the  farm, work  in  Iroquois  Countj'; 
Orville  A.,  who  assists  his  father  in  operating  the 
home  farm;  and  Grace  B.  corai)letes  the  family. 

^Ir.  Phelius  is  a  member  of  the  Farmers'  Alliance, 
and  Treasurer  of  the  lodge.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent   of  the   county  for   twenty-seven  years,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


573 


nearly  all  lliat  be  i>ossesses  he  has  made  in  that 
time.  lie  is  a  blaeksmitii  1)\-  trade,  and  after  loca- 
tinj;  in  this  loeality,  built  a  sliop  and  carried  on 
l)iisiness  for  some  twenty  years  in  connection  with 
tiie  operation  of  his  farm.  In  polities,  he  is  a 
!)cni(HT;it.  .-niil  lias  served  as  a  memher  of  the 
Seliuol  Hoard  for  a  number  of  years.  He  gives  his 
hearty  support  to  the  public  schools,  and  his  aid  is 
never  wilhlield  from  any  wortliy  enterprise  calcu- 
lated to  |)rove  of  public  benelit.  He  is  a  valued 
citizen  of  this  commuuity,  and  one  well  and  favor- 
ably known. 


^5- 


=^^>^^<?^gj 


^WJt  UGUSTUS  H.  KIMLER,  the  pioneer  in 
(^£_Ji  putting  in  tubular  wells,  of  (Gibson  City, 
was  born  in  Le  Roy,  lIcLean  County,  111., 
.Se|)tember  22, 1851. and  is  ason  of  William 
and  Lovisa  (Barnett)  Kimler,  both  natives  of  Ken- 
lucky.  In  early  life,  about  the  year  183 1,  they  came 
to  Illinois,  where  tliey  were  married,  in  McLean 
County,  and  there  Mr.  Kimler  followed  agricultural 
pursuits,  becoming  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of 
tliat  county.  In  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  late  war  as  a 
teamster  for  Company  I,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  afterwards  rose  to  the  rank  of  Train- 
master, serving  three  years.  He  endured  all  the 
hardshipsof  army  life,  which  undermined  his  health, 
causing  his  death  in  1874.  In  politics,  lie  was 
formerly  a  Democrat,  but  on  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  he  joined  the  Republican  party  and  re- 
mained one  of  its  stalwart  supporters  until  his 
death.  His  wife  is  still  living  at  Le  Roy,  111.,  and 
has  now  reached  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 
They  were  both  active  workers  in  the  Methodist 
Episcojial  Church,  of  which  his  widow  has  been  a 
member  for  more  than  half  n  centuiy.  Seven 
children  graced  their  union,  six  sons  and  one 
daughter,  but  the  latter  is  now  deceased.  Willet, 
the  eldest  son,  served  a  year  in  the  Keliellion. 

The  third  child  in  order  of  birth  in  the  family 
is  our  subject,  Augustus  H.  Kimler,  wiio  spent  his 
boyhood  days  on  the  farm,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  Having 
worked  for  his  father   until  the  spring  of  1871,  he 


and  Baxter  Thomas  came  by  wagon  to  Gibson  City 
and  leased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  raw 
l)rairie  land,  which  now  adjoins  the  limits  of  the 
town.  On  this  tract,  they  built  a  shanty  10x10 
feet,  which  they  covered  with  boards,  but  the 
house  was  not  water-proof  and  during  every  shower 
everything  in  the  house  would  get  wet.  On  one 
occasion,  during  a  rain  storm  which  came  u|)  in 
the  night,  a  fresh  stream  of  water  poured  in,  strik- 
ing Mr.  Thomas  in  the  face,  whereupon  he  arose, 
put  a  boiler  lid  over  his  face  and  again  went  to 
sleep.  They  began  the  cultivation  of  their  land, 
but  after  farming  for  two  years,  Mr.  Kimler  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  lightning  rods.  He  was  then 
employed  b}'  M.  T.  lUirwell  for  some  time  and 
then  worked  two  years  for  F.  W.  Beardsley,  on  his 
fine  stock  farm  west  of  Gibson  City.  In  1882,  he 
moved  to  Gibson  and  commenced  boring  wells, 
using  hand  power,  butas  business  rapidly  increased, 
he  has  added  better  machinery  and  is  now  doing 
an  excellent  business.  He  has  made  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  wells.  In  addition  to  that  busi- 
ness, he  is  now  introducing  the  most  perfect  bed- 
spring  in  the  market. 

In  Gibson  City,  on  the  27tli  of  August,  1870, 
Mr.  Kimler  was  married  to  Miss  Prudence,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Asena  (Boucher)  Osborn,  who 
are  natives,  respectively,  of  New  Jersey  and  Oliio. 
In  early  life  they  came  to  Tazewell  County,  111., 
where  they  remained  until  1875,  when  they  came 
to  Gibson  City,  where  they  still  reside,  being 
widely  and  favorably  known.  .Six  children  have 
come  to  bless  the  home  of  our  subject  and  his 
worthy  wife:  Moses  P.,  Charles  F.,  William  C, 
Tracy  B.,  Augustus  and  Lemen  G. 

Mr.  Kimler  and  wife  are  lioth  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  live  in  harmony 
with  their  professions.  In  iKilitics,  he  is  a  Prohi- 
bitionist, being  a  strong  friend  of  temperance  and 
an  enemy  of  the  liquor  tialiic.  At  dilfeient  times, 
he  has  held  the  office  of  City  Marshall  of  Gibson, 
serving,  in  all,  three  years,  ami  has  now  served  as 
Constable  for  the  same  length  of  time.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  Sons  of  Veterans,  all 
of  Gibson  City.  He  is  one  of  the  self-made  men 
of  the  community.     Having   come    here   poor,  he 


574 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has,  by  Iiis  industry,  enterprise  and  good  business 
ability,  become  one  of  tlie  well-to-do  citizens  of 
Ford,  where  he  is  lield  in  the  highest  respect  and 
esteem  by  all  who  know  him. 


n 


ATHAN  L.  SEARS,  deceased,  an  lionored 
and  e.arlj'  settler  of  Illinois,  was  a  native 
of  the  Eni])ire  State,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  the  town  of  Cairoll,  Chautaucjua  County, 
on  the  16th  of  June,  1812.  lie  was  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  Ruby  (Cheney)  Sears  and  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  the  Rhode  Island  Sears,  the  [jiogeni- 
tor  of  the  family  in  this  country,  who  located  in 
that  common w-ealth  in  Colonial  days  and  later  re- 
moved to  Vermont.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
received  his  education  in  his  native  count}'  and 
was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  Having  at- 
tained his  majority,  he  wedded  Miss  Deborah  Hall, 
a  daughter  of  Samuel  Hall  and  a  native  of  Chau- 
tauqua County,  Is'.  Y.  Mrs.  Sears  departed  this 
life,  leaving  two  children  to  mourn  iier  loss:  Sta- 
tira  M.  is  the  widow  of  Henry  W.  Barr  and  resides 
in  Denver,  Colo.,  and  Susan  Deborah  (deceased), 
was  the  wife  of  Josiah  Davis. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1838,  Mr.  Sears  was  again 
united  in  marriage.  The  present  Mrs.  Sears  was 
then  Mrs.  Polly  Marsh,  widow  of  HoUis  Marsh,  and 
a  daughter  of  Joel  and  Hannah  Scudder.  She  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Victor,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y., 
January  25,  1815,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  IVIarsh 
on  the  15tli  of  April,  1834.  B3'  her  former  mar- 
riage, she  became  the  mother  of  one  son,  HoUis 
Marsh,  who  married  Jliss  Ellen  Coy  and  resides  in 
Iiandolph,N.  Y.  His  father  died  May  7, 1837.  The 
union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  was  blessed  with 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living: 
William  Seward,  the  eldest,  was  Second  Lieutenant 
of  Company  C,  Twentieth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Raymond,  Miss.,  May 
14,  1863;  Nathan  Lester  was  a  member  of  the  Sev- 
entieth Illinois  Infantry,  and  died  on  the  13th  of 
August,  1862,  from  disease  contracted  while  in  the 
army;  Charles  Clintcm  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  of 
Gibson   City,  111.;  Josei)liine   Calista  is  the  widow 


of  Samuel  Armstro  g,  and  now  has  charge  of  the 
girls  at  the  Normal  Soldiers"  Orphan  Home;  Abner, 
the  next  younger,  married  Miss  Laura  IStrickler, 
and  is  a  minister  of  tiie  Metliodist  Church,  now  a 
resident  of  Merritt,  Scott  County,  111.;  Lewis  Hall 
died  in  infancy,  and  Ruby  Hannah  is  the  wife  of 
the  Rev.  William  H.  Flint,  of  Lohrville,  Iowa,  who 
is  also  a  preacher  of  the  Methodist  denomination. 

Mrs.  Sears  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  the  jtatri- 
otic  record  of  her  family-  for  several  generations. 
Her  paternal  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  AVar 
for  Indejiendence;  her  father  participated  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  two  of  her  sons  laid  down  their 
lives  on  the  altar  of  their  country  during  the  late 
war  in  defense  of  the  Union. 

At  Limestone,  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y.,  Mr. 
Sears  was  engaged  in  farming  and  the  sawmill 
business  and  also  carried  on  a  public  house  for 
some  eight  years  i)rior  to  coming  to  Illinois.  In 
1856,  he  removed  from  that  place  to  Shelby 
County,  this  State,  where  he  remained  for  one 
year  and  then  went  to  Bloomington,  McLean 
County.  There  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  stock-raising  until  1872,  when  he  came 
to  Gibson  Cit}'  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days. 

Mr.  Sears  was  an  old-time  Abolitionist  and  joined 
the  Republican  part}'  on  its  organization.  He 
served  for  several  years  as  Police  Magistrate  in 
Gibson  City  .and  also  as  Supervisor  in  McLean 
County.  His  death  occurred  on  the  5th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1887.  He  w,as  a  man  of  positive  views,  up- 
right tind  honorable  in  his  intercourse  with  his 
fellow-man  and  a  consistent  Christian.  For  many 
years,  he  w.is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcojial 
Church, and  his  wife,  who  survives  iiim,  belongs  to 
the  same  denomination.  Mrs.  Sears,  although  in 
her  seventy-eighth  year,  is  well  preserved  physi- 
cally and  mentally,  and  is  a  highly  respected  mem- 
ber of  societ}'  and  a  true  Christian  woman.  She 
has  the  distinction  of  being  a  sister  of  the  late 
Gov.  Fenton's  wife,  of  New  York. 

Charles  Clinton  Sears  was  born  in  the  town  of 
R.andolph,  Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y.,  June  30, 
1845.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  re- 
ceiving his  primary  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  later   attended    the  Wesleyan    University  at 


o4.S. 


cA-'^n^ 


'Si 


5fc*-t<? 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


579 


Bloomington,  where  his  literary  education  was 
completed.  After  leaving  school,  he  engaged  in 
teaching  for  a  time.  In  1871,  he  went  to  P^astern 
Nebraska,  where  he  was  employed  at  farm  labor 
for  seven  years,  when  he  came  to  Gibson  City  in 
1878,  and  has  since  made  that  place  his  home.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  served  as  Collector  of  the  town  of  Towanda, 
McLean  County.  He  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace  of  Gibson  in  1889  for  a  term  of  four  years, 
which  position  he  still  holds,  and  is  a  popular  and 
efficient  officer. 


r~ 


H-S-^* 


^  IV'ILLIAM  W.  BURNS,  deceased,  was  a  native 
\/iJ/l  *^^  ^^'^  Buckeye  .State.  lie  was  born  in 
W^  Adams  County,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1816, 
and  was  one  of  the  eight  children  whose  parents 
were  James  and  Mary  (Wallace)  Burns,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Virginia,  and  were  of 
English  descent.  Their  marriage  was  celclirated 
in  that  State,  from  whence  they  emigrated  to 
Ohio  in  an  early  day,  locating  in  Adams  County, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
The  father  died  in  1855,  and  the  mother  passed 
away  in  1856.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and 
both  were  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church.  Their  children  are  Andrew,  a  farmer  of 
Sa}'brook;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  McClellan,  of 
Adams  Count}',  Ohio;  John,  of  the  same  county; 
William  W.,  of  this  sketch;  Jane,  wife  of  Samuel 
Williamson,  of  Ross  County-,  Ohio;  Rachel  O., 
wife  of  Thomas  Couser;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Joseph 
Ellenberger,  who  is  now  deceased;  .James  L.,  also 
of  Adams  County,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Burns  of  this  sketcli  gave  his  father  the  bene- 
fit of  his  labors  until  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  farming  for  himself.  As  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journe3',he  chose,  in 
1838,  Miss  IMargaret  McClellan,  of  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  McClellan.  By  their  marriage 
they  had  five  children,  but  James  Gray  and  Mary 
are  now  deceased,  and  two  others  died  in  infanc.y. 
Sarah  J.,  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  family, 
24 


is  the  wife  of  E.  S.  F.  Henry,  of  Drummer  Town- 
ship. The  mother  died  in  1856,  and  Mr.  Burns 
was  again  married,  on  the  8th  of  November,  1859, 
in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  his  second  union  being 
with  Louisa  A.  AVallace,  who  was  born  in  Hampshire 
County,  Va.,  May  19,  18.34,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Rannells)  AVallace,  natives  of 
Virginia  and  of  English  origin.  Their  family 
numbered  ten  children:  Thomas,  deceased;  Mary 
M.,  wife  of  John  J.  Ellis;  Sarah  J.,  deceased; 
Louisa  A.,  now  Mrs.  Burns;  Elizabeth,  deceased; 
Robert,  of  Adams  County,  Ohio;  John  N.,  Conrad 
W.,  and  James  Samuel,  all  of  whom  have  passed 
away,  and  Miss  Lucy  S.  Wallace,  who  resides  with 
Mrs.  Burns.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  in 
1859,  the  father  being  called  to  his  final  rest  in 
1887.  They  were  farming  people  and  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and,  in  politics,  Mr. 
Wallace  was  a  Democrat. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burns 
located  upon  a  farm  in  Adams  County,  Ohio, 
where  they  remained  until  1863,  and  then  re- 
moved to  McLean  County,  111.,  where  Mr.  Burns 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  and  engaged  in  its 
cultivation  and  development  for  four  years.  He 
then  removed  with  his  family  to  Livingston 
County,  where  the  succeeding  seven  j'ears  of  his 
life  were  passed,  and  in  1874  he  took  up  his 
residence  upon  the  farm  which  is  now  the  home 
of  his  widow.  He  made  it  a  valuable  place;  the 
fields  were  well  tilled  and  many  improvements 
indicate  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  The  farm  com- 
prises two  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  31st  of  August,  1890,  and  his  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  Gibson  Cemetery, 
where  a  monument  marks  his  last  resting  pl.ace.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  served  as  Assessor 
and  in  other  local  offices,  ever  proving  true  to  the 
trust  reposed  in  him.  He  held  membershi))  with 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church  but  hassince  united 
with  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Gibson,  to 
which  Mrs.  Burns  also  belongs.  She  is  a  most  es- 
timable lady,  and  one  held  in  high  regard  through- 
out this  community. 

The  only  child  of  this  worthy  cou))le  is  Jlargaret 
L.,  wife  of  John  AV.  Swearingen,  a  well-known  and 
prominent   farmer   of    Drummer   Township.      He 


580 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  born  in  Adams  County,  Ohio,  on  the  10th  of 
March,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  George  W.  and 
Sarah  Swearingen.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1879, 
and  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret 
Burns,  a  native  of  Adams  County,  Ohio,  born  in 
1861.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four 
children:  "William  Spencer,  .Sarah  L., George  and 
Olivia  May. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Swearingen  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  He 
is  the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land  and  is  regarded 
as  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising  young  farmer 
of  this  coramunit}'.  He  is  also  public-spirited  and 
progressive,  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  the 
promotion  of  those  enterprises  calculated  for  the 
upbuilding  and  advancement  of  the  county.  Him- 
self and  wife  arc  held  in  high  regard  by  all  who 
know  them. 


ETER  JIAIN,  deceased,  was  born  in  Scot- 

)  land  on  the   19th    of    August,  1825,  and 

-Mf^     was  one   of  a  family  of   seven    children, 

I  \  whose  parents  were  "William  and  Elizabeth 
(Aitken)  Main.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
for  a  short  time,  but  not  content  with  such  limited 
educational  privileges,  he  entered  a  High  School, 
and  by  his  own  personal  application  became  a  well- 
informed  man.  He  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  the  land  of  his  nativity,  and  was 
there  united  in  marriage,  August  5,  1850,  with 
Miss  Marion  Ross.  By  their  union  one  child  was 
born,  namely,  Marion,  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
George  Dusold.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
Mr.  Main  was  again  married,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  Miss  Elizabeth  Aitken,  December  31. 1851. 

In  1854,  our  subject  determined  to  try  his  for- 
tune in  America.  Crossing  the  Atlantic  in  a  sail- 
ing-vessel, he  landed  at  New  Orleans,  whence  he 
came  to  Peoria,  111.  After  a  short  time  spent  in 
that  city,  he  removed  to  "Woodford  County,  111., 
where  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  a 
few   years,   and  also  was   a  resident  of  Tazewell 


County.  His  next  place  of  residence  was  in  Logan 
County,  111.,  where  he  made  his  home  and  engaged 
in  farming  until  1866.  That  year  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Ford  County.  He  took  up  his  residence 
upon  a  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre  farm  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Dix  Township,  which  he  had  purchased  the 
j'ear  previous.  It  was  railroad  land  for  which  he 
paid  %%  per  acre.  Paxton  was  then  the  nearest 
trading  post.  The  work  of  development  had  not 
long  been  begun  in  Ford  County,  and  one  could 
little  imagine  at  that  time  that  so  great  a  trans- 
formation would  be  wrought  in  the  years  which 
have  since  passed. 

By  the  second  union  of  ]Mr.  Main  there  were 
born  four  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancj';  William  is  also  now  deceased;  Peter,  who 
is  living  with  his  mother  on  the  old  homestead,  is 
an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer  of  the  com- 
munity, and  a  highly  respected  citizen;  and  .lames 
is  a  resident  farmer  of  Champaign  County,  111. 

In  his  political  afliliations.  Mi'.  Main  was  a  Re- 
publican. He  held  membership  with  the  United 
Brethren  Church  of  Gibson  Citj-,  was  one  of  its 
first  Board  of  Trustees,  and  took  an  active  interest 
in  its  work  and  upbuilding.  He  helped  organize 
the  schools  in  this  locality,  and  was  prominently 
identified  with  many  other  interests  calculated  to 
prove  of  public  benefit.  He  was  a  valued  and  worthy 
citizen,  and  his  death  proved  a  loss  to  the  entire  com- 
munity. He  passed  awaj^  December  14, 1880,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five  3ears,  and  his  remains  were  interred 
in  Gibson  Ccmeteiy.  Mrs.  Main  still  survives  her 
husband,  and  is  yet  living  on  the  old  homestead 
at  the  age  of  seveut^'-two  years.  She  is  a  most 
estimable  lady,  and  has  many  warm  friends  through- 
out Ford  County. 


"SEE 


eHARLES  RINGEISEN,  who  owns  and  op- 
erates one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  val- 
uable land  on  section  7,  Lyman  Township, 
was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  July  25,  1844.  His 
parents,  John  Jacob  and  Catherina  ("Webber)  Rin- 
geisen,  were  also  natives  of  the  same  locality.  The 
father  was  born   in   1811,  and  in    1850  emigrated 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


581 


witli  his  family  to  Ameiic.i,  sailing  from  Havre, 
PVauce,  on  tlie  "Baltimore."  Tlie^y  landed  in  New 
York,  and  thence  went  to  Buffalo,  where  the  fam- 
ily were  all  taken  sick  with  typhoid  fever,  so  after 
two  months  they  came  West,  locating  in  Tazewell 
County,  111.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of  fortj-- 
seven  years,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  and  makes  her  home  in  (iilnian. 
The^'  had  eight  children,  three  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters: Michael,  who  is  married  and  is  a  retired  farmer 
residing  in  Iroquois  County;  Kate,  wife  of  Charles 
Layer,  a  merchant  of  Oilman,  111.;  Charles,  of 
this  sketch;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  R.  D.  Smith,  who 
is  employed  with  the  McCormick  i%  Co.'s  manu- 
factory in  Chicago;  Caroline,  wife  of  Jlr.  Dennis, 
a  commercial  traveler  of  El  Paso,  111.;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Richard  Hughes,  an  employe  in  the  Mc- 
Cormick Reaper  Works  of  Chicago,  and  Jacob,  who 
is  married  and  engages  in  the  bakery  business  in 
Oklahom.a. 

Our  subject  is  practically  a  self-educated  man, 
for  his  school  privileges  were  very  limited.  His 
father  died  when  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age  and 
upon  him  devolved  the  responsibility  of  support- 
ing his  mother  and  managing  the  eighty-acre  farm. 
He  was  twent3'-two  years  of  age  before  he  began 
life  for  himself  and  then  he  had  to  start  out 
empty-handed,  but  by  persistent  effort,  persever- 
ance and  good  raanagemont,  he  has  steadily'  worked 
his  way  upward  and  is  now  the  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  well  improved. 

Mr.  Ringeisen  was  married  January  2,  1867,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Sophia  Gable,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Catherine  (Breglier)  (iable. 
Unto  them  were  born  eight  children,  and  all  are 
yet  living:  John,  a  farmer  of  Wayne  County,  Neb.; 
Kudolph,  who  attended  Aliingdon  College;  Fred 
C,  who  attended  the  Paxton  Collegiate  Institute 
and  is  a  successful  teacher;  Luther  C,  B'rank,  Min- 
nie K.,  Robert  and  Lillie.  Together  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ringeisen  traveled  life's  journey  for  twentj'-four 
years,  but  on  the  17th  of  August,  1890,  the  wife 
and  mother  wjis  called  to  her  final  rest.  She  was 
a  most  estimable  lady,  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
her. 

Mr.  Ringeisen  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 


U.  S.  Grant,  but  is  now  independent  in  politics. 
While  in  Tazewell  Count3-,  he  was  officially  con- 
nected with  the  schools,  and  was  Commisiouer  of 
Highways  for  one  term.  He  has  been  School 
Trustee  of  Lyman  Township  for  three  terms  and 
was  one  of  the  Drainage  Commissioners.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  306,  L  O.  O.  F., 
of  Washington.  He  is  a  public-spirited  man  and  lib- 
eral, and  gives  of  his  time  and  money  for  all  that 
can  benefit  the  community. 


♦^^ 


born 


ETER  LITWILLER,  who  owns  a  good  farm 
on  section  22,  Drummer  Township,  is  one 
of  the  worthy  citizens  that  the  Buckeye 
State  has  furnished  Ford  County.  He  was 
on  the  9th  of  September  1840,  in  Butler 
Count}-,  Ohio,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  (Mosi- 
man)  Litwiller,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
France,  and  in  early  life  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic 
to  America.  They  were  married  in  Ohio,  where 
Mr.  Litwiller  followed  his  trade  of  milling  and  also 
engaged  in  farming.  They  reared  a  famil}-  of 
thirteen  children,  five  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years.  In  1844,  the  parents  removed  to  Tazewell 
County,  111.,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  days.  Mr.  Litwiller  was  a  prosperous  farmer, 
and,  in  politics,  was  a  Democrat.  He  and  his  wife 
were  both  members  of  the  Menonnite  Church.  His 
death  occurred  June  23,  1871,  and  his  wife  was 
called  to  her  final  rest  November  30,  187  L 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  Taze- 
well County,  but  his  advantages  in  that  direction 
were  limited.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  and  has  since  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  in  pursuit  of  fortune.  As 
a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey,  he 
chose  Miss  Josephine  Ropp,  their  union  being  cele- 
brated on  the  20th  of  November,  1863.  The  lady 
was  born  in  Tazewell  Count}',  111.,  April  6,  1844, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Slegel) 
Ropp. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
seven  children,  and  the  family  circle  yet  remains 
unbroken.     In  order  of  birth  they  are  as    follows: 


582 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Simon  D.,  Moses  D.,  Albert  D.,  Amelia  E.,  Benja- 
min P.,  Ida  C.  and  Reuben  D.  The  parents  are 
both  members  of  the  Menonnite  Cliurch,  and  arc 
highly  respected  people,  who  have  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  throughout  this  commu- 
nity. 

Mr.  Litwiller  came  with  his  family  to  Ford 
County  in  1869,  but  after  six  months  went  to 
Tazewell  County,  and  there  resided  for  ten  years, 
after  which  lie  returned  to  this  county,  and  has 
since  made  his  home  upon  the  farm  which  he  now 
occupies.  He  owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  valu.ilile  land,  and  the  rich  and  fertile  fields 
yield  a  golden  tribute  to  his  care  and  cultivation. 
He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  substantial  farmers 
of  the  community.  His  life  lias  ever  been  quietly 
spent  as  a  farmer,  and,  by  close  application  to  busi- 
ness, he  has  won  a  comfortable  competence. 


-^^ 


ENRY  S.  CARPENTER,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Brenton  Township,  is  engaged  in 
general  farming,  his  home  being  located  on 
section  8,  where  he  owns  eighty  acres  of 
valuable  land.  In  addition  to  this,  he  operates 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  fine  land 
whicli  belonged  to  his  father,  and  carries  on  both 
farming  and  stock-raising  with  good  success,  being 
industrious  and  enterprising  and  possessing  good 
business  ability. 

Mr.  Carpenter  was  born  on  the  23d  of  October, 
1844,  in  the  town  of  Norway,  Ilerliimer  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Ann  E. 
(Randall)  Carpenter.  His  father  was  born  in 
Hopkinton,  R.  I.,  February  22,  181],  and  is  a 
descendant  of  one  of  six  brothers  who  came  to 
this  country  from  England  and  founded  the 
family  during  early  Colonial  days.  William  Car- 
penter became  an  early  settler  of  Herkimer  County, 
where  he  resided  until  after  the  birth  of  all  of  his 
children,  when,  in  March,  1867,  he  iourne3'ed 
Westward  to  Illinois  and  purcliascd  the  old  home- 
stead farm.  His  wife  died  April  15,  1877,  after 
which  he  was  again  married.  He  continued  farm- 
ing for  a  number  of  years  but  spent  his   last  days 


in  the  home  of  our  subject,  where  he  died,  January 
21,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  While  in 
New  York,  he  served  as  Supervisor,  and  was  also 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  after  coining  to  Illinois 
be  filled  the  office  of  Magistrate  twelve  years.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  Whig  until  1860,  when  he  voted 
for  Lincoln,  and  was  after  that  a  Republican.  Him- 
self and  wife  were  members  of  the  ]\Iethodist 
Churoii  and  were  much  interested  in  church  work. 
The}'  had  a  family  of  six  children:  Charles  P., 
who  resides  in  Concordia,  Kan.;  Helen  J.,  wife  of 
William  D.  Pope,  who  was  the  first  settler  of 
Brenton  Township,  where  he  located  in  1856,  and 
is  now  a  resident  of  Steele  County,  N.  Uak.; 
Henry,  of  this  sketch;  Mrs.  Sarah  Adelaide  Finney, 
who  died  in  Evanston  in  1890;  Jlary  E.,  wife  of 
Robert  Pope,  of  Steele  County,  N.  Dak.;  and  Mrs. 
Hattie  M.,  wife  of  Samuel  F.  Pope,  also  of  the 
same  county.  Three  sisters  of  the  Carpenter 
family  married  three  Ijrothers  of  the  Pope  family. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools,  which  was  supplemented  by 
study  in  the  Fairfield  Seminary  in  his  native 
county,  and  he  was  afterward  graduated  from 
Eastman  Commercial  College,  of  Poughkeepsie, 
N.  Y.  When  twenly-tliree  years  of  age,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  since  that  time  has  been  engaged 
in  farming,  He  was  married  in  Piper  City,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1869,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Cariienter,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Carpenter,  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of 
the  village.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
five  eliiklren:  Wiiinefied  A.,  who  is  engaged  in 
teaching  music;  Dora  M.,  who  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  Onarga  Seminary,  and  is  now 
teaching  school;  Ilulda  E.,  Georgie  V.,  and 
Josie  M. 

Mr.  Carpenter  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
public  matters,  especially  those  calculated  to  prove 
of  benefit  to  the  community.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Piper  Cit}'  Fair  Association,  of 
which  he  has  been  Secretary  since  its  formation. 
He  has  also  been  Secretary  of  the  Brenton  and 
Pella  Farmers'  Mutual  Insurancs  Company  since 
it  was  organized.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Odd  Fellows'  sociot}-.  He  has  been  a  life-long 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


585 


been  an  office-seeker,  although  he  has  served  as 
Township  Clerk  for  the  past  three  years.  In  the 
twenty-five  years  of  his  residence  here  he  li.as  won 
the  high  regard  of  all  witli  whom  he  has  come  in 
contact. 


'^l  OSEPII  SWALLC ) W,  who  resides  on  section 
3:5,  Dix  Township,  is  one  of  the  self-made 
men  of  Ford  County,  and  his  life  in  many 
respects  is  wortliy  of  emulation.  His  suc- 
cess is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  for  whicli 
he  deserves  much  credit.  Mr.  Swallow  was  born 
in  Allegheny  County,  Pa.,  April  22,  1815,  and  is 
one  of  tliirteen  children  whose  parents  were  Fred- 
erick and  Hannah  (Eckles)  Swallow.  His  father 
was  also  a  native  of  tlie  Keystone  State  and  was 
of  (ierman  extraction.  He  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade,  which  he  followed  for  many  years. 
His  death  occurred  in  1841,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1856.  They  were  Iioth  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Ciiurch,  and  were  highly  respected 
people. 

Our  suliject  had  very  limited  educational  ad- 
vantages. He  attended  the  subscription  schools 
until  about  twelve  3'ears  of  age,  and  then  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  working  as  a  farm  li.ind 
by  the  month.  He  received  only  $4  from  his 
first  mcmth's  labor.  To  farm  work  he  devoted 
his  energies  for  four  years  and  then  began  work- 
ing in  a  turning  factor^'  of  Wilkins  Township, 
Alleglieny  County,  Pa.,  wliere  he  was  employed 
until  1845.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Greene 
County,  Pa.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  same  line 
of  business  for  nine  years.  In  1854,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  early  settlers  of 
Woodford  County.  He  tliere  engaged  in  farming 
until  1876,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County  and 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixtj'  acres  of  land 
on  section  33,  Dix  Township,  where  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  Since  tliat  time  lie  has  been  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  with  good  success.  His 
well-tilled  fields  and  highly  improved  farm  indi- 
cate the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner. 

In  the  autumn  of    1«48,   Mr.  Swallow  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss   Nancy  Willson,  a  daughter  of 


George  and  Nancy  (Marrow)  Willson.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren: Mary  A.,  now  the  wife  of  .John  Frederick,  a 
resident  of  Peoria,  111.;  Harriet  J.,  wife  of  .Jeriy 
Ray,  a  farmer  residing  in  Woodford  County,  III.; 
George  W.;  John;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Benjamin 
Myers;  Col  well;  Frank;  Sarah,  deceased;  and  Stella, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Swallow'  supports  the  Democratic  party  by 
his  ballot  and,  as  every  true  American  citizen 
should  do,  feels  an  interest  in  political  affairs,  al- 
though he  has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  His 
wife  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  Church, and  they 
are  friends  to  all  enterprises  calculated  to  prove 
of  public  benefit.  He  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self empty-handed  and  by  his  industry,  enterprise 
and  perseverance  has  overcome  the  difficulties  in 
his  path  and  steadily  worked  his  way  upward. 
The  upright  life  which  he  has  led  has  won  him 
many  friends,  and  we  feel  assured  that  this  reccH'd 
will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 


GUIS  FALTER,  one  of  the  enterprising 
and  highly  res])ected  farmers  of  Moua 
jiL^»  Township,  resides  on  section  4,  where  he 
owns  and  operates  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  valuable  land.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  and  all 
modern  improvements,  his  fields  are  well  tilled, 
and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Falter  was  born  in  Germanj^  Ai)ril  4,  1837, 
and  is  a  son  of  Louis  and  Gertrude  (Lugub)  Falter, 
both  of  whom  weic  natives  of  Germany.  In  1847, 
the  father  came  with  his  family  to  America,  cross- 
ing the  Atlantic  in  a  sailing-vessel,  which,  after  a 
voj'age  of  forty-four  days,  reached  the  harbor  of 
New  York.  He  went  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  employed  as  a  general  laborer  for  a  few  years, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  near  that  city  until 
1865.  In  that  year,  he  continued  his  Westward 
journey  to  Illinois,  and  made  a  location  in  Joliet, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business  for 
about  four  years.  In  1869,  he  came  to  Ford 
County,  and  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty 


586 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


acres  of  land  on  section  4,  Mona  Township,  where 
he  resided  until  1875.  He  then  retired  from  farm 
life.  His  death  occurred  in  August,  1885.  His 
wife  passed  away  April  6,  1889.  The_y  were  both 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 

Of  the  seven  children  constituting  their  family 
Louis  is  the  eldest;  John,  who  enlisted  as  a  private 
during  tlie  late  war,  died  during  the  service  in 

1863,  and  now  lies  sleeping  on  South'ern  soil;  Fred- 
erick is  a  resident  farmer  of  Livingston  County, 
111.;  George  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Kankakee  Count}';  Caroline  is  the  wife  of  .John 
Heller,  a  farmer  residing  in  Iroquois  County;  Kate 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Scheltz,  a  farmer  living  in 
Mona  Townsiiip;  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Matthew 
Faddling,  whose  home  is  in  Gardner,  111. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  w.is  reared  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  .acquired  a  good 
education  in  the  public  schools.  After  coming  to 
America,  his  father  hired  him  out  to  work  on  a 
farm  for  three  3'ears,  aud  he  was  engaged  in  gen- 
eral labor  until  lie  had  attained  his  majority-,  when 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  spent  the 
two  succeeding  years  working  as  a  farm  hand  by 
the  montli.  As  a  companion  aud  helpmate  on  life's 
journey,  he  chose  Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of 
George  and  Catherine  Amig.  Their  union  was 
celebrated  in  1860,  and  they  resided  in  Ohio  until 

1864,  when  they  came  to  Illinois,  locating  near 
Joliet.  In  1869,  the}-  came  to  Ford  County,  and 
Mr.  Falter  purchased  an  eighty-acre  farm  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Mona  Township.  He  has  resided  here  con- 
tinuously since,  with  the  exception  of  five  years 
spent  in  general  merchandising  in  Chebanse,  Iro- 
quois County,  111.  The  boundaries  of  his  farm 
have  since  been  extended  until  lie  now  owns  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  constituting  one  of  the 
desirable  places  of  the  community.  In  addition 
to  general  farming,  he  is  also  engaged  in  stock- 
raising. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.altcr  have  been  born  the 
following  chihlren :  Caroline,  wife  of  George  Spyes; 
George,  who  died  in  infancy;  Frederick,  who  also 
died  in  infancy;  George,  who  died  on  the  1st  of 
May,  1872;  Lillie;  .John;  Katie;  Matthew,  who 
died  in  1867;  Nora,  who  died  May  29,  1876;  and 
Maggie,  wlio  completes  the  f.amil}'. 


In  his  political  afBliations,  Mr.  Falter  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  has  been  honored  with  various  offices  of 
trust.  He  has  served  for  nine  years  as  Road  Com- 
missioner, was  School  Director  and  also  filled  the 
office  of  Town  Treasurer.  He  is  a  stockliolder  in 
the  creainei\y  located  in  Cabeiy.  Socially,  he  is  a 
meml)er  of  tlie  Masonic  fraternity. 


^•v-i^ 


VILLIAM  KNEALE,  one  of  tlie  extensive 
land-owners  of  Mona  Township,  who  is 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
on  section  17,  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man,  in 
1826,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Margaret 
Kneale.  There  were  only  two  children  in  the 
family,  his  sister  Ellen  being  his  junior.  Tiie 
educational  advantages  which  he  received  were 
those  afforded  by  tlie  common  schools,  and  in  the 
usual  manner .  of  fanner  lads  lie  was  reared  to 
manhood. 

It  was  in  1857  that  Mr.  Kneale  determined  to 
come  to  America  in  the  hope  of  bettering  his 
financial  condition.  He  crossed  tlie  broad  Atlan- 
tic in  a  sailing-vessel,  aud  after  a  voj'age  of  thirty 
days  reached  his  destination.  He  came  on  at 
once  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Henry  County, 
where  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  b^'  the 
month,  and  was  thus  emploj'ed  for  ten  years. 
During  that  time  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  .Jane  Lewin,  their  union  being  celebrated  in 
1865.  Four  children  grace  this  marriage,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters,  and  all  are  yet  living,  namel}': 
William  .J.,  Frederick  F.,  Arthur  and  I^uella.  The 
motlier  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1885. 

It  was  about  1867  that  Mr.  Kneale  made  his  first 
purchase  of  land.  He  then  removed  to  his  farm 
and  engaged  in  its  cultivation  until  1878,  when 
he  came  to  Ford  County  and  settled  in  Mona 
Township,  purchasing  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  on  section  17.  Here  he  has  since 
made  his  home,  and  prosperity  has  attended  his 
efforts.  From  time  to  time  he  has  made  other 
purchases,  until  his  landed  possessions  now  aggre- 
gate six  hundred   and  forty  acres,  all  of  which  lie 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


587 


in  Mona  Township.  Industry  and  energy  have 
characterized  the  life  of  our  subject,  who  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  practical  and  progressive 
farmers  of  the  community.  His  sterling  worth 
and  integrity  liave  made  him  many  friends  and  he 
Ims  the  confidence  and  good-will  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  come  in  contact.  In  [jolitics,  he  is  a  sup- 
]3orter  of  the  Republican  party,  Init  h.as  never 
sought  otlice,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  his  business,  in  which  he  has  met  with 
signal  success. 


^^S^^ 


aHARLES  W.  DOWN  is  one  of  the  represen- 
,  tative  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Ford 
County,  and  one  of  its  extensive  land-own- 
ers. He  resides  on  section  II,  Rogers  Township, 
wliere  he  has  four  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved. His  large  and  pleasant  residence  is  one 
of  the  liospitable  homes  of  the  community.  In 
the  rear  of  the  dwelling  are  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings,  which  are  surrounded  by  broad  fields, 
well  tilled. 

Mr.  Down  is  a  native  of  Devonshire,  England. 
He  w.as  born  October  20,  1837,  and  is  a  sou  of 
Thomas  and  Lydia  (Dunn)  Down,  also  natives  of 
Devonshire.  Tiirougliout  his  life,  the  father  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  died  in  his  native  land  about 
1819.     His  mother  died  in  1840. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  early  boyhood 
days  in  England,  and  when  a  lad  f(f  thirteen  years 
came  with  an  uncle  to  America,  in  18ol,upona 
sailing-vessel,  which  weighed  anchor  in  Bristol, 
and  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  and  two  davs, 
reached  New  York  harbor  in  August.  Mr.  Down 
located  in  Buffalo,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools  for  three  years.  He  then  went  to  I^ock- 
port,  wliere  he  spent  one  year  with  an  uncle,  in  the 
butcher  business,  then  went  to  Erie  County  with  an- 
other uncle  and  staid  with  him  two  years  on  a  farm. 
In  1857,  he  came  alone  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
La  Salle  County,  where  he  was  afterward  joined 
by  an  uncle,  with  whom  he  remained  one  summer. 
He  spent  about  two  years  and  a  half,  working  as 


a  farm  hand  by  the  month,  in  the  town  of  Deer 
Park,  La  Salle  County,  after  which  he  rented  a 
farm  and  began  business  for  himself. 

While  in  La  Salle  County,  Mr.  Down  w.as  mar- 
ried, December  31,  1861,  to  Cythera  Surdum,  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut,  who  came  to  Illinois  when  a 
child  of  six  summers  with  her  father,  Lewis  L. 
Surdum,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  La  Salle  Countj'. 
Eight  children  have  been  born  of  their  union: 
Elmer  W.  and  AVard  W.,  who  operate  the  home 
farm;  Frank  T.,  Olive  E.  and  Julia  A.  They  have 
also  lost  three  children :  W.  L.,  the  eldest,  who 
died  while  attending  the  Collegiate  Institute 
of  Paxtou,  in  Marcli,  1883,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years  and  ten  months;  Royce  C.  a  farmer  of  Rog- 
ers Township,  who  died  February  18,  1888,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-four  years;  and  George  C,  who  died 
October  20,  1880,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years. 

Mr.  Down  continued  to  engage  in  farming  in 
La  Salle  County  until  1867.  He  then  came  to 
Ford  County  and  purchased  of  the  Central  Rail- 
road Company  two  hundred  .acres  of  raw  prairie 
land,  upon  which  not  a  furrow  liad  been  turned  or 
an  improvement  made.  He  broke  and  fenced  the 
entire  amount  and  extended  tlie  boundaries  of  his 
farm  until  it  now  comprises  foiu'  hundred  acres  of 
the  home  farm.  The  Iniildings  were  also  erected 
1)3'  him  and  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and 
enterprise.  Success  has  crowned  the  efforts  of  our 
subject,  and  a  mile  from  his  home  farm  he  also  has 
a  quarter-section.  His  landed  possessions  aggreo-.ate 
twelve  hundred  acres,  five  hundred  and  sixty  of 
which  are  situated  in  Rogers  Township,  the  re- 
mainder being  in  Iroquois  County.  All  are  well 
improved  and  j'ield  to  him  an  excellent  income. 

Mr.  Down  started  out  in  life  a  poor  boy,  with 
his  own  wiiy  to  m.ake  in  the  world.  When  he 
reached  La  S.alle  County,  a  half-dollar  and  a  pair 
of  willing  hands  constituted  his  capital,  but  his 
uprightness,  industry  and  enterprise  have  brought 
him  wealth  and  he  is  considered  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Ford  County. 
In  politics,  he  was  first  a  Republican,  and  supported 
that  part}'  from  the  time  he  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Abi'aham  Lincoln  until  Grant's  second  administra- 
tion, since  wiiich  time  he  has  been  identified  with 
the  Democr.atic  party.  lie  served  .as  Road  Commis- 


588 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sioner  in  an  early  day  and  helped  lay  out  most  of 
the  roads  in  Rogers  and  Mona  Townships.  The 
cause  of  education  has  ever  found  in  him  a  stanch 
friend.  His  influence  lias  ever  been  used  for  good 
schools  and  teachers,  and  for  twent3'-three  consec- 
utive years  he  proved  an  eflicient  member  of 
the  School  Board.  His  residence  in  Ford  County 
covers  the  long  period  of  twenty-five  j'ears  and 
for  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  resided  in  Rogers 
Township. 


^ 


OLUMBUS  JENNINGS,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent and  well-known  citizens  of  Ford 
County,  residing  on  section  5,  Brenton 
Township,  was  born  in  Knox  County-,  111.,  on  the 
29th  of  September,  1837.  His  grandfather, Tliomas 
Jennings,  was  a  native  of  England,  and  for  some 
years  resided  in  Kentucky,  where  Theodore  Jen- 
nings, the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  and 
reared.  AVhen  a  young  man,  he  left  his  native  State 
and  traveled  extensively  all  over  the  Union.  In 
Warren  County,  111.,  he  married  Arabella  Gilraore, 
a  native  of  Ohio.  Her  father  served  in  the  AVar 
of  1812,  and  was  an  early  settler  of  this  State.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jennings  spent  much  of  their  after  life 
in  Knox  County.  In  company-  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  however,  he  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Iowa,  resided  for  a  time  in  Burlington  and  owned 
the  first  ferry  boat  that  crossed  the  river  at  that 
place.  On  one  occasion,  he  was  coming  up  the 
Mississippi  River  on  a  steamer,  which  exploded, 
and  he  was  blown  through  a  door  into  the  water 
a  half-mile  from  shore.  Many  of  the  passengers 
were  drowned  but  Mr.  Jennings  swam  back  to  the 
boat  and  when  it  sank  swam  ashore.  His  last  days 
were  spent  in  "Warren  County,  111.,  and  his  wife 
died  at  the  home  of  our  subject.  He  took  quite 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and  was  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party.  He  held  member- 
ship with  the  Ciiristian  Church  and  liis  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Cliurch.  The  faniilj- 
numbered  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom 
Columbus  is  the  eldest:  Mary  is  the  wife  of  James 
Whisnand,a  farmer  of  North  Dakota;  Robert,  who 


served  in  the  army,  died  in  1863;  and  Iowa  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Munson,  an  agriculturist  of  Bren- 
ton Township. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  his 
father's  farm  in  Knox  and  Warren  Counties.  His 
education  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools.  It 
was  his  desire  to  enter  college,  but,  being  the  eld- 
est of  the  family,  much  of  the  farm  labor  devolved 
upon  him  and  at  his  father's  death,  which  oc- 
curred when  Mr.  Jennings  was  twenty  years  of 
age,  the  management  of  the  farm  and  the  care  of 
his  mother  and  sisters  devolved  upon  him.  In 
the  fall  of  18fi7,  he  came  to  Ford  County-  and  pur- 
chased one  luindrcd  and  thirty  acres  of  land,  the 
greater  part  of  which  was  in  its  primitive  condi- 
tion, while  an  old  house  and  barn  constituted  the 
improvements.  Since  that  time  he  has  built  a  good 
residence  and  outbuihlings,  has  planted  trees, 
drained  his  land  and  now  has  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable farms  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Jennings  was  married  in  Spring  Grove 
Township.  Warren  Comity,  111.,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  Miss  iNIary  Jane  McGee,  a  native  of 
Preble  County,  Ohio.  Her  parents,  Thomas  and 
Mary  McGee,  died  of  cholera  in  the  Buckeye 
State.  Our  sulijecl  and  his  wife  have  two  sons  yet 
living  and  ten  children  died  in  infancy.  Robert, 
who  was  born  on  the  home  farm.  May  16,  1868, 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of-  Piper  Cit^^  and  at 
Monmouth  College,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
for  two  years.  He  then  successfully  followed 
teaching  and  is  now  employed  in  a  bank  in  Piper 
City.  James  T.,  who  was  born  January  28,  1872, 
was  also  educated  in  Piper  City  and  pursued  a 
commercial  course  of  study  in  Davenport,  Iowa. 
He  now  aids  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm. 

AVlien  Mr.  Jennings  started  out  in  life,  he  was 
in  limited  circumstances,  but  step  by  step  he  has 
worked  his  way  upward,  winning  a  competence  1)3' 
his  own  energy  and  industiy.  He  is  recogn  ized  as 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Brenton  Township 
and  one  of  its  substantial  citizens.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  organizing  the  Brenton  and  Pella  Fire 
and  Lightning  Insurance  Company  and  has  been 
one  of  its  Directors  since  its  formation.  He  was 
Vice-President  and  one  of  the  boai-d   of  managers 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


r)9i 


of  the  Piper  City  Fair  Association,  and,  in  politics, 
he  was  a  Democrat  in  early  life.  He  east  his  first 
vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  after  wliich  he  heard 
a  debate  in  Galesburg  between  Douglas  and  Lin- 
coln, and  at  the  next  election  he  voted  for  the  lat- 
ter. He  then  continued  tosupport  tlie  Republican 
part3'  until  1884,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a 
Prohibitionist.  He  has  often  served  as  delegate  to 
the  conventions  of  his  i)arty,  is  now  Chairman  of 
the  Prohibition  Central  Committee  of  Ford  County 
and  is  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention.  He 
now  liolds  the  office  of  .Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
has  filled  other  positions.  He  and  his  wife  are  ac- 
tive and  consistent  members  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian Churcli,  in  which  IMr.  .Jennings  serves  as 
Elder.  He  has  been  ."superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, and  is  now  President  of  the  Ford 
County  Sunday-school  Association.  Ilis  upright, 
honorable  life  has  won  for  him  the  high  regard  of 
all  with  wliom  he  has  come  in  contact  and  he  ranks 
anions'  Ford  County's  best  citizens. 


-m- 


VENJAMIN  C.  ANDREWS  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  on  section  9,  Wall  Town- 
KiVSJJ  IIJ  ship,  and  is  one  of  the  representative  citi- 
zens of  the  community.  His  entire  life  has 
been  p.asscd  in  this  State.  He  was  l)orn  in  Fulton 
County,  September  27,  1846,  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  was  reared 
to  farm  life,  no  event  of  special  importance  occur- 
ring to  vary  the  monotony  of  the  daily  routine 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age. 

At  that  time,  although  but  a  youth  and  weigh- 
ing only  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  Mr. 
Andrews  responded  to  the  country's  call  for  troops 
and  on  tlie  1st  of  December,  1863,  became  one  of 
the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  H,  Eleventh  Illinois 
Cavalry,  under  Col.  Robert  IngersoU.  He  joined 
the  regiment  at  Clear  Creek,  about  twelve  miles 
from  Mcksburg, and  the  first  engagement  in  which 
he  participated  was  thirty  miles  from  that  city, 
where  the  troops  destroyed  the  Mississiinii  Central 
Railroad.  lie  was  also  in  the  Greirson  raid,  which 
lasted  a  month,  and  took  part  in   other  raids  and 


such  duty  throughout  the  succeeding  winter.  He 
served  for  one  year  and  ten  months,  .and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  was  mustered  out,  on  the  1st  of 
Octol)er,  186.5,  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  receiving  his 
disch.arge  in  Springfield,  111. 

AVhen  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
Mr.  Andrews  returned  to  the  home  farm  and  again 
entered  school.  In  1867,  he  began  farming  for 
himself  in  INIarshall  County,  where  two  years  later, 
in  February,  1869.  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Miss  Ruth  Ann  Hunt.  She  was  the  tenth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  thirteen  children,  six  sons  and  seven  daugli- 
ters.  The  parents,  Richard  and  Ruth  (Horrom) 
Hunt,  were  both  natives  of  New  Jersey,  the  former 
born  May  9,  1804,  and  the  latter,  November  17, 
1812.  Mr.  Hunt  acquired  a  good  practical  educa- 
tion and  was  a  successful  teacher  in  Ohio,  where  he 
resided  for  some  3cars.  In  politics,  he  was  a  stal- 
wart Republican  from  the  formation  of  the  part}'. 
He  died  in  .September,  1881,  and  his  remains  were 
interred  in  Marshall  County,  where  a  beautiful 
monument  marks  his  last  resting  place.  His 
widowstill  survives  him  and  is  living  in  Nebraska. 
Seven  children  of  the  family  arc  yet  living:  Ly- 
man, who  is  married  and  follows  farming  near  the 
old  homestead  in  Marshall  County,  111.;  Timothy, 
who  IS  married  and  follows  farming  in  the  same 
county;  Sylvia,  wife  of  Alfred  Diehl,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Republic  County,  Kan.;  Eleanor,  who  re- 
sides in  Nebraska;  Jennie,  wife  of  Richard  Del- 
mege,  a  carpenter  and  joiner  in  I'nion  County, 
Iowa;  Ruth,  wife  of  our  subject;  and  Mary,  who  is 
living  in  Nebraska.  Those  deceased  all  died  in 
inf.ancy,  with  the  exception  of  Mahlon,  who  vvas  a 
meml)er  of  Comi)any  B,  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  died  from  the  effect  of  a  gun-shot 
wound. 

Mrs.  Andrews  was  born  August  8,  1849,  and  .ac- 
quired her  education  in  the  common  schools.  She 
is  an  estimable  lad}-  and  an  earnest  worker  in  the 
Women's  Relief  Corps  of  Melvin.  In  1869,  she 
gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Andrews.  The 
following  year,  the  young  couple  removed  to  Ford 
County,  locating  on  section  9,  Wall  Township, 
upon  wild  prairie  land,  entirely  unimproved.  They 
have  since  spent  two  3'ears  in  Marshall  County, 
but  are  now  living  on  section  9.     At  first  the  farm 


592 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


comprised  onl^'  eighty  acres,  but  as  his  financial 
resources  increased,  Mr.  Andrews  lias  extended  its 
boundaries.  He  now  owns  three  liuiidred  acres  of 
fine  hind  in  Ford  County,  all  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  well  improved.  His  farm  is  well 
tilled,  and  he  raises  excellent  horses  and  other 
stock.  He  and  his  wife  are  numbered  among  the 
prosperous  citizens  of  the  community.  They  have 
a  beautiful  home,  neatly  and  tastefully  furnished, 
and  its  hospitable  doors  always  stand  open  for  the 
reception  of  their  many  friends. 

The  union  of  ^Ir.  and  ]\Irs.  Andrews  has  been 
blessed  "with  four  children:  Leslie  D.,  Ella  B.,Beu- 
nie  L.  and  Jlonard  H.,  all  of  whom  are  still  under 
the  parental  roof. 

Our  subject  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  po- 
litical affairs  and  has  been  a  life-long  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  filled  the  office  of 
Road  Commissioner  and  was  elected  Collector,  but 
was  not  eligible  at  that  time.  He  has  never  sought 
for  political  preferment,  desiring  rather  to  give  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests, 
wliich  he  has  followed  with  signal  success,  thus 
acquiring  a  handsome  competence.  He  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  (Trand  Army  Post  of  Melvin,and 
has  been  .lunior  and  .Senior  Vice-Commander,  and 
was  Adjutant  for  six  years.  He  is  a  public-s|)iiited 
and  progressive  man,  ever  ready  to  aid  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  those  enterprises  calculated  to  bene- 
fit tlie  community,  and  is  recognized  as  a  i)romi- 
nent  and  intluential  citizen  of  Wall  Township. 

»''  ()HX  KEEFFE,  ^ho  resides  on  section  2, 
Pella  Townshii),  where  he  is  engaged  in 
^,^  gener.al  farming,  claims  Ireland  as  the 
^^//  land  of  his  nativity-.  He  was  born  in 
County  Tipperaiy,  about  1830,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  Kceffe,  a  farmer  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  He 
married  Ellen  Henness}'  and  with  our  suljject  and 
two  daughters  came  to  America  in  1844,  the 
mother  joining  them  about  one  year  later.  Mr. 
Keeffe  spent  about  seven  3ears  in  Canada  West 
and  then,  selling  his  property,  came  to  Illinois  in 
1851.  locating  in  La  Salle  Count}-.  For  some  years. 


he  resided  in  Ottawa  and  afterward  made  his 
home  in  Dwight.  His  death  occurred  in  Iroquois 
County,  in  1884,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in  La 
Salle  County.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  fourteen  ^ears  when  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America.  His  educational 
advantages  were  limited  and  as  his  parents  were  in 
poor  circumstances,  he  had  to  begin  to  earn  his 
own  livelihood  at  an  early  age.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  thirty-two  years  of  age,  when  he 
left  home  and  in  1864.  in  La  Salle  County,  led  to 
the  marriage  altar  Catherine  Condon,  a  native 
of  the  Emerald  Isle,  who  came  to  this  country 
when  about  a  year  old.  Unto  tliem  have  been  born 
four  sons  and  three  daughters:  James,  who  died  in 
Livingston  County  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Mary, 
who  was  educated  at  A'alparaiso,  Ind.,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  school-teaching  in  Faxton  ;  William,  who 
was  educated  at  Valparaiso,  has  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  section  29,  Pella  Township;  Joseph  and 
Frank,  who  aid  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm; 
Lena,  who  is  attending  school  in  Chatsworth; 
John  and  Catherine,  who  are  at  home. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Keeffe  enlisted  in  New  York  State, 
in  Company  B,  First  Dragoon  Regiment,  under 
Phil  Kerne}',  and  served  on  tlie  plains  at  Ft.  Leav- 
enworth and  Pike's  Peak,  guaiding  emigrants 
against  the  Indians.  On  one  occasion,  he  was 
wounded  in  the  forehead  by  a  bullet.  He  served 
for  four  years  and  nine  months,  being  discharged 
three  months  before  tlie  expiration  of  his  time  on 
account  of  good  behavior.  During  the  late  war, 
he  served  for  a  short  time  in  the  Massachusetts 
Heavy  Artillery  and,  in  1865,  came  to  F'ord 
County,  locating  on  section  15,  Pella  Townshii). 
He  bougiit  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  land  and 
there  made  liis  home  until  1877,  since  which  time 
he  has  resided  upon  liis  present  farm  on  section  2. 
He  is  one  of  the  extensive  land-owners  of  the 
county  and  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers.  His 
home  farm  now  comprises  four  hundred  and  forty 
acres  and  he  also  owns  a  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acre  tract  on  section  29.  He  started  in  life  with 
only  ^15.  Industry  and  enteiprise  have  always 
been  numbered  among  his  chief  characteristics  and 
he  has  worked  his  way  upward  until  he  is  now  one 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFX'ORD. 


593 


of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  community.  For 
his  success,  which  is  entirely-  due  to  liisown  efforts, 
he  certainly  deserves  great  credit. 

Mr.  Keeffe  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church 
of  Pii)er  City,  and  to  its  support  contributes  lib- 
erally. He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Buchanan,  but  has  never  allied  Iiimself  with  any 
political  party,  preferring  to  support  wliom  he 
pleases,  regardless  of  party  affiliations.  His  last 
vote  was  cast  for  President  Harrison.  He  is  well 
known  throughout  the  community  and  is  held  in 
high  regard.  He  is  numbered  among  the  best  cit- 
izens of  Pella  Township,  for  he  always  aids  in  the 
advancement  of  pulilic  enterprises  and  is  a  friend 
to  all  interests  calculated  to  promote  the  general 
welfare. 


'^f  AMES  SHELDON,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  section  30,  Pella 
Township,  was  born  in  1824,  in  Columbia 
County,  N.  Y.  His  great-grandfather  set- 
tled in  the  Empire  State  in  an  earl^'  day,  and  four 
generations  of  the  family  tlierc  resided.  The 
grandfather  was  a  Revolutionarj-  soldier  and  was 
present  at  Burgoyne's  surrender.  The  father  of 
our  sul)ject,  Gideon  Sheldon,  spent  his  entire  life 
upon  a  farm  in  Columbia  Countj',  and  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  married  Lydia  Leak,  a 
native  of  the  same  county.  His  death  occurred 
when  our  subject  was  a  mere  boy,  his  wife  passing 
awaj'  a  few  years  later.  He  served  as  Justice  of 
the  Peace  some  years,  was  a  life-long  supporter  of 
the  Whig  party  and  was  an  anti-Mason.  He  was 
liighly  esteemed  as  a  valued  citizen  in  tiie  commu- 
nity wliere  he  made  his  liome.  In  the  family  were 
nine  children,  three  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Eliza,  James  and  Emma.  Those  deceased  are 
Henry,  Daniel.  Albert,  Sarah,  Desire  and  Evelyn. 
Mr.  Sheldon,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  his  father's  farm  and 
acquired  his  education  in  a  select  school  and  .an 
academy.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  attained 
his  majority  and  operated  the  farm  for  two  3'ears. 
He  then  began  farming  for  himself,  and  for  nine 


years  followed  tliat  occupation  in  Genesee  County, 
N.  Y.,  after  which  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  in  1865, 
and  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  still  in  its 
primitive  condition.  His  was  the  sixth  house 
erected  in  Pella  Township,  and  he  could  ride 
straight  over  the  prairie  to  Chatsworth  with  no 
fences  to  impede  his  progress.  He  brought  six 
hundred  sheep  from  ]\Iicliigan,  but  disease  got 
among  them  and  he  lost  i!2,000  thereby.  Tlie  ob- 
stacles and  difficulties  which  have  arisen  in  his 
path  he  has  overcome,  however,  and  by  his  indus- 
try and  enterprise  has  steadily  worked  his  way  up- 
ward. He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  twent3' 
acres  of  as  fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  Illinois  and 
engages  in  general  farming  and  stock-raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  sheep. 

In  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,in  September,  1845, 
Mr.  Sheldon  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Annie  VanDusen,  a  native  of  that  county  and  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  earlj'  families  of  the  State. 
Her  parents,  Richard  and  Clara  Van  Dusen,  spent 
their  entire  lives  in  Columbia  County  as  farming 
people,  the  father  owning  nine  hundred  acres  of 
land.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  have  one  child, 
Gideon,  whom  we  will  mention  later  on. 

Mr.  Sheldon  cast  Iiis  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Taylor  and  was  a  Wliiguntil  voting  for  Fre- 
mont in  1856.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  State 
convention  of  the  Republican  party  in  New  York, 
and  has  since  often  served  as  delegate  to  the  con- 
ventions and  is  one  of  the  stanchest  advocates  of 
Kepublican  principles.  He  served  as  Township 
Supervisor  for  four  years,  being  elected  in  1872, 
and  at  the  same  time  as  a  meml3cr  of  the  County 
Board.  He  has  fre(iuently  refused  offices,  prefer- 
ring to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests,  in  which  he  h.as  met  with  signal  suc- 
cess. He  is  sagacious  and  far-siglited,  enterprising 
and  progressive,  and  by  his  fair  and  lionest  deal- 
ing has  won  a  handsome  property.  He  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  county  and 
his  friends  throughout  the  community  are  many. 

Gideon  Sheldon,  the  only  child,  was  born  in 
Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  January  22,  1849,  and 
wiis  about  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois.  His  education  was 
completed  in  the  public  schools  of  this  county  and 


594 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


by  one  year's  attendance  at  Onarga  Seminary. 
He  lierded  cattle  for  his  fatlicr  all  over  the  coun- 
try for  seven  years  and  has  killed  door  in  Pella 
Townshiii.  Lesser  game  was  to  be  had  in  abun- 
dance and  wolves  were  still  numerous  in  the  neigli- 
borhood.  On  th(!  24th  of  .July,  1872,  in  Genesee 
County,  N.  Y.  he  married  Nellie  Clark,  and  unto 
them  have  lieen  liorn  four  children:  Addie.  Lorena, 
Nellie  and  .lames. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Sheldon  went  to  Griggs  County, 
N.  Dak.,  where  he  entered  a  claim  of  government 
land  and  spent  seven  years.  He  is  a  well-known 
farmer  of  this  community  and.  like  his  father,  is  a 
man  of  sterling  wortii.  In  polities,  he  has  been  a 
life-long  Ke})ublican  and  h.as  held  several  local 
offices. 


^p^EORGE  RAN] 
i/(— .  Piper  City,- W£ 
^JJ^    Herkimer  Cov 


^EORGE  RANDALL,  a  retired  farmer  of 
was  born  in  Norway  Township, 
junty,  N.  v.,  .Tuly  .31,  1820, 
and  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  .Tosepli  Randall, 
the  founder  of  the  family  in  ,\merica.  He  was  a 
native  of  Brest,  France,  and  on  emigrating  to  this 
countr}^  located  in  Providence,  R.  I.  He  was  a 
calker  by  trade.  He  was  married  July  26,  1716, 
in  Providence,  and  died  Jlarch  30,  1760,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  Peter  Randall,  his 
fourth  son,  was  born  .June  12,  1723,  and  died 
March  9,  1808.  He  w.as  a  sulistantial  farmer  and 
had  a  large  family.  John,  sixth  son  of  Peter,  was 
born  June  23,  17.58,  successfully  followed  farming, 
.and  died  August  27,  1831.  He  w.as  married, 
March  11,  1781,  to  Mercy  Mo  wry,  daughter  of 
Col.  Elisha  Mowry,  of  Smithfield.  They  had  six 
children,  the  second  in  order  of  birth  being 
Smith  Randall,  father  of  our  subject.  He  was 
born  August  6,  1784,  and  died  March  12,  1831. 
He  wedded  JIary,  a  daughter  of  Elisha  Olnej',  of 
Smithfield.  She  was  born  November  26,  1787, 
their  union  was  celebrated  May  2,  1811,  and  her 
death  occurred  July  17,  1852.  They  iiad  a  family 
of  eleven  children,  five  sons  and  si-x  daughters, 
but  only  two  are  now  living,  our  subject  and  Mrs. 
Adeline  Smith,   who   resides  near  the  old  home- 


stead in  New  York.  The  father  was  quite  active 
in  political  afliairs  and  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Anti-Masonic  Society  at  the  time  of  the  Morgan 
excitement.  His  wife  was  a  memlier  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 

George  Randall  was  the  youngest  of  five 
brothers.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  the 
old  homestead,  and  iiccpiired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  an  .academy.  His  father  died 
when  George  was  eleven  years  of  age,  and  he 
began  to  earn  his  own  livelihood  at  the  age  of 
sixteen.  In  1853,  he  married  Frances  E.  Crane,  a 
native  of  Norway,  N.  Y.,  who  w.as  born  May  17, 
1829,  and  a  daughter  of  .Joseph  C.  and  Sarah 
(Bushnell)  Cr.ane,  natives  of  Connecticut.  Her 
father  was  a  painter  and  paper  hanger  liy  trade 
and  served  .as  l^ostmaster  of  Norway  for  twenty 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randall  began  their  domes- 
tic life  in  Norway,  wliere  he  w.as  engaged  as  a 
parpenter  and  stock  dealer  for  seventeen  3'ears.  In 
1870,  he  came  to  Illinois,  reaching  Piper  Cit}'  on 
the  1st  of  April.  He  located  upon  a  farm  two 
miles  south  of  the  town,  and  transformed  the  wild 
tr.aet  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres  into  rich  and 
fertile  fields,  which  yielded  to  him  a  good  income. 
He  there  resided  until  1889,  when  he  came  to 
Piper  City,  and  has  since  lived  retired,  resting  in 
the  enjoj'meut  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  labors. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Randall  were  born  three 
children,  who  are  j-et  living:  Ileniy  S.,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  New  York,  was  for  a  number 
of  years  a  successful  school  teacher  in  Ford 
Countj',  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business  in  Buckingham,  III.;  Cora  E.,  who  was  a 
school  te.acher,  is  now  the  wife  of  G.  Reeder,  who 
resides  on  a  farm  twc)  miles  south  of  Piper  City; 
Chancey,  who  w.as  born  in  New  York,  is  a  painter 
and  paper  hanger  of  I'iper  City. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Randall  was  a  Whig  from  the 
time  when  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
William  Henry  Harrison  until  he  voted  for 
Lincoln  in  1860.  Since  that  time  he  h.as  been  an 
inflexible  adherent  of  Republican  principles,  and 
has  often  served  as  delegate  to  the  conventions  of 
his  party  but  would  not  accept  public  office.  While 
residing  in  New  Y'ork,  however,  he  served  as 
Justice   of  the    Peace    for    eight   3'ears,    and    was 


^■5 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


597 


])epiity  Sheriff  of  Herkimer  County  for  nine  3'ears. 
His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Cluircli 
when  in  the  Empire  State.  This  worthy  couple 
are  highly  respected  people,  widely  and  favorably- 
known  in  Eord  County.  Mr.  Randall  is  a  self- 
made  man  who  began  life  empty-handed,  but  by 
his  own  exertions  worked  his  way  uiiward  to  a 
position  among  the  suljstantial  citizens  of  tiie 
community. 


>,r<r^ELS()N  B.  TYLER  was  one  of  the  early 
merchants  of  Gibson  City,  having  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business  m  that  place  in  the 
summer  of  1872,  when  the  town  was  scarcely  a 
year  old.  He  discontinued  that  trade  in  1878,  but 
is  still  an  honoied  resident  of  Gibson. 

Mr.  T3'ler  was  born  in  Lake  County,  111.,  No- 
vember 20,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  John  J.  and  Janet 
(Ackle^')  T^'ler.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Colum- 
bia County,  N.  Y.,  born  on  the  2.3d  of  July,  1823, 
and  now  resides  in  Chebanse,  Iroquois  County, 
this  State,  where  he  is  a  large  property  owner.  His 
ancestors,  some  generations  remote,  were  of  English 
extraction,  and  the  mother  of  our  subject,  who  was 
born  in  Bennington,  N.  Y.,  in  1829,  is  of  Scotch 
descent.  The  [larents  of  Mr.  Tyler  came  to  Illinois 
in  1852,  settling  near  ^Vaukegan,  where  the  father 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  until 
1855,  when  he  returned  with  his  family  to  the  old 
home  in  New  York,  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his 
parents,  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  after 
their  deaths.  In  1864,  he  returned  to  Illinois,  i)ur- 
ch.asing  a  farm  in  Iroquois  County, which  is  still  his 
home. 

Nelson  B.  went  to  New  Y'ork  with  his  parents 
when  less  than  three  years  of  age,  there  attended 
school  and  returned  with  them  to  Illinois  in  18G4. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  In  the  summer  of  1872,  when 
not  ijuite  twenty  years  of  age,  he  located  in  Gib- 
son City  and  engaged  in  the  groce'ry  business, 
which  he  continued  until  1878,  when  he  sold  out 
and  began  dealing  in  live  stock,  which  he  followed 
for  two  j'ears. 


Mr.  Tyler  has  been  twice  married.  On  the  2'tth 
of  December,  1873,  he  wedded  Miss  Carrie  A.  (iard- 
ner,  daughter  of  William  P.  and  Sarnli  (James) 
Gardner.of  Gilman,  111.  Her  death  occurred  July 
12,  1875,  and  since  that  time  their  daugiiter,  Car- 
rie N.,  who  was  born  May  21,  1875,  has  resided 
with  her  grandparents.  A  marriage  ceremony  per- 
formed on  the  16th  of  October,  1879,  in  North 
Hillsdale,  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Tyler  and 
Miss  Lottie  K.  Palmer.  The  lady  is  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State,  born  in  Columbia  County,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Jackson  and  Angelina  Palmer, 
both  of  whom  are  of  P^nglish  descent,  though  born 
in  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  wdiere  they  are  still 
residing.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Sirs.  Tyler  has 
been  graced  with  two  children,  both  born  in  Gib- 
son City:  Lottie  M.  and  Florence. 

Soon  after  his  marriage.  Mi'.  T^der  resumed  the 
grocery  business  in  (Jibson,  subsequently  putting 
in  a  stock  of  general  merchandise,  .and  continued  the 
l)roprietor  of  this  store  until  1885,  when  he  sold 
out  to  accept  the  position  of  traveling  salesman  for 
the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  Merriam,  Collins  & 
Co.,  of  Chicago,  which  he  has  Mlled  for  the  past 
seven  years  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  employers. 
Mr.  Tyler,  in  his  political  aliiliaticms,  is  a  Demo- 
crat and  has  ie[)resented  his  party  in  State  and 
county  conventions.  Socially,  he  is  a  Knight  Tem- 
plar Mason,  a  member  of  Gibson  Lodge  No.  733, 
A.  F.  (fe  A.  M.;  (iibson  Chapter  No.  183,  R.  A.  M.; 
and  Mt.  Olivet  Commandery  No.  38,  K.  T.,  of  Pax- 
ton.  He  also  holds  membership  with  (iibson  Lodge 
No.  542,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  lieen  an  encampment 
member.  He  has  filled  all  the  chairs  of  that  order 
and  has  been  a  representative  to  the  (irand  En- 
campment. Mr.  Tyler  and  his  estimable  wife  are 
devoted  Christian  people,  belonging  to  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  Church  of  Gibson. 

During  President  Cleveland's  administration, 
Mr.  Tyler's  friends  secured  him  the  ai>pointment 
of  Postmaster  of  Gibson,  but  he  declined  to  accept 
the  position  on  account  of  business  considerations. 
He  is  interested  in  real  estate  in  Chicago  and  is  the 
owner  of  a  fine  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Clarke  County,  Iowa,  which  he  has 
rented.  He  is  a  practical  business  man  and  has 
been  <iuite  successful  m  his  various  undertakin<i;s. 


598 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


His  mature  years  have  been  largely  passed  in  Gib- 
son, or  at  least  tliat  place  lias  been  liis  home  since 
he  has  attained  man's  estate,  and  the  warm  regard 
and  high  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens  speak  loudly 
in  praise  of  his  high  standing  as  a  man  and  citizen. 


=^ 


!)HOMAS  REED,  a  substantial  fanner  of  Pella 
Township  residing  on  section  12,  was  born 
on  the  26th  of  September,  1843,  in  Chautau- 
qua County,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Eliza 
(Ferguson)  Reed.  The  former  was  born  in  Saratoga 
County,  but  was  married  in  Chautauqua  County. 
By  occupation,  he  was  a  farmer  and  followed  that 
business  throughout  his  entire  life.  His  death  oc- 
cnri-ed  in  July,  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixty  j'ears. 
The  famil}'  came  West  in  1863,  locating  in  Ottawa, 
La  Salle  County,  where  they  spent  six  years  and 
then  came  to  Ford  County.  In  the  family  were 
eleven  children:  Edwin,  who  is  living  in  La  Salle 
County;  Franklin,  who  enlisted  in  the  Sixty-third 
Illinois  Infantry-,  had  an  arm  and  leg  shot  off  at 
the  battle  of  .lackson,  and  died  in  the  hospital,  of 
gangrene,  September  19,  1863;  Harriet,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Nelson  Steilnian,  of  Piper  City;  Heniy, 
twin  brother  of  Helen,  was  in  the  Ninth  New  York 
Cavalry  and  died  in  the  arm^',  of  tyhoid  fever, 
July  27,  1862;  Helen  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Morris, 
a  wealthy  citizen  of  Tennessee; Thomas  is  the  next 
younger;  Butler  is  a  farmer  of  Pella  Township; 
Theodore,  Charles  and  Arb}'  also  reside  in  Pellu 
Township;  James  Emniett  was  the  next  younger, 
and  died  November  8,  1870,  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years. 

With  the  other  members  of  the  family,  Thomas 
Reed  came  to  Ford  County  in  1869  and  with  his 
brothers  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  is  now 
residing.  Since  that  time,  he  has  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising  and  his  landed  pos- 
sessions aggregate  three  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 
He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
progressive  agriculturists  of  this  community,  and 
the  well-tilled  fields  and  many  improvements  upon 
the  place  indicate  his  thrift. 

As  a  companion  and  hel innate  on  life's  journey, 


Mr.  Reed  chose  Miss  Emma  Spaulding,  but  her 
death  occurred  in  1876.  She  left  two  sons:  Will- 
iam at  home;  and  Frank,  who  resides  with  his 
uncle  in  La  Salle  County.  Sir.  Reed  next  married 
Chatine  Hench,  who  died  three  years  later,  and  on 
the  ."jth  of  April,  1885,  in  this  county,  he  wedded 
INIaggie  Smith,  a  daughter  of  William  Smith,  who 
for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  made  his 
home  in  Pella  Township.  jMrs.  Reed  was  born  in 
Scotland,  and  when  a  child  came  to  America.  A 
daughter  has  been  born  of  the  third  unif)n — Clara, 
a  little  maiden  of  six  summers.  The  parents  are 
both  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  take 
an  active  part  in  its  work.  Mr.  Reed  has  given 
liberally  to  its  support.  He  is  a  charitable  and 
benevolent  man  and  a  highly  esteemed  citizen. 
Since  casting  his  first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
he  has  supported  the  Republican  party  and  has 
often  served  as  a  delegate  to  its  conventions.  He 
has  held  some  public  offices  but  prefers  to  give  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interest, 
which  he  carries  on  successfully. 


^^ 


^^p5^  AMUEE  BELL,  who  owns  and  operates  a 
^^^  farm  in  Wall  Township,  has  made  his 
vt£9)  '"""^  '"  ^'''"^  county  since  1857,  or  for  tiie 
long  period  of  thirtj'-five  years.  In  that 
time  he  has  witnessed  the  greater  part  of  its 
growth  and  development,  and  has  ever  borne  his 
share  in  its  upiiuilding.  He  claims  England  .as 
the  land  of  his  nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Westmoreland,  on  the  6th  of  August,  1829. 
His  father,  Samuel  Bell,  was  a  hoop-maker  by 
trade.  He  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first 
union  was  born  one  son,  James,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased. He  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Elizabeth  Dawson.  Unto  thein  were 
born  eight  children:  John  D.,  who  resides  in  Dix 
Township,  Ford  Count}',  where  he  follows  farming; 
William,  deceased;  Elizabeth;  Thomas,  also  de- 
ceased; Sarah,  wife  of  David  Metcalf,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Dix  Township;  Samuel,  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch;  Emma  A.,  was  the  wife  of 
James  Mills,  who  was  an  engraver  b}'  trade;  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


599 


Mary  A.,  who  died  in  infancy-.  The  father  departed 
tliis  life  November  17,  1870,  his  wife  siirviv- 
ing  until  the  19th  of  July,  187;!. 

In  his  native  land  our  subject  spent  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  3'outli  and  acquired  a  good 
English  education  in  tlie  common  schools,  which 
he  attended  at  intervals  until  he  had  attained 
liis  majority.  He  learned  the  hoop-maker's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  seven  years  prior  to  his 
emigration  to  America.  It  was  in  1851  that  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  this  countrj'.  He  took 
p.ass.age  on  a  sailing-vessel  at  Liverpool,  and,  after 
a  voyage  of  thirtj^  days,  landed  at  New  York, 
from  whence  he  soon  went  to  Globe  Village,  R.  I., 
where  he  worked  in  a  calico-printing  establish- 
ment for  about  eighteen  months.  He  then  re- 
turned to  England,  but  after  a  visit  of  three 
months  again  came  to  America  to  seek  his  fortune. 
On  his  return,  he  settled  in  Globe  A'illage,  R.  I., 
where  he  resided  until  1857,  and  then  emigrated 
Westward.  His  first  location  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley-  was  in  Vermilion  Count3^,  in  the  portion 
which  is  now  a  part  of  Ford  Count}'.  He  became 
a  resident  near  Prospect  City,  now  Paxton,  and 
worked  upon  a  farm  by  the  month  until  1859, 
when  he  purchased  a  team  and  rented  land,  oper- 
ating that  farm  until  1863.  In  that  jear  he 
responded  to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  enlist- 
ing in  Chicago,  on  the  31st  of  December,  as  a 
private  in  the  Chicago  Mercantile  Battery.  Pat- 
rick H.  White  was  Captain  of  the  company,  the 
First  Lieutenant  was  Pickney  S.  Cone,  the  Junior 
First  Lieutenant  was  Henry  Roe,  the  Senior  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  was  Florus  D.  Meacham,  and  the 
Junior  Second  Lieutenant  was  James  C.  Sinclair. 
The  first  active  engagement  in  which  Mr.  Bell 
participated  was  at  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  where  he 
was  captured  by  the  enemy  and  sent  to  Ft.  T3ier, 
Tex.,  where  he  was  held  prisoner  for  four 
hundred  and  fourteen  days,  or  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  When  the  country'  no  longer  needed  his 
services,  he  was  honorably  discharged  in  Cliicago, 
on  the  10th  of  July,  1865. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Bell's  return  to  the  Nortli,  he 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  28,  Wall 
Township,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
Before  his  enlistment  he  was  married,  January  8, 


1860,  to  Miss  Lavina  Travis.  Five  children  were 
born  of  their  union:  William  T.,  who  is  married 
and  follows  farming  in  Peacli  Orchard  Township; 
Mary  E.,  who  resides  at  her  father's  home;  Milton 
A.,  who  died  when  about  two  years  of  age,-  his 
birth  having  occurred  Jul}'  27,  1869,  and  his  death 
February  15,  1871;  Emma  D.,  and  Lephel,  both  at 
home.  For  twenty-one  years,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bell 
had  traveled  life's  journe}'  together.  She  was 
then  called  to  her  final  rest,  January  7,  1881,  and 
her  remains  were  interred  in  Meharry  Cemetery, 
in  Patton  Township.  The  mother  and  wife  are 
sadly  missed  in  the  household,  but  Mr.  Bell  is 
comforted  in  his  declining  j'ears  by  his  faithful 
and  loving  children. 

Mr.  Bell  is  a  member  of  Grand  Army  Post  No.  387, 
of  Paxton,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  is  a 
Republican,  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abniham  Lincoln.  He  has  been  honored  witli 
several  positions  of  public  trust,  having  served  as 
Road  Commissioner  for  three  j'ears  and  Clerk  of 
Wall  Township  for  seventeen  consecutive  years, 
which  fact  indicates  the  trust  reposed  in  him  by 
his  fellow-townsmen  and  his  own  faithfulness  to 
his  office  and  the  efficient  discharge  of  his  duties. 
He  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  this  community,  and 
ever  has  its  best  interests  at  heart. 


^^EOKGE  W.  GLASS,  who  is  now  living  re- 
III  (=-  tired  in  Piper  Cit}',  has  led  a  bus}-  and 
\\^^i5J  useful  life.  He  claims  New  York  as  the 
State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Onondaga  County,  February  11,  1826.  Hisgraud- 
fatlier  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  18th  century  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
estalilished  his  family  in  the  town  of  Elbridge, 
Onondaga  Count}'.  The  father  of  our  subject, 
William  Glass,  came  with  his  parents  to  America 
when  a  child  and  sjient  his  entire  life  in  New 
Y'ork,  where  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing in  pursuit  of  fortune.  He  married  Clarissa 
Whipple,  a  native  of  Vermont,  .and  her  death 
occurred  in  1836.  He  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
in  1844,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.     In  tlie 


600 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


family  were  five  children  who  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood:  Eunice,  now  Mrs.  Choate,  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Cliicago; 
William,  who  served  in  the  army  and  died  in 
1863;  Adeline,  whose  death  occurred  in  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.;  George  W.,  of  tiiis  sketch;  and  James,  who 
died  in  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

We  now  take  u))  tlic  personal  history  of  our 
subject.  lie  attended  the  common  schools  and 
also  acquired  an  academical  education.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  and  he 
then  began  to  earn  his  own  livelihood,  working  on 
the  railroad  at  anjthing  he  could  lind  to  do.  He 
was  also  employed  as  engineer,  and  spent  some 
years  in  the  railroad  shops.  Subse(]uently,  he 
operated  a  portable  engine,  making  tliat  his  busi- 
ness until  forty  years  of  age.  The  year  18.53 
witnessed  his  removal  to  Ohio,  where  he  oi)erated 
his  portable  engine,  making  his  home  in  San- 
dusk  J^ 

Mr.  Glass  was  married  in  the  autumn  of  1863, 
in  the  neighborhood  where  he  w.as  leared  in  New 
York,  to  Miss  Maiy  E.  Yates,  also  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State,  and  they  began  their  domestic  life 
at  Patterson,  Hardin  County,  (^hio.  In  1865,  they 
removed  to  Stark  County,  111.,  where  they  spent 
the  winter,  and  in  the  following  spring  went  to 
La  Salle  County,  locating  upon  a  farm  near 
Streator,  where  they  resided  until  1873.  In  that 
year  they  came  to  Ford  County,  and  Mr.  Glass 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Pella  Township.  It  was  a  trsict  of  wet  prairie, 
entirely  unimjiroved,  but  he  began  its  cultivation 
and  development  and  transformed  it  into  a  fine 
farm,  upon  whicli  he  made  his  home  until  his 
removal  to  Piper  City  in  1892.  He  is  now  living 
a  retired  life,  and  his  rest  is  well  deserved. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glass  were  born  two  sons  and 
three  daughters,  as  follows:  George  E.,  who  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Piper  Citj-  and 
Streator,  and  at  Onarga  Seminary,  is  now  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  Stieator;  P.age  is  study- 
ing law  in  Streator;  Minnie  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years,  and  Fannie  and  Alice  are  still 
under  the  parental  roof.  The  Glass  household  is 
the  abode  of  hospitality  and  the  members  hold 
high   positions   in    social  circles.     On   the  10th  of 


April,  1890,  Mrs.  Glass  passed   to  her  final  rest, 
being  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  Glass  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  and  continued  to  support  the 
Republican  partj^  until  1876,  when  he  voted  for 
Cooper  and  Carey.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
independent  in  politics,  holding  himself  free  to 
support  whoever  he  pleases,  regardless  of  part}' 
atliliations.     In  his  social  relations,  he  is  a  Mason 


3^S^ 


\l|OHN  A.  SCOTT,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
I  owners  of  Mona  Township,  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising  on  sec- 
tion 9,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm.  A  native 
of  W.ashington  County,  Pa.,  he  was  born  Januar}' 
1,  1848.  His  father,  John  Scott,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  was  of  Scotch  descent.  He  mar- 
ried Lydia  Pees,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Kej'stone  State  and  was  of  German  lineage.  They 
became,  the  ptarents  of  eight  children,  as  follows: 
Franklin,  a  i)racticing  ph^'sician,  residing  in  Mon- 
ongahelaCity,  Washington  County,  Pa.;  William. I., 
who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Washington  County, 
Ohio;  AVinfield,  a  resident  farmer  of  Mona  Town- 
ship; George,  Mary;  Lydia  J.,  wife  of  Lewis  D.igue, 
deceased;  Sarah  E.  died  iu  1873,  and  John,  of  this 
sketch.  The  father  of  this  family  died  in  1886,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two  j'ears.  The  mother  passed 
away  in  1888.  Both  were  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  and  highly  resjfccted  people. 

Our  subject  w.as  born  and  reared  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  after  attending  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  for  some  time,  completed  his  educa- 
tion in  the  lloge  Summit  Academy,  located  in 
Washington,  Pa.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine, 
but  in  1866  abandoned  it  in  order  to  come  West. 
He  made  his  first  location  in  Morris,  Grundy 
County,  111.,  where  he  worked  at  whatever  he 
could  find  to  do  for  about  a  year.  He  then  liegan 
farming,  following  that  occupation  during  the 
summer  months,  while  he  engaged  in  teaching  in 
the  winter  season  for  three  years.  He  made  his 
home  in  Grundy  and  Marshall  Counties  until 
1870,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County.     He  located 


t^      ^l^^-ryi^' 


XL^^-t^i^^r^UL-i^ 


1  > 


V> 


2^jn?^«^    (2//'-'-^''^^y^ 


^/^J€-^^/i^    ^      /ui'^n^i^uznj^ 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


605 


in  Mona  Township,  where  lie  has  since  made  liis 
home.  He  now  owns  six  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  valuable  land,  and  his  farm  is  one  of  the  most 
desirable  places  in  the  community.  The  fields  are 
well  tilled,  he  raises  a  good  grade  of  stock  and  the 
manj'  improvements  upon  the  place  indicate  his 
thrift  and  enterprise. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Scott  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Margaret  A.  Collins,  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Ann  Collins.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with 
five  children:  Marniion  H.,  who  is  now  studying 
law  in  Kankakee, 111.;  LilaMaj-,  Frank  K.,  Philip  C. 
and  Milla.  The  Scott  household  is  the  abode  of 
hospitality  and  its  members  rank  high  in  social 
circles. 

Mr.  Scott  supports  the  Democratic  party  and  has 
always  taken  a  great  interest  in  political  affairs. 
He  has  served  his  township  as  School  Director, 
Road  Commissioner,  School  Treasurer  .and  Town- 
ship Supervisor,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  his 
duties  have  ever  been  faithfully  performed.  Mr. 
Scott  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability  and  sterling 
worth.  His  life  has  been  a  successful  oue,  and  the 
prosperity  that  has  crowned  his  efforts  has  been 
well  deserved. 


■^ 


^  OHN  F.  KI:NNEY,  one  of  the  extensive 
land-owners  and  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Ford  Count}',  residing  on  section  14,  Wall 
Township,  claims  Pennsylvania  as  the  State 
of  his  nativity,  and  on  the  paternal  side  is  of  Irish 
extraction.  He  was  born  near  Brownsville,  Pa., 
on  the  13th  of  December,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  Kenney,  who  now  resides  upon  a  farm  which 
was  his  birthiilace,  and  which  was  located  by  his 
father  about  180U.  It  has  been  the  home  of  the 
Kenneys  since  1802.  In  connection  with  its  culti- 
vation, Mr.  Kenney  has  devoted  his  life  and  talents 
to  the  upbuilding  of  the  Methodist  Church,  of 
which  he  has  long  been  a  minister.  He  married 
Ann  Sproat,  who  died  in  the  spring  of  1837,  leav- 
ing four  children,  as  follows:  William,  who  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Ford  County;  Elizabeth, 
■wife  of  Asbury  Greenfield,  a  resident  of  Santa 
25 


Paula,  Cal.;  C3rus,  a  farmer  and  fruit-grower,  re- 
siding  in  the  same  place;  and  .John  F.,  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch. 

Rev.  Kenney  was  again  married,  Feb.  5,  1839, 
his  second  union  ))eing  with  Patience  IMoore,  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Benjamin,  a  fruit-grower  of  California; 
Eliza  A.,  now  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  John 
Freeman,  who  is  engaged  in  farming;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Wilson  Ward,  an  agriculturist  residing  in 
Washington  County,  Pa.;  James  W.,  who  is  also  a 
farmer  of  that  county;  Rebecca  J.,  and  Sarah  J., 
twins;  and  Mary  M.,  wife  of  Lewis  M.  Cleaver, 
who  is  a  general  merchant  in  Washington  County, 
Pa. 

The  educational  advantages  which  our  suliject 
received  were  not  of  a  very  superior  character. 
He  attended  school  at  intervals  until  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  and  under  the  parental  roof  he  re- 
mained until  after  he  attained  his  m.ajorit}'.  At 
length  he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 
West,  believing  that  on  its  broad  prairies  one 
might  have  better  opportunities  than  were  afforded 
in  the  more  thickly'  settled  States  of  the  East.  It 
was  in  1857  that  he  became  a  resident  of  La  Salle 
County,  where  he  began  working  by  the  month  on 
a  farm,  and  was  thus  employed  for  two  years.  He 
then  purchased  a  team,  rented  land,  and  in  this 
way  got  his  start. 

A  marriage  ceremony,  performed  on  the  3d  of 
January,  1860,  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Kenney 
and  Miss  MaryE.,  daughter  of  Josephusand  Lydia 
(Clark)  Phelps.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  M.ass- 
achusetts,  born  September  13,  1805.  He  was  reared 
to  manhood  in  his  native  State,  where  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner.  Coming  to 
the  West,  he  located  in  Michigan,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1832  took  up  his  residence  in  Putnam  County, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death,  wliicli  occurred 
February  4,  1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty -seven  j-ears. 
His  wife,  who  was  born  October  15,  1820,  is  still 
living  in  Putnam  County.  She  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  Church  and  an  estimable  ladj'.  Mr. 
Phelps  was  a  Universalist  in  religious  belief.  They 
had  a  famil}-  of  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  Fabius  E.,  a  mechanic,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  resides  in  Nebraska;  Mrs.  Kenney;  Irene, 


606 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


wife  of  George  Williamson,  who  resided  iu  Put- 
nam County,  but  died  in  La  Salle  County;  Calvin 
Arthur,  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  who  is  married  and 
makes  liis  home  in  Nebraska;  Quincy  Irvin,  a 
mechanic,  living  in  Putnam  Count}';  Flavins 
Josephus,  a  mechanic,  who  is  married  and  makes 
his  home  in  La  Salle  County,  and  Charles,  a  me- 
chanic, who  is  married  and  resides  in  Nebraska. 

Mrs.  Kenney  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  an  academy  in  her  native  cit}'. 
She  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  her- 
self and  husband  aided  liberally  in  the  erection  of 
the  beautiful  church  buildings  in  Wall  Township. 
They  began  their  domestic  life  in  Putnam  County, 
where  they  continued  to  reside  until  1867,  when 
Mr.  Kenney  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  on  section  14,  "Wall  Township,  Ford 
County,  but  remained  in  Putnam  County,  where 
he  made  his  home  until  1872.  He  then  settled 
upon  his  present  farm,  ninety  acres  of  which  had 
been  broken,  and  for  twenty  years  it  has  now  been 
his  home.  In  connection  with  general  farming,  he 
has  engaged  extensively  in  stock-raising,  success 
crowning  his  efforts,  and  as  his  financial  resources 
have  increased,  he  has  extended  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm,  until  he  now  owns  six  hundred  acres 
of  land,  all  in  Wall  Township.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising and  successful  business  man,  an  industrious 
farmer,  and  through  his  own  efforts  has  accumu- 
lated a  handsome  property. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenney  have  been  born  four- 
teen children,  as  follows:  Cyrus  A.,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  Government  position  during  Presi- 
dent Harrison's  administration,  and  is  located  in 
Lawrenceburg,  K}'.;  Belle,  wife  of  Frank  D.  Calder, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Wall  Township;  Walter  G., 
Sidney,  Lillian,  Mary  E.,  Merton  D.,  Irvin  and 
Fletcher  N.     The  other  three  are  deceased. 

Mr.  Kenney  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Town- 
ship Supervisor  in  1877,  and  served  as  such  until 
1880.  In  1889,  he  was  again  the  people's  choice 
for  that  position  and  still  holds  the  office.  He  has 
also  served  as  School  Trustee,  and  at  present  is  the 
Public  Guardian  of  the  County,  to  which  position 
he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Fifer  in  1890.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party 
and  a  stanch  advocate  of    its  principles.     He  cast 


his  fli'st  Presidential  vote  for  "Honest  Abe,"  the 
Martyr  President  of  the  United  States.  He  is  a 
well-known  citizen  of  the  community,  and  is  truly 
deserving  of  representation  in  this  volume. 


"^l  OSEPH  MITCHINSON,  who  owns  and  oper- 
ates eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  6,  Bren- 
ton  Township,  has  been  an  eye-witness  of 
the  growth  and  development  of  Ford 
County  since  an  earl}'  da}',  and  he  cut  away  his 
corn  in  order  that  the  first  house  in  Piper  City 
could  be  built.  His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He 
was  born  in  Cumberland  County,  England.  .Tunc 
28,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Frances  (Gun- 
son)  Mitchinson,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
England.  The  mother  died  in  that  country  in 
1857, and  in  1869  the  father  emigrated  to  America. 
He  spent  his  last  days  in  Ford  County,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1877.  He  and  his  wife  were 
both  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Tiiey  had 
a  family  of  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are  ^et 
living,  namely:  Margaret;  Mary,  who  resides  in 
England;  William,  who  died  in  infancy;  Henry, 
who  was  killed  at  the  age  of  seventeen  by  falling 
from  the  top  mast  onto  the  deck  below;  Joseph, 
of  this  sketch;  Thomas  and  Frances,  both  of  whom 
reside  in  England;  John,  who  is  living  near  Peo- 
ria, 111.;  Martha,  of  Chicago,  and  Kate,  wife  of  M. 
Cross,  of  Piiier  City. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  our  subject 
spent  the  daj's  of  his  boyhood  and  acquired  a 
common-school  education.  At  the  age  of  sixteen, 
he  left  school  and  devoted  his  attention  exclus- 
ively to  farm  work  until  twenty  years  of  age, 
when,  on  the  3d  of  June,  1858,  he  started  for 
America  in  company  with  an  aunt  and  uncle.  He 
sailed  from  Liverpool, and  two  weeks  later  arrived 
at  Quebec,  whence  he  went  to  Chicago  and  then 
came  to  Piper  Cit}'.  He  has  since  made  his  home 
in  this  locality,  where  for  some  time  he  worked 
as  a  farm  hand,  then  operated  rented  land,  and  in 
1880  purchased  a  farm  in  Pella  Township.  He 
engaged  in  its  cultivation  for  some  3'ears  and  for 
the  past  \ear  lias  made  his  home  upon  his  present 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


607 


farm  on  section  6,  Brenton  Township.  It  comprises 
eightj'  acres  of  highly  improved  hind,  :ind  the 
neat  appearance  of  the  place  in(iicates  the  owner 
as  one  of  tlie  leading  farmers  of  the  community. 

In  18(i5,  Mr.  Mitchiuson  returned  to  his  native 
land  and  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth 
Agnew,  who  was  liorn  and  reared  in  Cumberland 
County,  England,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Wilson  A. 
and  Jane  (Bone)  Agnew.  Her  father  was  a  teacher 
and  taught  navigation  in  a  private  school.  Her 
mother  died  after  Mrs.  Mitchinson  came  to  this 
country  but  her  father  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
previous  to  her  emigration  to  America.  Unto  our 
subject  and  his  wife  were  born  six  children:  Fran- 
ces Jane;  John  Wilson,  now  deceased;  ]\Iargaret 
Ann,  Joseph  Ilenr^-;  Elizabeth  Ada,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  Martha  Maria.  All  of  the  children 
were  born  in  Ford  County,  and  tliose  yet  living 
are  still  under  the  parental  roof. 

The  parents  arc  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Piper  City  and  are  numl)ered  among  the 
best  citizens  of  Brenton  Township,  being  held  in 
high  regard  for  their  sterling  worth.  They  have 
a  pleasant  home  and  all  of  their  possessions  have 
been  acquired  througli  the  untiring  efforts  of  our 
subject.  When  he  first  came  to  this  country,  he 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  at  814  per  month,  and  bj' 
his  enterprise,  good  management  and  the  exercise 
of  correct  business  principles,  he  has  acquired  a 
comfortable  home. 


"iff  ACOB  FUOSS  is  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Bren- 
ton Township,  residing  on  section  26.  A 
native  of  Germany,  he  was  born  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Bernstadt,  Wurtemberg,  Ma}'  11, 
1839,  and  is  one  of  three  children,  whose  parents 
were  John  George  and  Maggie  Fuoss.  The  father 
owned  a  small  farm.  Both  parents  died  in  their 
native  land.  John  George,  their  eldest  child,  came 
to  America  in  1883,  and  is  now  living  in  Nebraska; 
Jacobin  is  a  resident  of  Germany. 

Our  subject  is  the  youngest  of  the  children.    He 
was  educated  in   the  Lutheran  schools  and  in  the 


public  schools,  and  in  1854  came  to  America.  Bid- 
ding good-bye  to  his  native  land,  with  three  other 
boys  he  sailed  from  Bremen  to  New  York,  where 
he  arrived  after  sixty-three  days  spent  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  Atlantic,  lie  came  on  at  once  to 
Illinois,  and  earned  his  first  money  by  working  as 
a  railroad  hand  between  Peru  .and  Peoria.  He 
then  entered  the  employ  of  a  farmer  in  Woodford 
County,  .and  since  that  time  has  been  connected 
with  agricultural  pursuits.  He  resided  in  Wood- 
ford County  until  1856,  when  he  went  to  El  Paso, 
111.,  and  in  1851)  became  a  resident  of  Tazewell 
Count}',  where  he  worked  upon  a  farm  until  Au- 
gust, 1861. 

B}'  that  time  it  was  seen  that  the  war  was  to  be 
no  holiday  affair,  and  Mr.  Fuoss  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany E,  Seventeenth  Missouri  Infantry,  the  regi- 
ment being  formed  in  St.  Louis.  In  October,  the 
troops  were  sent  to  Sedalia,  and  met  the  enemy  in 
a  skirmish  near  Springfield.  They  also  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  l)Ut  our  subject  was  ill 
at  the  time.  In  January-,  1863,  the}'  settled  down 
to  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  with  his  regiment 
Mr.  Fuoss  there  remained  until  the  surrender  of 
the  city  on  the  4th  of  Jul}-,  after  which  he  was 
sent  to  the  Invalid  Corps,  and  went  to  Rock  Is- 
land in  the  Fourth  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  where 
his  duty  was  in  guarding  prisoners.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  his  three-3'ears'  term  of  enlistment,  he 
was  honorably  discharged,  September  24,  1864.  His 
health  was  permanently  injured  b}'  the  hardships 
and  privations  of  army  life.  He  now  receives  a 
pension  in  recognition  of  his  services. 

When  mustered  out,  Mr.  Fuoss  returned  to  Taze- 
well County,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  was  joined 
in  wedlock  to  Mary  Dingledine,  who  was  born  in 
Tazewell  County,  and  is  of  German  descent.  He 
brought  his  bride  to  Ford  Count}',  and  began  farm- 
ing in  Brenton  Township,  having  made  his  home 
upon  his  present  farm  since  1866.  He  now  owns 
three  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and,  in  connection 
with  general  farming,  engages  in  raising  fine  stock, 
making  a  specialty  of  Clydesdale  horses.  The  im- 
provements upon  the  place  are  in  keeping  with  a 
model  farm,  and  indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise 
of  the  owner.     He  has  led  a  busy  and   useful  life. 


608 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  has  ever  borne  his  share  in  promoting  those 
interests  calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit.  He 
cast  hie  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln, 
and  has  since  been  a  standi  Republican.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Piper 
City,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Four  children  grace  the  union  of  INIr.  and  Mrs. 
Fuoss:  Olivia,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Silas  Dillon, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Brenton  Township;  Emma, 
H.attie  and  Edward,  all  of  whom  are  still  under 
the  parental  roof.  Tlie  f.imily  circle  yet  remains 
unbroken,  and  the  members  of  the  Fuoss  household 
rank  high  in  social  circles.  All  the  children  were 
born  and  reared  upon  the  home  farm,  and  were 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  Emma  was  also  a 
student  in  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  of  Onarga,  and 
engaged  in  te.aehing  for  several  terms. 


_i-<g)' 


:>^^<! 


.(gb^ 


&^     ^ 


,,,.,    C.  ISHLLER,  prt)prietor  of  a  grocery  and 
((^YlJII    restaurant    in    Piper    City,    was    born    in 
Franklin  County,  N.  Y.,  Jul}-  7,  1852.   His 
(jg^  grandfather,  Oliver  Miller,   was  a  French 

soldier,  who  came  with  La  Fayette  to  this  country, 
and  served  in  tlie  Revolutionary  War.  When 
American  independence  was  achieved,  he  settled 
in  Lower  Canada,  near  (Quebec,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life. 

.John  Miller,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
April  26,  ISl'J,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten 
sons  and  three  daughters,  two  of  whom  are  yet 
living.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  his 
father's  farm  in  Canada  until  thirteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  began  life  for  himself.  He  never  had 
any  educ.ation.al  advantages  and  cannot  read  nor 
write,  but  is  well  posted  in  the  Bible,  which  has 
been  read  to  him  by  his  wife,  his  excellent  memory 
retaining  all  he  hears.  At  the  age  of  twentj',  he 
became  a  sailor  and  followed  the  lakes  for  eleven 
years.  In  Canada,  about  18-41,  he  married  Miss 
Phojbe  Wheeler,  a  native  of  Canada  and  a  relative 
of  ex- Vice-President  Wheeler.  Her  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  On  leaving  the  lakes, 
Mr.  Miller  removed  to  New  York,  locating  upon  a 
farm,  and    accumulated    a  considerable  property. 


In  1856,  he  went  to  Minnesota,  where  he  spent 
about  two  years,  after  which  he  resided  upon  a 
farm  in  Franklin  County,  N.  Y.,  until  1868,  when 
he  came  to  Ford  County,  111.,  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Pella  Township  until  seventy-one 
years  of  age.  lie  has  now  reached  the  age  of 
seventy-three.  He  has  spent  the  last  two  years  in 
retirement,  residing  with  his  daughter  in  Kendall 
County,  111.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  William 
Henry  Harrison  and  was  a  Whig  until  lie  joined 
the  Republican  party  at  its  org.anization.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Tliey  had  a  family  of  five  children:  Margaret  was 
burned  to  death  when  six  \'ears  old;  Nelson  .T.acob 
is  a  farmer  of  Creston,  Iowa;  A.  C.  is  the  next 
younger;  Alfaretta  is  the  wife  of  .Julius  Walker, 
of  Adams  County,  Iowa;  and  Lillian  is  the  wife 
of  George  Hayes,  of  Plattville,  Kendall  County, 
111. 

Our  subject,  at  the  same  time  his  sister  Mar- 
garet lost  her  life,  was  almost  burned  to  death. 
He  remained  in  the  Empire  State  until  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  residing 
upon  a  farm  until  he  had  attained  his  majority. 
He  then  spent  one  year  as  a  niilroad  employe, 
after  which  he  again  eng.aged  in  farming,  from 
1875  until  1882,  iu  this  county.  For  about  eight 
years,  he  w.as  engaged  in  blacksmithiug  in  ISIelvin, 
after  which,  iu  August,  1890,  he  embarked  in  his 
present  business,  which  he  h.as  since  confined,  and 
is  now  enjoying  a  good  trade. 

In  his  political  alHliations,  Mr.  Miller  is  a  Re- 
publican, having  supported  that  party  since  he 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Grant.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of 
Piper  City,  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  was  Dep- 
uty Grand  Master  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society. 
He  belongs  to  the  Brothers'  camp,  and  tlie  Rebecca 
Degree  Lodge  of  Gibson,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  has  taken 
quite  an  active  interest  in  civic  societies,  and  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  various  organizations  with 
which  lie  lias  been  connected.  He  has  witnessed 
the  development  of  Piper  City  from  its  early  in- 
fancy and  is  recognized  as  one  of  its  prominent 
residents. 

On  the  16th  of  February,  1876,  Mr.  Miller  w.as 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Smith,  who 


^I'H-'Vw,  caJ 


^kJ/. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


611 


was  born  and  reared  in  La  Salle  County,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Isora  Smith,  who  was  a  member  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Illinois  Infantrj^  was 
wounded  at  Chiekamauga,  and  died  from  the  am- 
putation of  his  arm.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
have  been  born  six  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet 
living:  Albert  Merrill,  who  assists  his  father  in 
business;  Clara  Etta  and  Bessie,  both  deceased;  Jen- 
nie May,  .lohn  Isom  and  William  Ilarrv. 


«  IftlLLlAM  II.  SIMMS,  President  of  the  Gib- 
\/iJ//  **^"  Canning  Company,  and  one  of  the 
V7\y  very  earliest  pioneers  of  Gibson  City,  is  a 
native  of  England.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Quainton,  Buckinghamshire,  on  the  18th  of  July, 
184.5.  Ills  parents  were  George  and  Rebecca  (Bur- 
nell)  Siinms,  natives  of  England  and  descendants 
of  old  English  families.  The  father  died  in  his 
native  land  in  1846,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven 
years.  In  the  course  of  time,  the  mother  was  again 
married,  her  second  husb.ind  being  Isaac  Cannon. 
William  H.  Simms,  whose  name  heads  this  rec- 
ord, attended  school  in  bis  native  town  until  1854, 
when,  in  company  with  his  mother,  step-father  and 
sister,  he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America. 
They  made  the  passage  in  a  sailing-vessel,  and  af- 
ter five  weeks  spent  on  the  sea,  arrived  in  New 
York  on  the  20tb  of  May  of  that  j-ear.  On  reach- 
ing this  country,  they  proceeded  at  once  to  Michi- 
gan, .and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Lenawee  County. 
Our  subject  spent  the  succeeding  four  years  of  his 
life  on  this  farm  in  the  woods,  attending  the  dis- 
trict school  as  opportunity  offered,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary of  his  thirteenth  year,  hired  out  at  a  sawmill 
to  wheel  sawdust  at  14  per  month.  His  step- 
father had  died,  leaving  iiis  wife  in  indigent  cir- 
cumstances, and  with  two  3'oung  children  to 
support.  William  gave  his  earnings,  or  such  a 
part  as  he  could  get,  in  orders  on  the  store,  toward 
helping  support  his  mother  and  the  family,  but 
was  not  able  to  collect  the  greater  part  of  his  paj'. 
This  failure  was  not  very  encouraging  for  a  youth 
trying  to  make  a  start  in  the  world.  After  work- 
ing in  the  sawmill  for  eighteen  months,  he   hired 


as  clerk  in  a  country  store,  where  he  spent  two 
years,  and  was  also  in  the  employ  of  a  physician 
for  one  year,  and  later  worked  in  a  broom-h.indle 
and  stave  mill,  working  willingly  at  anything 
which  would  yield  him  an  honest  dollar. 

On  the  12th  of  December,  18G3,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  Mr.  Simms  enlisted  for  the  late  war 
as  a  member  of  Company  L,  First  Michigan  Regi- 
ment of  Engineers.  He  was  captured  at  Christi.ana, 
near  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  December  15,  1864,  was 
stripped  of  his  shoes  and  much  of  his  clothes,  as 
were  also  his  comrades,  and  then  marched  over 
frozen  ground  with  bleeding  feet  and  suffering 
from  cold.  They  were  halted  two  diiys  at  Meri- 
dian, and  then  taken  to  Selma,  Ala.,  whence  they 
were  sent  by  rail  and  boat  to  Andersonville  Prison, 
where  Mr.  Simms  spent  four  months  and  thirteen 
days,  subjected  to  hardship  and  the  well-known  hor- 
rors of  that  notorious  den,  until  mustered  out  by 
a  general  order  regarding  prisoners  on  the  25th  of 
June,  1865. 

On  his  release  from  prison,  our  subject  returned 
to  Lenawee  County,  Mich.,  where  he  spent  several 
months  in  regaining  his  health  and  strength.  Then 
with  money  saved  from  his  soldier  earnings  and 
some  credit,  he  opened  a  general  store  in  a  small 
way,  at  Palmyra,  then  only  a  country  cross-road 
town,  with  C.  E.  Crane,  under  the  name  of  C.  E. 
Crane  &  Co.  He  was  also  Postmaster  at  that  place 
for  three  years.  His  business  prospered  and  in- 
creased in  importance  until  1871,  when  he  sold  out 
and  went  to  Chicago.  One  week  after  going  to 
that  city,  he  joined  T.  D.  Spalding  in  a  business 
venture  at  Gibson,  111.,  opening  a  lumber-yard.  At 
first,  Mr.  Eldridge  was  associated  with  them,  and 
the  firm  name  w.as  Spalding,  Simms  cfe  Co.,  until 
March,  1873,  when  Mr.  Eldridge  sold  out  to  Mr. 
Simms,  and  business  was  carried  on  under  the  title 
of  Simms  &  Spalding  until  1878,  when  Mr.  Simms 
sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  farm  implement  busi- 
ness which  he  carried  on  for  two  years.  He  then 
turned  his  attention  to  the  real-estate  business,  in 
which  he  h.ad  lieen  previously  interested. 

In  1881,  he  boughta  one-third  interest  in  a  cat- 
tle ranch  in  W^yomingTerritoiy  in  partnership  with 
others,  the  company  being  known  as  Suddulh, 
Montgomerj'  &  Co.     They  owned  from  two  thou- 


612 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sand  to  twenty-five  hundred  cattle.  After  five 
ye.irs  that  connection  was  dissolved.  In  the  mean- 
time, Mr.  Siniras  had  continued  in  the  real-estate 
business,  handling  large  quantities  of  land  as  agent 
for  other  parties,  having  had  the  care  of  and  sold 
upward  of  ten  thousand  acres.  He  now  has  four  im- 
proved farms  of  his  own,  aggregating  five  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  all  lying  in  Drummer  Township.  In 
addition  to  tills,  he  is  largeh"  interested  in  fruit 
farming  in  Tulare  County,  Cal.,  and  owns  a  fine 
property  in  San  Diego,  Cal.  During  six  months 
of  the  year  1883,  as  a  partner  of  Mr.  Haff,  he  was 
proprietor  of  one  of  the  largest  dry-goods  stores  in 
the  county.  While  in  the  implement  business,  Mr. 
Simms  also  bought  grain  extensively,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  line  until  1885,  when  he  closed  out 
and  engaged  in  the  canning  business,  with  which 
he  is  now  connected.  He  is  President  of  the  Gib- 
son Canning  Company,  which  was  organized  in 
1885,  and  is  the  second  largest  factory  in  capacity 
in  the  United  States.  It  annually  packs  two  mill- 
ion cans  of  corn,  and  the  business  will  be  increased 
this  year  (1892). 

On  the  30th  of  August,  1877,  Mr.  Simms  was 
married,  in  Gibson,  to  Miss  Emma  Canterbury',  who 
was  born  at  Athens,  111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Asa 
Canterl)ury,  of  Drummer  Township.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children.  Their  daugh- 
ter, Chloe,  who  was  born  in  Gibson  City,  in  1882, 
is  the  only  one  surviving. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Simms  is  a  pronounced  Repub- 
lican, and  has  served  as  Supervisor  from  Drummer 
two  years,  and  has  been  Chairman  of  the  County 
Board  one  year.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Gib- 
son School  Board  two  ye.ars.  In  1866,  he  was 
made  a  Mason  in  Palmyra,  Mich.,  took  a  demit 
several  years  later  and  became  a  charter  member  of 
Gibson  City  Lodge  No.  733,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  to 
which  he  still  belongs.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Gibson  Chapter  No.  183,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of  Mt. 
Olivet  Commandery  No.  38,  K.  T.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  otilcers  of  the  Blue  Lodge,  and  served  as 
Master  in  1875  and  1876.  To  Lott  Post  No.  70, 
G.  A.  R.,  he  also  belongs,  and  has  served  as  its 
Commander.  Mrs.  Simms  belongs  to  the  Christian 
Church,  and  her  husband  attends  the  same. 

In  1890,  our  subject  built  one  of  the  largest  and 


handsomest  houses  in  Gibson,  erecting  his  own 
water  and  gas  works.  This  house  was  also  the  first 
house  in  Ford  County  to  put  in  the  hot-water  sys- 
tem for  heating. 

During  his  residence  of  twenty-one  years  in  Gib- 
son City,  Mr.  Simms  has  always  taken  a  leading 
part  in  its  business  affairs,  and  has  been  active  and 
liberal  in  support  of  local  enterprises  which  were 
calculated  to  benefit  the  city  and  county.  He  has 
prospered  in  business  and  accumulated  a  large  and 
valuable  property.  His  career  as  a  business  man 
has  been  characterized  by  strict  integrity,  sagacity 
and  enterprise,  and  his  success  in  life,  which  has 
been  most  notable,  has  been  won  by  his  own  un- 
aided efforts  through  energy  and  persevering  ap- 
plications to  his  undertakings  in  all  their  details. 
He  is  a  man  of  broad  views  on  subjects  of  general 
interest.  An  earnest  Republican,  he  is  an  enthu- 
siast on  the  subject  of  protection  to  American  in- 
dustries, and  has  never  wavered  in  loy.alty  to  his 
party  or  in  support  of  its  State  and  national  can- 
didates. Genial  and  courteous  in  manner,  he 
makes  friends  readily,  and  holds,  with  a  more  than 
common  tie,  the  regard  and  esteem  of  those  who 
have  known  him  many  years. 


/ 


X 


'^'  W.  HERRON,  one  of  the  well-known  and 
popular  farmers  of  Brenton  Township,  re- 
siding on  section  16,  was  born  on  the  21st 
of  August,  1825,  in  Brown  County,  Ohio, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Caldwell)  Her- 
rou.  He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
served  in  the  War  of  1812,  under  Capt.  Buch.anan, 
afterwards  President  Buchanan,  and  received  a 
land  warrant  for  his  services.  He  was  married  in 
the  Keystone  State,  and  he  and  his  wife  rode  on 
horseback  to  Ohio,  where  they  located  in  1815, 
and  made  their  home  until  1848,  when  the  famil}' 
came  b^'  wagon  to  Illinois,  settling  in  AVoodford 
County.  Mr.  Herron  purchased  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  Land  and  improved  a  good  farm  near 
Melamora.  In  politics,  he  was  a  .Jackson  Demo- 
crat and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


613 


while  his  wife  belong'ed  to  the  United  Presl)yterian 
Church.  His  death  occurred  iu  1871,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Herron  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Ellen  Jane,  who  died  in  1854;  Re- 
becca Ann,  who  now  resides  in  Newton,  Iowa;  John 
C,  a  resident  farmer  of  Newton;  J.  W.,  of  this 
sketch;  Mary,  who  was  called  to  her  linal  rest  in 
188.5,  and  Andrew  who  died  in  Ford  County  in 
1869. 

Mr.  Herron  whose  name  heads  this  record  came 
to  Illinois  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  His  ed- 
ucational advantages  were  meagre  but  his  training 
in  farm  work  was  not  so  limited,  for  he  early 
learned  to  swing  the  ax  and  follow  the  plow.  When 
he  began  life  for  himself,  he  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  which  he  followed  for  three  years,  when, 
with  the  money  he  had  thus  obtained,  he  purchased 
land  and  has  since  engaged  in  farming.  He  re- 
sided upon  that  farm  until  February,  1886,  when 
he  came  to  Ford  Countj',  and  bought  the  farm  of 
eighty  acres  on  which  he  now  resides.  He  also 
owns  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  one  mile  east. 
He  has  a  comfortable  home,  surrounded  liy  shade 
trees,  has  good  barns  and  other  outbuildings,  and 
the  fields  are  well  tilled.  He  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  successful  farmers  of  the  community  and 
well  deserves  the  prosperity  which  has  crowned 
his  efforts,  for  it  is  the  result  of  persistent  industry 
and  good  management. 

On  tiie  6th  of  April,  18.54,  Mr.  Herron  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Carrie  Trunnell,  of 
Metamora  Township,  who  was  born  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  November  29,  1837,  and  died  in 
November,  1879,  leaving  six  children:  John  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  IJrenton  Township;  George 
W.,  who  is  living  in  Woodford  County;  James  P., 
Mary  E.,  Minnie  15.  and  Nellie.  Mr.  Herron  was 
again  married,  m  Brown  County, Ohio,  in  February, 
1881,  his  second  union  being  with  Mary  E.  licrry, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Hamilton)  Berry, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  early  settlers  of 
Hrown  County  ,01iio.  Mrs.  Herron  spent  her  maiden- 
hood days  upon  a  farm  onl}-  a  mile  from  the  home 
of  her  husband.  She  is  a  pleasant,  companionable 
Lad}',  who  is  held  in  high  regard  for  her  many 
excellencies  of  character.     Mrs.  Herron  and  chil- 


dren are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  to  the 
support  of  which  they  contribute  liberally,  and  in 
its  work  take  an  active  interest.  The  poor  and 
needy  have  found  in  Mr.  Herron  a  friend,  and 
from  charitable  and  benevolent  interests  he  never 
withholds  his  aid.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Ta3'lor  iu  1852,  then  supported  Fremont 
and  Lincoln  but  did  not  vote  for  Grant,  with  whom 
he  was  personally  acquainted.  He  cast  his  ballot 
for  Garfield  and  then  supported  Gov.  St.  John, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  a  stanch  Prohibition- 
ist. He  is  a  man  of  decided  opinions,  who  always 
t.akes  a  firm  stand  in  support  of  what  he  believes 
to  be  right.  He  is  a  genial  gentleman  and  quite 
poi)ular  throughout  the  community. 


^  ACOB  W.  SPERA  has  for  fifteen  years  re- 
sided upon  his  i)reseut  farm  on  section  5, 
Brentou  Township.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
Buckeye  State,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Wayne  County,  December  17,  1841.  He  is  one  of 
three  children  who  were  born  unto  George  and 
Mary  A.  (Johnson)  Si)era.  His  father  was  born 
and  reared  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  and  there 
learned  the  trade  of  shoe  making.  In  1835,  he 
emigrated  Westward  to  Ohio,  where  he  turned  his 
attention  to  agricultural  ])ursuits,  and  in  Wayne 
Count}',  on  Christmas  Eve  of  1840,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Johnson,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
All  of  their  children  were  born  in  Wayne  County. 
The  year  1857  witnessed  their  removal  to  Illinois, 
and  saw  them  located  in  Knox  County,  where 
they  made  their  home  for  about  nine  years,  when, 
in  the  spring  of  1866,  Mr.  Spera  came  with  his 
family  to  Ford  County,  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  upon  which  his  younger  brother 
Henrj'  now  resides.  It  was  then  in  its  primitive 
condition,  not  a  furrow  having  been  turned  or  an 
improvement  made,  but  he  developed  it  into  a 
good  farm.  He  was  called  to  his  final  rest  on 
the  nth  of  April,  1886.  His  wife  is  still  living 
in  Piper  City.  He  exercised  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  Democratic  [larty  until  1856, 
when  he  voted   for  Fremont  and   was  ever  after- 


614 


i»ORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


wards  a  Republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Churcli,  to  which  Mrs.  Spera  also  belongs. 
Their  children  are  all  yet  living:  Jacob,  of  this 
sketch;  Mrs.  L.  J.  Clay,  of  Chicago,  and  Henry,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Brenton  Township. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  in  Ohio,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools. 
His  early  education  was  supplemented  by  study  in 
the  graded  school  of  Oneida,  111.  He  was  reared 
to  agricultural  pursuits  and  has  followed  farm- 
ing throughout  his  entire  life.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  he  left  the  home  farm  and  began  work- 
ing for  himself.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on 
life's  jouine}-,  he  chose  Miss  Nellie  E.  .Tellifife,  their 
union  being  celebrated  in  Knox  County,  Novem- 
ber 9,  1865.  The  lady  was  born  in  New  .Jersey 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Fletcher  G.  and  Mary  W.  Jel- 
liffe,  the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  the 
latter  of  New  York.  They  came  to  Illinois  in 
1858,  and  are  now  residents  of  Galesburg. 

Mr.  Spera  engaged  in  farming  in  Knox  County 
until  1869,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County.  He 
had  visited  the  county  in  1865,  but  did  not  make 
a  permanent  location  until  four  years  later.  He 
now  owns  forty  acres  of  good  land  and  also  oper- 
ates some  rented  land.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
tlie  Methodist  Church.  Mr.  Spera  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  his  sec- 
ond term,  and  heard  his  debate  with  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  in  Galesburg.  He  has  alwa3's  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party  and  has  served  as  Col- 
lector and  Assessor  of  his  Township.  For  twenty- 
three  years  he  has  been  an  eye-witness  of  the 
growth  and  upbuilding  of  Piper  Citj',  and  is  higlily 
respected  as  a  man  who  has  made  his  own  w.iy  in 
the  world. 


©_- 


-^]. 


"^ 


^+^ 


l^" 


LEXANDER  CLARKE,  who  is  now  living 
a  retired  life  in  Piper  City,  was  born  in 
County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  on  the  7th  of 
June,  1819,  .and  is  a  son  of  Alex.  Clarke 
a  farmer  of  Ireland,  who  spent  his  entire  life  in 
his  native  land.  He  married  Pisther  Whitley,  and 
both  died  on  the  old  homestead.     He   was  a  mem- 


ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  served  as  Elder 
for  many  j'ears.  In  the  family  were  ten  chil- 
dren, but  only  two  are  now  living:  William,  the 
youngest,  resides  on  the  old  home  farm  on  the 
Emerald  Isle.  One  brother  came  to  America  and 
died  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Clarke  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  manhood 
upon  his  father's  farm,  acquired  his  education 
prior  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  after  that  time 
devoted  his  entire  attention  to  farm  work.  He  re- 
mained in  the  land  of  his  birth  until  about  18405 
when,  with  a  brother,  he  came  to  America.  They 
boarded  a  sailing-vessel  at  Liverpool  and,  after 
five  weeks  spent  upon  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic, 
the  ship  anchored  in  New  York  harbor  and  the 
two  young  men  went  ashore.  Our  subject  made 
his  first  location  in  Paterson,  N.  J.,  where  lie 
learned  the  trade  of  a  machinist  and  worked  in  a 
locomotive  factory  for  twenty-two  years. 

In  Paterson,  Mr.  Clarke  was  united  in  marriage 
with  jNIiss  Eliza  McCuUom,  who  was  born  in  Ire- 
laud.  Their  family  numbered  the  following  chil- 
dren: John  who  was  a  prominent  merchant  of 
Piper  Cit}'  and  is  now  deceased;  Alexander,  who 
was  educated  in  AVabash  College,  and  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago;  AVilliam,  wiio 
attended  two  terms  of  school  in  Valparaiso,  Ind., 
and  is  now  engaged  as  a  traveling  salesman;  Ara- 
bella, wife  of  the  Rev.  Fred  Johnson,  a  Presbj'ter- 
ian  minister  of  California;  Esther,  who  has  gone 
to  California  for  her  health,  and  Maggie,  wife  of 
A.  Coombs,  a  druggist  and  leading  citizen  of  Pax- 
ton.  The  children  were  all  given  good  educational 
advantages,  which  fitted  them  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life,  and  all  are  now  occupying  useful 
and  responsible  positions. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Clarke  came  to  Illinois,  purchasing 
land  in  Knox  Count}',  where  he  resided  for  four 
years.  On  selling  out,  he  came  to  Ford  County 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixt}'  acres  of  land 
south  of  Piper  Cit}',  for  which  he  paid  814  per 
acre.  It  was  then  a  wild  tract  but  he  improved  it 
and  on  selling  some  time  ago  received  ^50  per 
acre.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has  lived  a  re- 
tired life  in  Piper  City,  enjoying  tiie  rest  which 
he  has  truly  earned  and  richly  deserves.  He  liad 
only  about  $100   when  he  came   to  America,  but 


MS* 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


6i; 


with  that  small  sura  as  a  start,  has  worked  his  way 
upward  until  lie  now  has  a  comfortable  competence. 
In  politics,  lie  w.as  first  a  "Whig.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Henry  Clay  and  on  the  dis- 
solution of  the  Whig  party  became  a  Republican, 
but  for  the  past  four  years  has  been  a  Prohibition- 
ist, being  a  stalwart  advocate  of  temperance  prin- 
ciples. IIo  is  a  member  of  the  Presb^yterian  Church, 
in  which  he  holds  the  olHce  of  Polder.  The  up- 
right life  which  he  has  lived  has  won  him  the  con- 
fidence of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact 
and  has  classed  liini  among  the  best  citizens  of 
Ford  County. 


'^'  OHN  HUMMEL,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  9,  Ly- 
mau  Township,  was  born  in  Germany, 
1  August  7,  1834,  and  is  the  son  of  Ludwig 
and  Catherine  (Glock)  Hummel.  The  family  emi- 
grated to  America  about  1850,  crossing  the  Atlan- 
tic in  a  sailing-vessel  from  Bremen  to  Baltimore. 
The  father  located  in  Franklin  County,  Pa.,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Knox  County,  111.,  in  1856, 
and,  purchasing  land,  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
number  of  years  ere  his  removal  to  Ford  County, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  was  twice 
married,  his  second  wife  being  the  mother  of  our 
subject.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  The  Hummel  family  numbered  five 
sons  and  two  daughters:  Anna,  wife  of  George  H. 
Strott,  now  deceased,  resides  in  Baltimore;  .Tolin 
is  the  next  j-ounger;  Nicholas  is  a  farmer  of  Ly- 
man Township;  Catlierine  is  the  wife  of  Peter 
Gose,  a  resident  of  Iroquois  County;  Peter  is  mar- 
ried and  follows  farming  and  sheep-raising  in 
Kansas;  and  Adam  is  an  agriculturist  of  that 
State. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  sixteen  j'ears  of  his 
life  in  his  native  land.  He  started  out  for  him- 
self at  the  age  of  twenty-one  and  had  a  capital  of 
onlj^  840,  so  he  concluded  to  try  his  fortune  in 
the  West,  and  in  order  to  save  his  money,  hired  out 
to  Henry  Welty  to  drive  a  team  from  Chambers- 


burg,  Pa.,  to  Knoxville,  III.  He  then  worked  for 
that  gentleman  for  a  year,  and  with  the  1200 
which  he  received  as  his  year's  earnings,  iiurchased 
a  team  and  began  farming  for  himself;  but  when 
the  war  broke  out,  he  put  aside  every  other  con- 
sideration and  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Eighty- 
third  Illinois  Infantry,  under  Col.  Harding,  of 
Monmouth,  the  regiment  being  mostly  formed 
of  Warren  and  Knox  County  boys.  They  were 
ordered  to  Cairo,  and  thence  to  Ft.  Henry  and  on 
to  Ft.  Donelson,  Clarksville  and  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Their  duty  was  to  keep  up  the  communicntions  in 
the  railroad  and  telegraph  system.  They  after- 
ward went  South  to  Tennessee  and  Alabama,  and, 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Hummel  was  honor- 
ably' discharged  at  Nashville  in  June,  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  mustered 
out  on  the  5th  of  July. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1867,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Upson, 
who  was  born  near  the  city  of  Akroii,  Ohio, 
June  21,  1846.  Her  father,  Roland  W.  Upson, 
was  born  in  Sununit  County,  in  1806,  and 
married  Phttbe  M.  Randall,  a  native  of  Orange 
County,  N.  Y.,  born  in  1815.  They  emigrated 
from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in  1852.  The  father  and 
mother  both  died  when  sixty-nine  years  of  age. 
They  were  members  of  the  Congregational  Church 
of  Galesburg,  and  had  a  family  of  eight  children, 
three  sons  and  five  daughteis,  five  of  whom  are 
yet  living:  Lucy  M.,  who  resides  in  Fulton  County 
and  is  the  wife  of  Granville  Wright;  Albert,  who 
is  married  and  follows  farming  near  Galesburg, 
111.;  Sarah,  wife  of  our  subject;  Martha  L.,  wife  of 
Edward  Taylor,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in 
the  real-estate  and  loan  Inisiness  in  Galesburg;  and 
Hannah  F.,  wife  of  AVilliam  Wright,  a  live-stock 
and  commission  merchant  of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Unto  iNIr.  and  Mrs.  Hummel  have  been  born 
eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Anna  F.,  wife  of  A.  E.  Cook,  a  farmer  of  Lyman 
Township,  by  whom  she  had  two  children,  a  son 
and  a  daughter;  Kittie  M.,  who  resides  with  her 
parents;  Ida,  a  teacher  of  recognized  ability  in 
this  county;  Sarah  M.,  who  is  attending  school; 
Adam  A.,  an  enterprising  young  farmer;  Hattie  L. 
and  William  G.,  botii  at  home. 


618 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  1869,  Mr.  Flummel  came  with  bis  family  to 
Lyman  Township,  l-'ord  County,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  lie  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land,  but  his  landed  pos- 
sessions are  now  twice  that,  and  the  commodious 
dwelling  and  other  improvements  upon  the  place 
indicate  the  thrift  and  enter[)rise  of  the  owner, 
who  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  model  farmers  of 
the  communit3\  He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising 
fine  stock,  including  Short-horn  cattle,  English 
shire  horses  and  Poland-China  hogs.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  has  served  as 
Road  Commissioner  for  three  years  and  was  also 
School  Director,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker. 
Himself,  wife  and  children  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church  and  the  family  is  one  that 
ranks  high  in  social  circles  in  this  community. 
The  parents  celebrated  their  silver  wedding  Jan- 
uary 1,  1892. 


■^T'  OHN  CLAYTON.  Among  the  well-known 
farmers  of  the  county  none  are  more  deserv- 
^.^  ing  of  representation  in  this  volume  than 
'^^y  our  subject,  who  resides  on  section  25,  Rog- 
ers Township.  He  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  community.  The  fields  are  well  tilled, 
there  is  a  large  residence,  and  good  barns  and  all 
the  accessories  of  a  model  farm  can  there  be  found, 
indicating  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of   the  owner. 

Mr.  Clayton  was  born  near  the  citj-  of  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  May  10,  181;"),  and  is  a  son  of  Henry 
Clayton,  a  native  of  England,  who,  when  a  young- 
man,  emigrated  to  this  country.  He  settled  in 
Ohio.  Previously,  he  married  Sarah  Ogden,  also 
a  native  of  England.  For  several  years,  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  the  Buckeye  State  and  then 
removed  to  Pennsylvania.  He  had  learned  the 
trade  of  manufacturing  cotton  goods  in  the  Old 
Country,  and  in  Pennsylvania  secured  a  responsible . 
position  in  a  cotton  factory.  At  length,  he  emi- 
grated to  Illinois,  becoming  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Grundy  County,  in  1853.  He  purchased 
land  and  developed  two  farms  in  the  several  years 
of  his  residence  there.     On  selling  out,  he  came  to 


Ford  County  in  1868  and  bought  about  sixteen 
hundred  acres  of  laud.  He  made  his  home  upon 
the  farm  where  our  subject  now  resides  and  after 
several  years  removed  to  Kankakee,  where  he  lived 
retired  until  his  death.  He  was  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  prominent  farmers  of  Ford  County 
and  an  honored  early  settler  of  Illinois.  In  pol- 
itics, he  was  first  a  Republican,  but  afterward  be- 
came identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  A  man 
of  good  business  ability,  he  met  with  excellent 
success  in  his  undertakings  and  accumulated  a 
large  property.  He  jiassed  away  March  26,  1888. 
His  wife  still  survives  him  and  resides  in  Kankakee. 

This  worthy  couple  had  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  but  one  died  in  early  child- 
hood. One  sister  grew  to  mature  years  and  located 
in  Ford  County,  but  is  now  deceased.  The  others 
are  John;  Alfred,  of  Cabery,  Elizabeth  and  Alice. 
Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  only  seven  summers  when 
he  came  with  liis  parents  to  the  West.  He  was 
reared  in  Grundy  County,  and  acquired  iiis  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  In  1868,  he  came  to 
Ford  Count}-  with  his  father  and,  after  his  removal 
to  Kankakee,  took  charge  of  the  home  farm. 
After  his  father's  death,  and  the  settling  up  of  the 
estate,  he  came  into  i)ossession  of  the  old  home- 
stead. He  now  owns  a  half-section  of  valuable 
land,  one  of  the  best  improved  places  in  the  com- 
munity, also  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
in  Iroquois  County,  about  a  half-mile  from  his 
home,  which  is  well  tiled  and  improved  with  good 
buildings. 

Mr.  Clayton  has  been  twice  married.  In  Rogers 
Township,  in  1,S71,  he  wedded  Mary  A.  Kemp,  a 
native  of  Illinois,  whose  death  occurred  Septemlier 
14,  1873.  He  was  again  married,  October  4,  1877, 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Sarah  Duncan, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Whiteside  County, 
111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Alexander  Duncan,  of 
Scotch  parentage.  Two  daughters  have  been 
born  of  this  marriage:    Edith  and  Minnie. 

Mr.  Clayton  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  Demo- 
cratic principles  but  has  never  been  an  oUice-seeker. 
Nearly  his  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  Illinois, 
and  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  resided 
in  Ford  County.  He  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties   and  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


619 


upright  life  which  he  has  lived  has  made  him  a 
highly  respected  citizen.  He  has  the  best  interests 
ot  the  commnnit3'  at  heart  and  has  ever  given  his 
support  to  those  enterprises  calculated  to  promote 
the  general  welfare. 


4^ 


#.4..^ 


s^> 


JOHN    STADLER,    deceased,    was    born     in 
Baden,  Germany,  June   8,  18.36,  and  was  a 
sou  of  George  and  Sybilla  (Bachfisch)  Stad- 
—      ler,  who  emigrated   to   America  when  our 


subject  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years,  and  settled 
in  Newark,  N.  J.  The  son  afterwards  became  a 
resident  of  Cocheeton,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  time,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss 
Matilda  Detzel,  who  died  in  the  Empire  State 
leaving  two  sons,  George  and  John,  both  in  busi- 
ness in  Chicago.  He  was  a  second  time  married 
in  Cocheeton,  Sullivan  County,  on  the  14tli  of 
August,  1861,  Catherine  Valendor  becoming  bis 
wife.  She  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  Baden, 
and  a  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Valendor. 
She  was  a  maiden  of  but  six  summers  when  she 
came  to  New  York,  where  the  death  of  her  father 
occurred.  Her  mother  died  in  Baden  and  Mrs. 
Stadler  came  to  America  with  her  father  and  step- 
mother. 

Mr.  Stadler  continued  to  engage  in  farming  in 
New  York  until  1867,  when  he  emigrated  West- 
ward and  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  30,  Brenton  Township,  Ford 
County,  111.,  where  his  family  now  reside.  It  was 
then  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land,  but  he  built  a 
comfortable  home,  good  outbuildings,  planted 
many  rods  of  hedge  fence  and  made  other  improve- 
ments, becoming  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  this  locality.  He  started  in  life  empty-handed 
but  at  his  death  was  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land.  His  success  in 
life  was  all  due  to  his  industry,  enterprise,  good 
management  and  the  exercise  of  correct  business 
principle.'^. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stadler  was  born  a  family  of 
ten  children:  J.acob,  who  was  born  in  New  York, 
married  Annie  Ristow,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Brenton 


Township;  Louis,  who  died  on  the  home  farm  at 
the  age  of  twentv-six  years;  Catherine,  now  the 
wife  of  Fred  Ristow,  of  Piper  City;  Frank,  who 
operates  the  home  farm  for  his  mother;  William, 
now  deceased;  Helen,  Sam,  Annie,  Elizabeth  and 
Charlie,  .ill  of  whom  are  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Sadler  was  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
to  which  his  family  also  belongs.  In  politics,  he 
was  a  supporter  of  Democratic  principles  but  was 
never  an  oflice-seeker.  He  was  recognized  as  a 
valued  citizen  of  the  community,  who  took  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  all  that  pertained  to  the 
welfare  of  the  county  and  the  promotion  of  its 
leading  enterprises.  He  died  September  26,  1884, 
at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years  and  eight  months, 
and  lies  buried  in  Brenton  Cemetery.  His  death 
was  mourned  bj'  man3'  friends  as  well  as  his  immedi- 
ate family.  He  had  a  wide  acquaintance  through- 
out the  community. 


-"  •{•  •J*  •?•  •?•  15 


^TiATHER  BERNARD  E.  O'lAIAHONY,  Pas- 

^^  tor  of  St.  Peter's  Catholic  Church  of  Piper 
I  Cit}',  is  a  native  of  County  Limerick,  Ire- 
land. He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bruff,  .Tune  29, 
1856,  and  is  a  son  of  JIatthow  O'Mahony,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  the  same  locality.  He  was  a 
grocer  of  that  community  and  there  spent  his  en- 
tire life,  his  death  occurring  in  1882.  He  married 
Margaret  Emmet,  who  is  still  living  at  the  old 
homestead.  She  is  the  only  member  of  her  family 
that  never  came  to  this  country.  Her  father, 
Patrick  Emmet,  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  was  a 
resident  of  Tama  Coimty,  Iowa,  for  many  years, 
but  has  returned  to  Ireland. 

The  live  children  of  the  O'Mahony  family  are 
Catherine,  wife  of  William  Costello,  a  resident  of 
Limerick  Cit3-,  Ireland;  Maria,  a  sister  in  the  North 
Presentation  Convent  of  Cork,  Ireland;  Matthew 
and  Margaret,  both  of  whom  are  still  with  their 
mother;  Father  O'Mahony,  of  this  sketch;  and  one 
child  who  died  in  infanc3'.  The  parents  were  both 
members  of  the  Catholic  Churcli,  and  the  father 
took  an  active  part  in  Irish  politics,  advocating  the 
Nationalist  part3'. 


620 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Our  subject  spent  his  early  boyliood  days  with 
his  parents,  and  began  his  education  in  the  Ciiris- 
tian  Brotiiers'  schools  of  Bruff.  At  the  age  of  fif- 
teen, he  went  to  the  Diocesan  College,  of  Limerick, 
where  he  spent  one  J'ear,  and  then  entered  Maj'- 
nooth,  the  greatest  ecclesiastical  college  in  the 
world.  lie  there  spent  eight  years,  completing  the 
prescrilied  course  of  study  at  the  age  of  twent^'- 
fivc.  He  was  ordained  a  })riest  of  the  Catholic 
Church  on  the  •29th  of  June,  1881,  in  Limerick 
City.  As  there  were  too  many  priests  in  that  dio- 
cese, he  was  sent  to  the  diocese  of  Clogher  in  North 
Ireland,  where  he  remained  three  years  as  assistant 
in  Uromore,  County-  T^'rone.  He  then  returned  to 
the  home  diocese,  where  he  remained  until  Septem- 
ber, 1890.  when  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America 
and  became  a  member  of  Bishop  Spalding's  dio- 
cese in  Peoria.  He  served  as  assistant  in  Cham- 
paign County,  w.as  at  Ivesdale  Tor  one  year,  and, 
since  the  1st  of  November.  1891,h.is  been  pastor  of 
St.  Peter's  Church  in  Piper  City.  He  also  has 
cliarge  of  St.  .James  Church  in  Forest. 

Not  reluctantly  did  Father  O'JMahony  renounce 
his  allegiance  to  Queen  Victoria  when  he  took  out 
pajjers  as  an  American  citizen.  He  is  an  ardent 
friend  of  liberty  and  took  a  great  interest  in  the 
National  movement  in  Ireland.  He  is  an  intelli- 
gent and  able  young  man  and  has  already  made 
many  friends  in  this  communit}'.  He  has  a  fine 
residence  here  and  is  a  highly  respected  citizen. 


(^^HEOPHILUS  M.  GLENN,  a  retired  farmer 
residing  in  Piper  City,  who  for  many  years 
has  been  a  prominent  resident  of  this  com- 
munity, claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of  his  birth. 
He  was  born  in  Bloomington,  May  13, 1846,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  Glenn,  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
who  during  his  boyhood  emigrated  with  his  par- 
ents to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Monroe  County.  He 
became  an  agriculturist,  and,  in  the  midst  of  the 
forest,  hewed  out  a  farm.  In  that  State  he  mar- 
ried Margaret  C.  Graham.  They  removed  to  Iowa, 
where  his  wife  died,  and,  after  a  short  time,  he 


returned  to  Indiana,  but  soon  came  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Henderson  County,  just  across  the  river 
from  Burlington,  Iowa.  Upon  the  farm  wliicli 
Mr.  Glenn  there  purchased,  his  death  occurred  at 
the  age  of  sixty-four.  He  was  an  industrious  man, 
and  in  every  community  where  he  resided  was 
regarded  as  a  valued  citizen.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
Republican,  and  was  a  member  of  the  United  I'rcs- 
byterian  Church.  Of  the  family  one  child  died  in 
infancy,  while  four  grew  to  mature  years.  James 
H.  until  recently  resided  upon  the  old  homestead, 
but  is  now  living  in  Monmouth.  111.;  Theophilus 
is  the  next  younger;  Edward  G.,  who  engaged  in 
teaching  for  several  years  and  is  a  graduate  of 
Monmouth  College,  is  now  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business  in  Omaha,  Neb.;  and  Sarah  A.  also 
resides  in  Omaha. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  only  five  summers 
when  he  came  with  his  father  to  Illinois.  Upon 
the  old  homestead  lie  was  reared  to  manhood  and 
was  early  inured  to  hard  lalxtr.  Throughout  the 
summer  season  he  worked  upon  the  farm  and  in 
the  winter  montlis  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  schools.  He  remained  at  home  until  1870, 
when  he  came  to  Ford  County,  jjurcluased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  35,Brenton 
Township,  in  its  primitive  condition,  and  began 
the  development  of  a  farm,  upon  which  he  made 
his  home  until  1888,  when,  on  .account  of  failing 
health,  he  came  to  Piper  City,  and  has  since  re- 
sided in  this  village,  owning  a  beautiful  residence 
on  the  outskirts  of  the  town. 

In  Lyman  Township,  February  21,  1878,  IMr. 
Glenn  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Mosher,  a  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth 
Mosher,  who  were  natives  of  New  York,  and  now 
reside  in  Lyman  Township.  Mrs.  Glenn  w.as  born 
in  the  Empire  State,  December  13,  1853,  and,  when 
a  child,  came  to  Illinois,  her  maidenhood  days  be- 
ing spent  in  Peoria  County.  Five  children  have 
been  born  of  their  union,  but  Emma  died  in  in- 
fancy. Those  still  living  are  Elsie  M.,  Jessie  M., 
Edward  M.,  and  Theophilus  M.  The  parents  are 
both  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church 
and  Mrs.  Glenn  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Mission- 
ar}'  Society.  Mr.  Glenn  has  ever  borne  his  part  in 
supporting  all  worthy  enterprises  and  has  taken  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RPX'ORD. 


623 


commendable  interest  in  tlie  growth  and  upbuild- 
ing of  the  county  and  the  promotion  of  its  lead- 
ing enterprises.  lie  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Gen.  Grant  in  1868,  and  has  since  been  a  sup- 
porter of  Republican  principles.  His  business 
career  has  been  one  of  success,  and,  by  his  own 
unaided  efforts,  lie  has  won  prosperity.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  home  in  Piper  Citj^,  he  still  owns  his 
farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  one  of 
the  most  desirable  places  in  Brenton  Township.  It 
is  all  tiled,  three  miles  of  hedge  fence  have  been  set 
out,  and,  among  the  other  improvements,  are  a  large 
house,  good  barns  and  outbuildings,  all  of  whicii 
indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise  uf  the  owner. 


^>^^<l 


^0BP:RT  IIEVENER,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral  farming  on  section  18,  Pella  Township, 
is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State.  He  was 
born  in  Oneida  County,  October  13,  1835, 
and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  11.  and  Betsy  E.  (Yetdon) 
Ilevener.  His  death  occuired  in  1840, after  which 
his  widow  became  the  wife  of  John  Abies  and 
died  in  1859. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. He  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  a  farm  in 
Oneida  County  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois,  hoping  to  better  his  financial 
condition  by  a  removal  to  the  AVest,  where  he  be- 
lieved better  opi)ortunities  were  afforded  j'oung 
men  than  in  tlie  older  and  more  thicklj'  populated 
States  of  the  East.  He  began  working  by  the 
month  as  a  faim  hand  in  Kendall  County,  and 
was  thus  emiiloyed  until  the  1  tth  of  August,  1862, 
when,  responding  to  the  country's  call  for  troops, 
he  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Twent^'-seventh  Illinois  Infantry, 
under  Col.  John  H.  Van  Armen.  The  regiment 
assembled  at  Chicago  and  went  to  Memphis,  Tenn. 
They  met  the  enemy  at  Chickasaw  Swamp,  the 
troops  being  commanded  l)y  Gen.  Sherman,  and  a 
hot  fight  occurred.  Under  Gen.  Grant  they  par- 
ticipated in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  in  the 
charges  made  on  the  19tli  and  22d  of  May.  In 
the  first  charge  the  regiment  lost  sixty  men  in  less 


than  an  hour.  After  the  surrender  of  the  city,  the 
troops  went  to  Camp  Sherman  and  afterward  to 
Memphis,  and  marched  across  to  Chattanooga  and 
Mission  Ridge,  then  on  to  Lookout  Mountain  and 
to  East  Tennessee  to  relieve  Burnsides  at  Knox- 
ville.  This  was  a  hard  marcli.  The  troops  were 
scantily  clothed  and  were  on  short  rations.  They 
went  into  winter  quarters  at  Larkinsville,  Ala., 
and  on  the  1st  of  Maj' started  for  Atlanta.  They 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Resaca,  Buzzards 
Roost,  Altoona  P.ass  and  others.  Mr.  Ilevener  was 
sick  the  greater  part  of  tiie  time  and  so  was  de- 
tailed to  drive  a  team  for  the  surgeon.  He  thus 
missed  most  of  the  battles  but  was  witli  the  army 
all  the  time.  Starting  on  the  march  from  Atlanta 
to  the  sea,  lie  was  run  over  and  crijjpled.  Tliat 
ended  his  active  service,  and  after  spending  five 
months  in  the  Jefferson  Barracks  Hospital  in  St. 
Louis,  he  was  discharged  with  his  regiment  in  June, 
1865. 

After  being  mustered  out,  Mr.  Ilevener  returned 
to  his  home  in  Kendall  County,  wliere  he  en- 
g.aged  in  farming  until  1868,  when  he  came 
to  Ford  County  and  purchased  the  farm  upon 
which  he  has  since  made  his  home.  It  consisted 
of  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land  in  its  primitive 
condition,  but  he  has  built  a  line  residence, 
made  other  excellent  improvements  and  now  has 
one  of  the  desirable  fai-ms  in  Pella  Township.  He 
has  led  a  busy  and  useful  life  but  has  found  time 
to  serve  in  some  public  positions,  having  tilled  tlie 
office  of  Constable  for  three  years,  and  has  been 
Township  Trustee  and  also  Town  Supervisor.  He 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Fremont  and  has 
since  been  a  stalwart  advocate  of  Republican  prin- 
ciples. Sociallj',  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  Post  of  Piper  City,  and  has  been  (.Quarter- 
master for  several  years. 

In  Kendall  County,  on  the  15th  of  February, 
1859,  Mr.  Ilevener  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Lossie  M.  Rogers,  a  native  of  New  York,  who 
came  to  Illinois  in  1854.  Two  children  were  born 
unto  them,  but  Mary  E.  died  at  tlie  age  of  four 
years.  Silas  D.,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lit- 
tle Rock,  Kendall  County,  December  2,  1861,  mar- 
ried Alice  M.  McLean,  and  is  a  resident  farmer  of 
Pella  Townshii).     The    family     liave    made    their 


624 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  in  this  county  for  twentj'-three  3'ears  and 
are  uumhered  among  its  best  citizens.  Mr.  Hav- 
ener was  a  faithful  soldier  during  the  late  war  and 
is  now  a  valued  resident  of  this  community. 


H> 


H 


!P^^^* 


OUIS  SCHUNK,  one  of  the  self-made  men 
of  Ford  County,  and  a  liiglily  respected 
citizen  of  Hrenton  Township,  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  27,  claims  Germany  as  the  land 
of  his  liirtli.  He  was  born  in  Bavaria,  on  the  25th 
of  April,  1K52,  and  is  a  son  of  Louis  and  Kate 
(Rupp)  Schuiik.  His  father  was  born  and  reared 
in  the  village  of  Webenheim,  and  throughout  his 
life  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  He 
entered  the  army  in  1848,  but  left  it  to  join  the 
Revolution,  but  the  Revolution  failed  and  he  was 
captured  and  held  as  a  prisoner  for  some  time.  He 
died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years,  and  the 
death  of  his  wife  occurred  in  1872.  They  were 
the  parents  of  five  children:  Louis  of  this  sketch; 
Jacob,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Milwaukee, 
"Wis.;  Christ  and  Fred,  who  reside  in  Germany; 
and  Charles,  a  resident  of  New  York. 

"We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject who  attended  school  in  his  native  land  until 
thirteen  j'ears  of  age.  The  following  jear,  he  came 
alone  to  America,  anxious  to  try  his  fortune  in  the 
New  World.  He  sailed  from  Hamburg  to  England 
and  from  thence  came  to  New  York,  the  3'ear  1866 
witnessing  his  arrival  in  Illinois.  He  located 
in  the  town  of  Morton,  Tazewell  Count3',  where  he 
began  working  as  a  farm  hand  at  ^1.25  per  day. 
In  1872,  he  removed  to  "Woodford  County,  where 
he  was  married  on  the  10th  of  .Tanuary,  1874,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  AVagner,  who 
was  born  in  that  county,  and  there  spent  the  daj's 
of  her  maidenhood.  Her  father  was  a  native  of 
Germany  and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  this 
country  in  1827.  His  sketch  appears  in  connection 
with  that  of  .Jacob  C.  "U'^agner. 

Six  children  grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife  and  the  family  circle  yet  remains  un- 
broken. All  are  still  under  the  parental  roof  and 
in  order  of  birth    thej^   are    as    follows:     Charles, 


Emma,  Albert,  Lizzie,  Henry  and  Mabel.  The  par- 
ents are  both  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Their  home  is  pleasantly  situated  upon  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixt3'  acres  which  Mr. 
Schunk  has  developed  from  wild  prairie  land.  Its 
fertile  fields  now  yield  him  a  good  income,  and  its 
neat  ajaperance  attests  the  supervision  of  a  careful 
manager.  He  is  a  good  business  man,  sagacious 
and  enterprising,  and  well  deserves  the  success 
which  has  crowned  his  efforts.  Pul)lic-spirited  and 
progressive,  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  communit)-.  He  has 
exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Republican  party  since  casting  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  R.  B.  Hayes,  and  keeps  himself  well  in- 
formed on  the  questions  of  the  day,  both  political 
and  otherwise.  For  thirteen  years,  he  has  served 
as  School  Director  and  by  his  earnest  efforts  the 
cause  of  education  in  this  community  has  been 
greatly  advanced.  Mr.  Schunk  h:is  never  had  oc- 
casion to  regret  his  removal  to  Ameri<;a. 


x~ 


=*^s* 


iTr^  AVID  "W.  GREEN,  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous farmers  of  Drummer  Township,  re- 
siding on  section  25,  was  born  in  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  August  1,  1827,  and  is  a 
son  of  David  and  Sarah  (Skeid)  Green.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  and  all  of  his 
ancestors  were  of  English  extraction.  The  mother's 
parents  were  direct  from  Scotland,  where  her  birth 
occurred.  David  Green  and  Sarah  Skeid  were 
married  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  in  1820,  and  there 
the  father  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  June,  1865.  His  widow  remained  on  the  old 
homestead  until  1870,  when  she  came  to  this 
county,  making  her  home  with  her  son  Thomas  S. 
They  were  both  adherents  of  the  Associate  Re- 
formed Church,  but  afterward  united  with  the 
Methodist  Church.  In  politics,  ]\Ir.  Green  was  first 
a  Democrat  but  subsequentl}-  became  a  supporter  of 
Republican  principles.  Their  familj'  numbered 
eleven  children:  Elizabeth,  now  deceased;  Henry, 
who  died   in   the    army;    Thomas  S.,  a  farmer  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


625 


Idaho;  David  W.,  of  this  sketch;  Mary,  wife  of 
Frederick  Metzger,  of  Chillicothe,  Ohio;  William, 
Erastus  and  Sarah,  all  deceased;  Adeline,  wife  of 
Thomas  Marshall,  who  is  living  a  retired  life  in 
Springfield,  Ohio;  Orlando,  of  Humboldt,  Kan.; 
and  Ellen,  who  has  also  been  called  to  her  final 
home. 

■\Ve  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  is  so  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  this  county.  lie  ac(iuired  a  good  com- 
mon-school education  and  remained  with  his  par- 
ents until  seventeen  j'ears  of  age,  when  he  became 
an  apprentice  in  a  cooper  shop  and  followed  that 
business  for  ten  years.  He  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Henderson  County,  111.,  where  the  succeed- 
ing six  years  of  his  life  were  passed,  when,  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Rebellion,  he  returned  to  the 
State  of  his  nativity  and  made  it  his  home  until 
1870.  On  the  2d  of  May,  1864,  he  entered  his 
country's  service  as  a  member  of  Company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  Ohio  Volunteers,  and 
served  one  hundred  days,  receiving  liis  discharge 
on  the  5lh  of  September  following  at  Camp  Den- 
nison.  He  participated  in  many  skirmishes  and 
did  duty  mostly  as  a  scout  and  guard  of  wagon 
trains. 

On  the  loth  of  Jlay,  1851,  Mr.  Green  was  mar- 
ried, in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Augusta  Haynes, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  the  Rev.  John 
Bouton,  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  lady  was 
born  in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  January  4,  1832,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Hannah  (Bateham) 
Haynes,  the  former  of  German  descent  and  the 
latter  of  English  lineage.  The  father  was  a  farmer 
and  died  in  August,  1884.  He  wa»  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and,  in  politics,  was  first  a 
Whig  and  then  a  Republican.  His  wife,  a  native 
of  England,  came  to  America  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen j'cars.  She  still  resides  in  Madison  County, 
Ohio,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  j-ears,  with  her 
two  youngest  sons,  and  she  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haynes  were  born  nine  sons 
and  three  daughters,  of  whom  six  are  yet  living: 
Mrs.  Green  is  the  eldest;  Julia,  widow  of  Thomas 
Mendenhall,  resides  in  Ross  County,  Ohio;  Emory 
is  married  and  follows  farming  in  Madison  Count}', 


Ohio;  Edward  is  married  and  is  also  a  farmer  of 
that  county;  Martin  and  John  reside  in  Madison 
County.  With  the  exception  of  Martin,  all  the 
children  are  members  of  the  IMethodist  Church. 

Mrs.  Green  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  attended  one  term  in  the  grammar  schools  of 
Columbus,  Ohio.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  been  born  thirteen  children:  Herbert,  an  en- 
terprising young  farmer  of  this  township,  was  born 
in  Ross  County,  Ohio,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  remained  with  his  parents  until  thirty- 
one  years  of  age.  He  was  married,  February  29, 
1883,  in  Chapin,  111.,  to  Miss  Amanda  S.  Fox,  who 
was  born  in  Morgan  County,  111.,  February  Hi, 
1862,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Haughton  and  Maria 
(Beam)  Fox.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren: Blanche  (deceased),  Grace,  Lee  and  Ray- 
mond. Herl)ert  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and  in  politics,  he  is  a 
Prohibitionist.  He  owns  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres  of  fine  land,  highly  improved.  Melvina 
is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Carr,  of  Lawrence  County, 
Mo.;  Julia  is  now  deceased;  John  is  a  minister  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  of  Bluffton,  Ind.;  Victoria  is 
the  wife  of  Charles  Baxter,  a  resident  of  Cowley 
County,  Kan.;  George  and  Josephine  are  both  de- 
ceased; Lincoln  is  the  next  younger;  he  was  one  of 
Ford  County's  popular  teachers  and  a  young  man 
of  superior  intelligence.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  and  for  three  years  attended 
Adrian  College,  of  Adrian,  Mich.  He  would  have 
completed  the  classical  course,  as  he  expected  to 
devote  his  life  to  the  ministry,  but  his  health  failed 
him.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  James  Carpenter,  of 
Dix  Township;  Martha  E!.  is  now  deceased;  Wilber 
and  Emractt  are  at  home;  Anna  has  also  passed 
away. 

Mr.  Green  on  coming  to  Illinois  was  in  limited 
circumstances.  He  began  with  almost  nothing,  and 
his  enteri)rise  and  industry  have  earned  him  a 
handsome  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of  well-im- 
proved land,  upon  which  is  a  commodious  and 
comfortable  dwelling,  whose  hospitable  doors  are 
always  open  to  their  hosts  of  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Green  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  of 
Gibson  City,  and,  in  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Repub- 
;    lican,  doing  all  in  his  i)ower  for  the  interest  of  his 


626 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


party.  He  has  held  the  office  of  Seliool  Director 
for  fifteen  years  and  has  done  much  in  tlie  interest 
of  education  in  this  community.  He  located  in 
the  county  in  1870  and  is  one  of  its  most  highly 
respected  citizens. 


tMv^^tp   >y    fa    fh, 


[|/^_^  ENRY  BENSON,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  section  1,  Mona  Township,  was 
born  in  England,  May   2,  1839,  and  is  one 

•^j  of  ninecliildren  whose  parents  were  Henry 
and  Ann  (Heap)  Benson.  Tlie  fatlier  was  a  calico 
printer  by  trade.  He  came  to  America  in  1855, 
and  first  located  in  Kendall  County,  near  Lisbon, 
111.,  where  lie  operated  a  rented  farm  for  three 
years.  He  tlien  purchased  land  and  made  bis 
home  in  Kendall  County'  until  1867,  wlien  he 
sold  out  and  removed  to  Kane  County.  He  there 
spent  his  last  days,  liis  death  occurring  May  11, 
1877.  His  wife  passed  away  March  12,  1865.  Both 
were  members  of  the  New  Jerusalem  Church.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Benson  was  a  Ke])ublican.  He  was  a 
self-educated  and  self-made  man  and  was  very 
successful  in  life,  owing  to  his  own  industrious 
efforts. 

Of  the  family.  Heap  died  in  1891 ;  Alice  is  the 
wife  of  James  AVoddington,  who  resides  near  Man- 
chester, England;  William  died  in  1878;  Henry  is 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  T. 
B.  Compton,  a  resident  farmer  of  Iroipiois  Count}-; 
Bridget  is  the  wife  of  Edward  llargraves;  Ann  is 
the  wife  of  George  Burton,  a  hardware  merchant 
residing  in  Balavia,  Kane  County;  Mary  J.  is  the 
wife  of  James  Miller,  who  makes  his  home  in  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  and  Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  S.  G.  Is- 
real,  whose  home  is  in  Baltimore,  Md. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  common 
schools  until  twenty-eight  years  of  age  and  accpiired 
a  good  business  education  which  has  well  fitted 
him  for  the  practical  duties  of  life.  With  his  par- 
ents he  came  to  America  and  remained  at  home 
until  twenty  _years  of  age.  In  1867,  he  came  to 
Ford  County,  locating  in  Rogers  Township,  where 
he  made  his  home  for  three  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period,  he  removed  to  Mona  Township, 


and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  on  section  1,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  The  boundaries  of  his  farm  have  been  ex- 
tended from  time  to  time  and  he  now  owns  four 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  valuable  laud,  all  in 
Mona  Township.  He  engages  in  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
citizens  of  the  community.  His  own  labors  iiave 
placed  him  in  this  position,  for  he  began  life  empty- 
handed  and  liy  his  energy  and  enterprise  has  accu- 
mulated a  handsome  competence. 

Mr.  Benson  was  married,  on  New  Year's  Eve  of 
1869,  to  Miss  Hannah  Kemp,  daughter  of  Wright 
and  Elizabeth  Kemp.  Seven  children  graced  their 
union,  as  follows:  Mary  Alice,  now  the  wife  of 
David  B.  Keighin,  a  resident  farmer  of  Mona 
Township;  Horace,  Henry  W.,  Wilber  J.,  Walter 
E.,  Arthur  II.,  and  Minnie  E.,  who  died  in  1891. 

Mr.  Benson  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  stanch 
advocate  of  its  principles.  He  has  served  his 
Township  .as  School  Trustee  for  about  nine  years 
and  w!is  also  Township  Supervisor.  He  belongs 
to  the  New  Jerusalem  Church,  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  prominent  and  infiuenlial  citizens  of 
the  community. 


_^]_ 


^-f^[ 


"^ 


ILLIAM  P.  LANDEL.  Among  the  enter- 
prising rud  wide-awake  business  men  of 
Roberts  should  be  mentioned  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  who,  undoubt- 
edly, is  one  of  the  3'oungest  merchants  of  Ford 
County,  but  this  does  not  deter  him  from  being 
a  successful  one. 

Our  subject  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of 
Ford  Count}'.  He  was  born  in  Lyman  Township, 
on  the  29th  of  December,  1870,  and  is  the  eldest 
and  only  son  in  a  family  of  four  children  born 
unto  Jacob  and  Susan  (Gype)  Landel.  His  father 
is  a  farmer  and  William  was  reared  to  agricultural 
])ursuits,  and  lessons  of  industry  and  economy  were 
early  instilled  into  his  mind.  His  literary  educa- 
tion w.as  ac<iuired  in  the  common  schools,  and  in 
his  leisure  hours  he  assisted    in    the    labors  of  the 


"jfe^ 


il 


JOz^t-if 


// 


yTf-^c-^^-  C- Ci^^:i<-^Cce^ 


sf..^l    £).  %-. 


y 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


631 


farm,  but,  when  nearing  the  age  when  he  could 
care  for  himself,  he  determined  to  give  his  atten- 
tion to  other  business  interests. 

Mr.  Landel  is  now  the  only  proprietor  of  a 
hardware  establisliment  in  Roberts.  He  carries  a 
full  and  complete  stock  in  this  line,  including  the 
standard  makes  of  stoves,  such  as  the  "Garland," 
the  "Jewel"  and  the  "Blooniington."  He  has  em- 
plo_ved  a  practical  tinner  and  roofer  and  is  ready 
to  till  all  orders  in  this  line.  In  connection  with 
his  other  business,  he  also  docs  an  undertaking 
business  and  has  a  nice  stock  of  furniture,  modern 
in  style  and  moderate  in  price.  He  well  deserves 
success  and  his  career  will  undoubtedly  be  a  pros- 
perous one.  Genial  and  pleasant  in  manner, 
courteous  in  his  treatment  of  his  customers  and 
fair  and  honest  in  his  dealings,  he  has  already  se- 
cured a  liberal  patronage.  Industry  and  enter- 
prise are  among  his  chief  characteristics  and,  as 
everyone  knows,  they  are  important  factors  of 
success. 

Mr.  Landel  is  a  young  man  of  strict  tempeiance 
principles  and  afliliates  with  the  Prohibition  party. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  L3'man  Lodge  No. 
292,  K.  of  P.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in 
this  communitj',  and  those  who  have  known  him 
from  boyhood  and  have  witnessed  his  upright 
career  are  anion";  his  stanchest  friendjs. 


f'  IRGIL  OILMAN  WAY,  who  owns  .and  oper- 
ates one  hundred  and  sixt}'  acres  of  valu- 
able land  on  section  27,  Drummer  Town- 
ship, is  widely  known  throughout  Ford  and  other 
counties  of  Illinois,  having  been  prominently  con- 
nected with  public  affairs.  He  was  born  in  Cale- 
donia County,  Vt.,  March  17,  1847,  and  is  a  son 
of  Wells  II.  and  Susan  B.  (Newell)  Way,  who  were 
of  English  extraction.  His  grandfather  Way  was 
a  Saxon  and  his  wife  was  of  Irish  descent.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  Revolutionarj^  soldier  .and,  while  in  the 
army,  the  English  burned  the  town  of  New 
London,  Conn.,  including  the  home  of  the  Way 
family,  from  which  the  mother  and  her  twelve 
26 


children  were  forced  to  flee.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  then  a  lad  of  twelve  j'ears.  When 
the  mother  and  her  children  were  in  the  street, 
carrying  the  few  things  which  they  had  been  able 
to  save  from  the  fire,  an  F^nglish  soldier  jeeringly 
said:  "There  goes  John  Rogers'  wife  and  her 
nine  children."  Love  for  a  "red  coat"  never 
found  lodgment  in  the  breasts  of  any  of  those 
children  or  their  descendants.  The  grandfather 
died  about  1857.  The  father  of  our  subject  died 
July  16,  1868,  and  his  remains  were  interred  iu 
Rutland,  La  Salle  County,  where  a  beautiful  monu- 
ment marks  his  last  resting-pLace.  In  politics,  he 
was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religious  belief  a  Uni- 
veisalist.  His  widow  still  survives  him  and  is 
living  at  the  home  of  our  subject,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  j'ears.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Con- 
gregation.al  Church  and  a  most  estimable  lady. 

Virgil  Way  spent  the  first  five  years  of  his  life 
in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  for  four  years 
resided  in  Nashua,  N.  H.  He  then  removed  to 
Vernon  Countj',  AVis.,  where  he  spent  two  years, 
and  at  the  age  of  twelve  he  became  a  resident  of 
Rutland,  La  Salle  Count}-,  111.  When  seventeen 
years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Thirty- 
third  Illinois  Infantry,  for  three  years'  service 
under  Capt.  N.  G.  Gill.  He  participated  in  the 
siege  and  battle  of  Mobile  and  many  other  en- 
gagements. He  was  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a 
bayonet  at  Meridian,  Miss.,  and  had  his  hand 
mangled  in  a  railroad  accident  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1865.     He  now  draws  a  pension. 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Way  returned  to  his  parents' 
home,  and  there  remained  until  he  attained  his 
m.ajority.  He  was  married,  March  31,  1868,  to 
Sarah  D.  Proctor,  who  was  born  in  Rutland,  Vt., 
March  5,  1849,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Proc- 
tor, a  prominent  citizen  of  4his  communit}'.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  eight  children:  Otis 
W.,  now  of  Iowa;  Virgilla  G.,  who  is  engaged  in 
teaching  in  that  State;  Elliott  W.,  also  of  Iowa; 
Henry  N.,  Chauncey  C,  Susan  S.,  William  E.  F. 
and  George  W.  F. 

At  the  age  of  twentj',  Mr.  Way  began  teaching 
school,  and  has  taught  thirty-one  terms.  He  is  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence  and  edu- 
cation, and  he  is  blessed  with  a  fertile  brain  and  a 


632 


PORTRAIT  AND  EIOGKAPHICAL   RECORD. 


strong  determination  to  accomplish  whatever  he 
undertakes.  When  a  young  man,  he  also  learned 
the  painter's  trade,  and  by  following  that  occupa- 
tion acquired  a  sulHcient  sum  to  purchase  his 
present  farm.  While  residing  in  La  Salle  County, 
111.,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  Central 
Committee,  of  that  county,  for  eight  years,  and 
for  two  years  was  Assistant  Inspector  of  the  dif- 
ferent Grand  Army  Posts  of  Ford  County.  Since 
locating  in  this  county,  he  has  served  as  Overseer 
of  Highways  for  several  years,  and  was  superin- 
tendent of  construction  of  the  gravel  roads  in 
Drummer  Township.  He  was  Census  Enumerator 
in  1890  of  the  township  and  received  a  letter  of 
commendation  from  R.  P.  Porter,  Census  Commis- 
sioner of  the  United  States.  He  was  Deputj' United 
States  Marshal  for  four  months  and  had  charge  of 
the  Federal  Court-room  at  Springfield,  111.,  during 
the  winter  session  of  1890-91. 

Socially',  Mr.  Way  is  a  Master  Mason,  belong- 
ing to  Lodge  No.  733,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Gibson; 
the  Chapter  No.  183,  and  Council  No.  72.  He 
has  been  agent  for  this  State  for  Gen.  Logan's 
works,  having  traveled  throughout  Illinois  ap- 
pointing agents,  and  has  also  sold  the  works  of 
Gen.  Grant  and  James  G.  Blaine.  He  has  taken  a 
most  active  interest  in  the  building  and  success  of 
the  Republican  party,  and  few  men  are  more 
widely  known  than  our  subject. 


^  felLLlAM  T.  GASH,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
\/\///  ^''^'  farming  in  Peach  Orchard  Township, 
^^^  his  home  being  on  section  23,  is  another 
of  the  English-born  citizens  of  this  community. 
He  first  opened  his  e3'es  to  the  light  of  day  in  Lin- 
colnshire, on  the  3d  of  June,  1887,  his  parents  be- 
ing Thomas  and  Mary  (BuUimore)  Gash,  both  of 
whom  were  also  natives  of  that  country.  The 
death  of  the  father  occurred  in  1856,  but  his  mother 
survived  some  time,  passing  away  in  1888.  In  their 
familj'  were  eight  children,  in  order  of  birth  as 
follows:  Ann,  Thomas,  Robert,  William  T.,  Charles, 
Edward,  Ellen  and  ISLary. 

William  T.  Gash,  whose  name  heads  this  record. 


acquired  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
land  before  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
to  earn  his  own  livelihood  by  taking  service  in  a 
gentleman's  family,  where  he  remained  for  seven 
years,  or  until  he  had  attained  his  majority.  Hav- 
ing heard  much  of  the  advantages  afforded  young 
men  in  the  New  World,  he  then  determined  to  try 
his  fortune  in  America,  and  in  1858  took  ])assage 
at  Liverpool  on  a  sailing-vessel,  which  bore  him  to 
the  shores  of  the  United  States.  Thirty-one  days 
were  spent  upon  the  bosom  of  the  briny  deep  and 
he  then  landed  in  New  York  Cit3',  whence  he  made 
his  way  Westward  to  Henry  Count}',  111.  He 
earned  his  first  money  in  the  New  World  by 
working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month.  He  was 
employed  in  that  way  for  two  years  when  he  pur- 
chased teams  and  rented  laud,  continuing  its  cul- 
tivation until  1868. 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Gash  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  Bevins,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  born  August  9,  1845,  daughter  of  William 
and  IVLary  Bevins,  who  were  born  in  Leicestershire, 
England,  but  came  to  the  United  States  in  1843.  In 
1858,  they  came  to  Henry  County,  111.,  where  both 
died,  leaving  a  family  of  ten  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  childiiood.  Their  union  was  celebrated  on 
the  31st  of  May,  1864,  and  unto  them  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  William  H.,  who  is 
now  engaged  in  farming  in  Livingston  County; 
Elizabeth  E.,  wife  of  William  McLaughlin,  a  resi- 
dent of  Melvin;  Clifford  and  Cora  N.,  wlio  are  yet 
under  the  parental  roof.  Thej-  have  a  pleasant  home 
in  Peach  Orchard  Township  and  the  family  is  well 
and  favorably  known  throughout  the  community. 

Mr.  Gash  continued  to  reside  in  Henry  County 
until  1869,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County  and  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  23,  Peach 
Orchard  Township,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home  and  to  which  he  has  added  forty  more  acres. 
It  was  then  in  a  wild  state  but  he  has  it  now  highlj' 
cultivated  and  has  made  many  improvements  both 
of  a  useful  and  ornamental  character,  which  add 
greatly  to  its  value  and  attractive  appearance.  He 
is  accounted  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in  this 
community  and  his  fellow-townsmen  have  attested 
their  confidence  in  him  and  his  worth  and  ability 
by  electing  him  to  several  positions  of  public  trust. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


633 


He  has  held  the  office  of  Pathmaster,  Township 
Collector  and  Assessor,  and  at  the  present  time  is 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  has  been  School  Director 
since  1875,  covering  a  period  of  seventeen  consec- 
utive years.  It  is  needless  to  say  to  those  who 
know  Mr.  Gash  that  his  duties  have  been  faithfully 
j)erformed  in  a  prompt  and  able  manner.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  interested 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  commun- 
ity and  the  advancement  of  those  enterprises  which 
are  calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit. 

In  his  religious  faith,  Mr.  Gash  is  .an  Episcopalian, 
and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  fra- 
ternity, lieing  Representative  and  Deput3-  Grand 
Master.  Politicallj^,  he  has  always  been  a  Repub- 
lican. Financially,  he  has  been  quite  successful, 
having  made  all  he  has  by  his  own  efforts,  abl}- 
assisted  b_y  his  wife.  When  they  were  married 
they  were  $500  in  debt. 


•Id,-'        '■'•f#H 


^ 


^ 


^EORGE  MINCH,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  section  27,  Lyman  Township,  has 
^^fl  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  Illinois. 
He  was  born  March  24,  1847,  in  Tazewell  County, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Giinbel) 
Minch.  They  had  a  family  of  ten  children,  eight 
sons  and  two  daughters:  Jacob,  who  was  one  of 
the  boys  in  blue  during  the  late  war  is  married  and 
follows  farming  in  Washington,  111.  Sebestian  was 
a  member  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry, 
served  faithfully  for  over  three  years  and  partici- 
pated in  sixteen  important  battles;  he  died,  leaving 
a  widow.  Henry,  who  served  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Regiment,  is  married  and 
successfully  follows  farming  in  Henry  County, 
III.;  George  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  John 
is  marriecl  and  is  a  substantial  farmer  of  Henr}' 
County;  William  is  also  married  and  is  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Lyman  Township; 
Daniel  is  married  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead; Frank  is  a  successful  farmer,  residing  with 
his  family  in  Wall  Township. 

The  father  of  this    family  was  a  native  of  Ger- 


many and  when  nineteen  years  of  age  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  America.  He  made  his  way  to  Peoria, 
111.,  where  he  arrived  in  1831,  without  a  dollar  in 
his  pocket,  but  he  was  an  industrious  man  and 
through  his  enterprise  and  good  management  won 
a  comfortable  competence.  He  was  married,  April 
27,  1837,  to  Catherine  Gimbel,  and  on  the  27th 
of  April,  1887,  they  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding, at  which  all  of  their  children  were  present, 
llis  death  occurred  September  28,  1889,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years,  six  months  and  twenty-six 
days.  The  mother  is  still  living  in  Washington, 
111.,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years,  and  is  re- 
markably well  preserved. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  upon  the 
farm  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began 
learning  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade,  fol- 
lowing that  occupation  until  his  marriage,  which 
was  celebrated  December  17,  1868,  Miss  Catherine 
Magdelena  Luther  becoming  his  wife.  She  was 
born  and  reared  in  Henry  County,  111.  Her  fa- 
ther, Peter  Luther,  was  a  German  farmer  and 
emigrated  to  this  country  when  quite  young.  His 
death  occurred  in  Henry  County,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  j^ears.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Mary  Miller  and  was  seven  years  of  age 
when  she  crossed  the  Atlantic  from  Germany  to 
America.  She  now  resides  in  Geneseo,  111.,  at  the 
age  of  sevent3'-five,  but  her  years  rest  lightly 
upon  her. 

Mr.  Minch  enlisted  in  February,  1865,  for  the 
late  war  as  a  member  of  Coaipany  K,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
ordered  to  Tallalioma  on  camp  duty,  whence  he 
was  sent  to  Murfreesboro.  He  remained  with  the 
regiment  until  honorably  discharged  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  September  4,  1865.  In  1881,  he  came 
with  his  family  to  Ford  County,  and  now  owns  a 
valuable  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  section  27,  Lyman  Township.  The  arable 
land  is  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  the 
barns  and  outbuildings  are  models  of  convenience, 
and  the  beautiful  residence  is  tastefullj'  furnished 
and  supplied  with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He 
keeps  on  hand  a  good  grade  of  stock  and  is  a 
model  fanner.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  advo- 
cate of    Republican   principles,  having   supported 


634 


POUTRAIT  AXD  BIOGPvArHICAL   RECORD, 


that  party  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  U.  S.  Grant.  He  is  now  President  of  the 
Board  of  School  Directors,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  connected  offlciallj'  with  the  educational  in- 
terests of  this  community. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Minch  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church  and  have  given  liberall}'  to 
its  support.  They  have  aided  in  the  Sunday- 
school  work  and  our  subject  is  now  teacher  of  the 
Bible  class.  This  worthy  couple  have  a  family 
of  four  sons  and  three  daughters:  Joseph  S.,  who 
successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in  Ford  and  Liv- 
ingston Counties,  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in 
Lyman  Township.  He  married  Miss  Lillie  Fel- 
wock.  The  other  children  of  the  family  are  Olive 
May,  David,  Millie,  Forest,  Charlie  and  Flossie. 


A.  BOAL,  a  well-known  druggist  of 
Piper  Cit)',  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  one  of  tlie  pioneer  families  of  Ford 
Count}',  his  father,  Dr.  A.  J.  Boal,  having 
been  one  of  the  earl^'  physicians  of  the  county. 
The  Doctor  was  born  in  Greene  Count}',  Ohio,  upon 
a  farm,  and  his  parents  died  when  he  was  only 
three  years  old.  He  was  reared  by  his  elder  broth- 
ers, who  arc  physicians  in  Knox  Count}%  111.  He 
acquired  a  common-school  education,  and  at  the 
age  of  nineteen,  entered  a  medical  college  in  New 
York  City,  and  on  leaving  that  institution  after 
three  years  opened  an  otHce  and  engaged  in  prac- 
tice for  one  year  in  IClmwood,  Peoria  Count}',  ill. 
He  then  removed  to  Oneida,  Knox  County.  He 
owed  his  brother  $2,800  for  his  tuition  and  ex- 
penses while  in  school,  and  so  successful  was  he 
while  in  Oneida,  that  during  the  first  year  he  was 
enabled  to  pay  off  his  indebtedness.  In  1867,  he 
removed  to  Vermont,  111.,  and  in  1868  came  to 
Piper  City,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death  on  the  28th  of  November,  1871,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six  years.  On  account  of  ill  health,  he 
was  forced  to  abandon  his  profession  somewliat 
and  engage  in  tlie  drug  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried near  Union  town,  Knox  County,  111.,  April  10, 
1856,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Hall,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 


and  with  her  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1844. 
Her  father,  Chancey  Hall,  is  now  deceased,  but  her 
mother  is  still  living.  Mrs.  Boal,  mother  of  our 
subject,  has  made  her  home  in  Chicago  for  the 
past  four  years.  The  Doctor  was  first  a  Wiiig  in 
politics,  and  afterward  a  Republican,  and  in  his 
social  relations  was  a  Mason.  They  had  a  family 
of  three  children:  Stella,  wife  of  W.  E.  Bakei-,  of 
Azusa,  Cal.;  D.  A.,  of  this  sketch;  and  Minnie,  who 
resides  witii  her  mother. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Oneida,  Knox  County, 
on  the  2(1  of  April,  1859,  there  spent  his  boyhood 
days  and  began  his  education.  He  afterward 
spent  two  years  in  the  business  college  and'High 
School  of  Galesburg,  and,  in  the  year  1874,  studied 
draughting  in  a  patent  oflice,  with  the  intention  of 
making  it  his  business,  but  abandoned  that  calling 
for  the  drug  business.  His  mother  is  a  registered 
pharmacist  and  after  the  death  of  her  husband, 
she  carried  on  the  business  successfully  with  the 
help  of  her  son  for  eight  years.  Mr.  Boal  has  been 
familiar  with  the  business  of  a  druggist  since  his 
boyliood  and  is  also  a  registered  pharmacist.  He 
has  now  a  fine  store  in  Piper  City  and  carries  a 
full  and  complete  stock  in  his  line. 

In  his  leisure  hours,  Mr.  Boal  devotes  all  his 
time  and  attention  to  painting.  He  possesses 
much  artistic  talent,  which  has  been  cultivated 
until  his  works  will  compare  favorably  with  those 
of  many  artists  of  note.  His  work  sells  readily, 
and,  if  necessary,  he  could  support  himself  by  his 
brush.  Nearly  every  season  he  joins  a  sketching 
party  from  Chicago,  who,  with  the  best  instructors, 
visit  places  of  interest,  noted  for  their  scenery. 
They  have  been  to  the  White  Mountains,  Baraboo, 
Wis.,  Devil's  Lake,  and  other  picturesque  parts  of 
the  country,  and  Mr.  Boal  has  many  beautiful 
scenes  preserved  by  his  pencil,  brush  or  kodak  as 
mementoes  of  those  expeditions.  He  especially 
excels  in  painting  fruit,  and  some  of  his  work  has 
taken  high  rank  over  hundreds  of  competing 
pieces  by  the  decision  of  good  judges.  His  mod- 
esty makes  him  depreciate  his  own  work  in  this 
line,  but  undoubtedly  Mr.  Boal  possesses  artistic 
talent  of  a  high  order. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1881,  Mr.  Boal  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Charlotta  Plank,  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


637 


daughter  of  J.  B.  Plank,  of  Piper  City.  Tlie^y  liave 
two  children:  Howard  and  Lola.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Boal  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  Garfield.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  in  which  he  holds 
tiie  office  of  Secretary.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Ciiurch.  In  social  circles,  this 
worth\'  couple  rank  high  and  tlieii-  friends 
throughout  the  community  are  man}'.  Our  sub- 
ject has  made  liis  own  way  in  business  and  as  the 
result  of  his  own  industry  and  enterprise  has  won 
a  handsome  competence. 


|y(  ACOB  C.  WAGNER,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising  on  section 
2S,  Brenton  Township,  has  made  his  home 
in  tlie  county  for  twenty-nine  years,  and 
in  all  that  time  has  resided  upon  his  present  farm. 
As  an  early  settler  and  leading  citizen,  he  well  de- 
serves representation  in  this  volume,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  his  sketch  to  our  readers. 
He  was  born  in  Woodford  County,  111.,  September 
29,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  Wagner,  a  native 
of  Germany.  In  the  Fatherland  he  served  as  a 
shepherd,  and  when  a  young  man  crossed  the  At- 
lantic to  America,  landing  at  New  York,  from 
whence  he  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  few  years.  He  then  came  to  Illinois, 
made  a  claim  in  Wood  Township,  Woodford 
County,  and  began  the  development  of  a  farm. 
The  Indians  had  not  then  left  the  neighborhood, 
and  the  entire  country  round  about  was  wild  and 
unsettled.  In  that  county  Mr.  AVagner  married 
Anna  Matiiews,  who  was  born  in  Germany,  and  is 
still  living  on  the  old  home  farm.  The  husband 
died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  He  was 
a  respected  citizen,  and  always  kept  well  informed 
on  the  questions  of  the  day.  In  religious  belief,  he 
was  a  Lutheran,  and  in  politics  a  Republican,  and 
served  as  a  memlier  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 
He  came  to  America  in  limited  circumstances,  but 
by  his  industry  and  good  management  secured  a 
comfortable  competence. 


LTnto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  were  born  seven 
children:  Joiin,  who  is  now  living  in  Brenton 
Town.ship;  Michael,  a  resident  farmer  of  Woodford 
County;  Jacob,  of  this  sketch;  Catherine,  who  is 
living  in  Woodford  County;  Daniel,  who  lives  on 
the  old  homestead;  Henry,  who  operates  his  moth- 
er's land;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Lewis  Schunk,  a  far- 
mer of  Brenton   Township. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Mr. 
Wagner,  whose  name  heads  this  record.  His  boy- 
hood days  were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  in 
Woodford  Count}',  and  until  sixteen  years  of  age 
he  attended  the  German  schools.  After  that  time 
he  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  work  upon  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Dingle- 
dine,  a  native  of  Tazewell  County,  111.  Immedi- 
ately afterward,  they  removed  to  P'ord  County, 
and  Mr.  Wagner  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  wild  prairie  land  and  began  the  develop- 
ment of  a  farm.  Not  many  years  had  passed  be- 
fore the  entire  amount  was  under  cultivation,  and 
good  improvements  were  made.  He  now  has  a 
valuable  farm  and  in  connection  with  the  raising 
of  cereals  adapted  to  this  climate,  he  engages  in 
stock-raising.  He  is  a  straightforward  and  up- 
right business  man  and  has  made  a  valuable  prop- 
erty, owning  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

Twelve  children  gr.aced  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wagner,  of  whom  seven  are  living,  four  sons 
and  three  daughters.  In  order  of  birth  they  are 
as  follows:  John  Henry,  who  is  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Brenton  Township;  Katie, 
Frank,  Jacob,  Kmma,  George  and  Martin.  The 
children  were  all  horn  and  reared  on  the  farm 
which  is  yet  their  home,  and  acquired  good  edu- 
cations in  the  i)ubHc  schools. 

Mr.  Wagner  has  ever  been  a  friend  to  the  cause 
of  education,  and  has  served  for  many  years  as 
School  Director.  In  politics,  he  has  been  a  stal- 
wart Republican  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864.  He  has  often 
served  as  a  delegate  to  the  conventions  of  his 
p.arty,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
He  helped  to  move  the  first  house  to  Piper  City, 
which  was  the  beginning  of  that  place,  and  for 
twenty-nine  years  has  borne  his  share  in  the   up- 


638 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


building  and  development  of  the  county,  and  in 
promoting  its  best  interests.  Socially,  he  belongs 
to  the  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Druids,  a  social  and 
insurance  order. 


-5- 


^>-^¥r<\ 


(Q>~- 


AMES  KEMP,  a  leading  business  man  of 
Kcmpton,  was  born  in  Kendall  County,  111., 
on  the  24tli  of  November,  1853,  and  is  one 
of  nine  children.  The  parents,  Wright  and 
Elizabeth  (Butterworth)  Kemp,  were  both  natives 
of  England.  Of  tiie  family,  Sarah  is  now  the  wife 
of  David  Stockslegger,  a  farmer  residing  in  In- 
diana; Hannah,  the  wife  of  Henry  Benson,  a  prom- 
inent farmer  of  Mona  Township;  Mavy  A.  is  the 
wife  of  John  Clayton,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Rogers  Township ;  James  is  the  next 
younger;  John  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Livingston 
County;  Frank  is  a  barber  of  Kerapton;  Wright 
E.,  a  railroad  employe,  resides  in  Kankakee,  111., 
and  two  children  died  in  infancy. 

The  father  of  tiiis  family  came  to  America  in 
1845,  on  a  sailing-vessel,  which  dropped  anchor  in 
the  harbor  of  New  Orleans  after  a  voyage  of  seven 
weeks.  He  worked  in  the  Crescent  City  as  a  gen- 
eral laborer  for  a  time,  and  then  came  to  Kendall 
County,  111.,  where  he  was  joined  by  his  family  the 
following  year.  For  two  years  he  was  employed 
as  a  farm  hand,  and  then  began  farming  for  him- 
self. In  1864,  he  purchased  land  in  Dudley  Count}-, 
where  he  resided  until  1866,  when  he  sold  his  farm 
and  came  to  Ford  County.  He  here  jjurchasedone 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sectioji  3 1 , Rogers 
Township,  and  in  1869,  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  6,  where  the  town  of  Kemp- 
ton  now  stands.  He  laid  out  that  town,  which  was 
named  in  his  honor  by  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road, as  he  had  given  the  land  where  the  town  was 
located.  Mr.  Kemp  continued  to  reside  in  Ford 
County  until  1885,  when  he  removed  to  Kankakee, 
where  he  is  now  living  a  retired  life.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Democrat,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged.  Her  death 
occurred  January  28,  18!)2,  and  her  remains  were 
interred  in  Kankakee  Cemetery. 


James  Kemp,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  was 
reared  to  manhood  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  ac- 
quired a  good  business  education.  On  attaining 
his  majority,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  and 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  1884.  In  that 
year  he  removed  to  Kcmpton  and  began  the  manu- 
facture of  the  Kemp  hay  press,  an  invention  of  his 
own,  which  was  patented  in  1886.  His  factor}'  is 
located  in  that  place,  and  his  invention  has  proved 
to  be  an  excellent  one.  He  has  also  invented  a 
riding  harrow,  but  has  never  applied  for  a  patent. 
In  1891,  he  opened  a  hotel  and  restaurant  in  Kem])- 
ton,  and  is  still  engaged  in  that  business. 

On  the  3rd  of  July,  1877,  Mr.  Kemp  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Carrie  M.,  daughter  of  John 
and  Myrtle  (Bensley)  Switzer.  Three  children  have 
been  born  of  their  union,  all  daughters:  Mary  B., 
Adda  E.  and  Myrtle  E. 

In  his  political  alHliations,  Mr.  Kemp  is  a  Pro- 
hibitionist, and  has  served  his  township  as  Clerk 
for  one  year.  With  the  Methodist  Church  beholds 
membership,  and  gives  his  support  to  all  enter- 
prises and  interests  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit.  He  is  always  found  on  the  side  of  morality, 
temperance  .and  integrity,  and  is  firm  in  his  con- 
victions of  right  and  wrong. 

ICHAEL  OTTO,  who  is  numbered  among 
the  leading  citizens  of  Peach  C)rchard 
Township,  and  is  an  enterprising  farmer 
residing  on  section  13,  was  born  on  the 
4th  of  April,  1841,  at  Lemnitz  Czarnikow,  Prussia. 
His  parents,  Michael  and  Rose  L.  (Zabel)  Otto, 
were  also  natives  of  that  country  and  were  the 
parents  of  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter: Michael;  Julia  A.,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Andrew  Zebert,  a  farmer,  and  died  in  1874;  and 
Gustav,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Putnam  County,  111.  The  father  died  when 
our  subject  was  but  an  infant  and  the  mother  de- 
parted this  life  in  1877. 

Michael  Otto  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  land,  which  he  at- 
tended until  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  then  began 


PORTRAIT  AND  mOGRAPHTCAL   RECORD. 


639 


to  learn  llie  wagon-makers'  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed iu  Prussia  until  1801.  That  year  wit- 
nessed his  emigration  to  America.  Believing  bet- 
ter opportunities  were  afforded  young  men  in  this 
country  than  could  be  obtained  elsewhere,  he 
bade  good-li^'e  to  his  old  home  and  sailed  from 
Hamburg  to  New  York  City,  whence  he  made  his 
way  to  Chicago;  then  to  I'eru,  111.,  from  whicli 
city  he  walked  to  Magnolia,  Putnam  County,  be- 
cause he  had  no  money  to  paj'  his  railroad  fare, 
and  began  working  u|)on  a  farm  by  the  month. 
To  this  labor  he  devoted  his  time  and  attention 
until  IHI)'),  in  which  year  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Ida  Funte,  daughter  of  William 
and  Tina  Funte.  Soon  afterwards,  Mr.  Otto  rented 
land,  which  he  operated  for  three  years,  and  on 
the  expiration  of  that  period,  in  1868,  he  came  to 
Ford  County  and  made  the  purchase  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  13,  Peach  Orchard 
Township.  It  has  since  been  his  home,  and  dur- 
ing the  years  that  have  passed  he  has  transformed 
the  wild  tract  into  rich  and  fertile  fields,  highly 
cultivated  and  well  improved. 

Nine  children  have  been  born  of  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  IMrs.  Otto:  Mary  A.,  now  the  wife  of  Gott- 
lieb Drager,  a  resident  farmer  of  Iroquois  Cbunt^'; 
Ida  El.,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Spellme>er,  a  hardware 
merchant  residing  in  Melvin;  Minnie  L.,  wife  of 
Alle  Uml larger,  an  agriculturist  of  Wall  Township; 
John  M.,  Anna  II.  I.,  Gustav  A.  and  Fred  W.  A.; 
George  H.  A.,  deceased;  and  Delia  R.  L. 

In  addition  to  his  home  farm,  Mr.  Otto  owns 
other  property,  and  his  landed  possessions  aggre- 
gate seven  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all  located 
in  Wall  and  Peach  Orchard  Townships  and  all 
improved.  He  is  a  truly  self-made  man,  for  he 
started  out  in  life  with  only  a  pair  of  willing 
hands  and  a  young  man's  Iniglit  hope  of  the  fu- 
ture, but  he  determined  to  win  success  and  has 
reached  the  goal  of  his  hopes.  Among  the  wealthy 
citizens  of  the  community  he  is  numliered,  and  he 
is  also  one  of  the  most  i)rominent  farmers  of  his 
township.  With  the  (Terinan  Lutheran  Church  he 
holds  membership,  and  in  his  i)olitical  affiliations 
is  a  Republican,  having  served  his  fellow-towns- 
men as  Road  Commissioner  for  three  years,  while 
for  twelve  years    he  has  filled   the  office  of  School 


Director.  The  cause  of  education  has  found  in 
him  a  warm  friend,  and  he  also  gives  his  hearty 
support  and  co-operation  to  other  interests  calcu- 
lated to  prove  of  public  benefit,  or  enterprises 
tending  to  (iromote  the  general  welfare. 


I  OIIN  W.  GILKESON  now  owns  and  oper- 
ates eighty  acres  of  land,  on  section  13 
Wall  Township,  where  he  has  made  his 
home  for  about  twelve  years.  A  native  of 
Illinois,  he  was  born  in  Peoria  Countj^  on  the 
11th  of  August,  1854,  but  was  reared  in  Marshall 
County,  and  is  the  second  child  of  William  B.  and 
Cecelia  (Lytle)  Gilkeson.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Indiana,  and  in  that  State  spent  his  early  child- 
hood daj's.  When  he  was  only  four  years  old, 
his  father  died  and,  with  his  mother,  he  afterward 
removed  to  Peoria  County,  111.,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  acfjuired  a  common-school  educa- 
tion. He  began  earning  his  own  livelihood  as  a 
farm  hand,  working  out  by  the  month,  and  was 
in  early  life  entirelj'  dependent  upon  his  own  re- 
sources. In  Peoria  County,  on  attaining  his  ma- 
jority, he  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Lytle,  a 
native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  born  I'>bruary  12, 
1834.  who  during  her  childhood  came  with  her 
parents  to  Illinois.  After  bis  marriage,  Mr.  Gil- 
keson engaged  in  farming  for  himself  for  a  few 
j-ears,  and  then  removed  to  Marshall  County,  111., 
where  he  operated  rented  land  until  March,  1867, 
when  he  came  to  E'ord  County.  He  here  pur- 
cUiased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
section  15,  Wall  Township,  and  upon  that  farm 
made  his  home  until  about  fcnu- years  ago,  when, 
on  account  of  failing  health,  he  went  to  Chicago 
in  order  to  secure  better  medical  attendance,  and 
is  still  residing  in  that  city.  He  began  life  empty- 
handed,  but  has  met  with  good  success  in  his  busi- 
ness undertakings  and  now  owns  a  valuable  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres. 

During  the  late  war,  William  B.  Gilkeson,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  served  for  fourteen  inonths 
as  one  of  the  boys  in  blue.     He   was    taken    pris- 


640 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


oner  on  the  Tombigbee  River  by  guerrillas,  along 
witli  thirteen  or  fourteen  comrades,  but  all  were 
given  their  freedom  except  him.  He  was  placed 
on  board  a  boat  loaded  with  cotton.  The  rebels 
afterward  landed  the  cotton,  using  it  for  breast- 
works. An  old  darky  escai)ed  from  the  boat  while 
thej'  were  thus  employed  and  carried  word  to  the 
Union  army,  which  at  once  advanced.  When  the 
blue  coats  appeared  on  the  scene,  the  rebels  fled  in 
disorder  and  Mr.  Gilkeson  was  recaptured.  He  takes 
considerable  interest  in  political  affairs  and  is  a 
stalwart  Rcpulilican.  He  holds  membership  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  tlie  Republic. 

lu  the  Gilkeson  faniil3-  were  four  sons  and  one 
daughter:  Janet,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years;  John  W.,  whose  name  heads  this  record; 
Thomas  E.,  a  resident  of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.;  Fre- 
mont, a  farmer  of  Wall  Township;  and  Morris, 
who  is  living  in  Chicago  with  his  parents. 

Our  subject  received  the  educational  advan- 
tages of  the  common  schools  and  remained  upon 
his  father's  farm  until  he  had  attained  his  ma- 
jor! t3^  He  was  a  young  man  of  seventeen  years 
when  he  came  with  the  family  to  Ford  County. 
He  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in  the  j'ear 
1880,  comprising  eighty  acres,  upon  which  not 
a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  improvement 
made.  In  the  years  which  have  since  come  and 
gone,  he  has  placed  the  entire  amount  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  Good  buildings  have 
been  erected,  the  fields  are  well  tilled  and  the 
Gilkeson  home  is  indeed  a  model  farm.  He  also 
carries  on  stock-raising  and  feeds  a  carload  of 
cattle  each  year. 

In  1881,  Mr.  Gilkeson  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Mary  McClellan,  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State,  and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Myers)  McClellan,  who  were  natives  of  the  Emer- 
ald Isle.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and  died  in 
1865,  at  the  age  of  fortj--fivc  years.  His  wife  is 
still  living  in  Loda,  HI.  In  their  family  were  two 
sons  and  six  daughters:  Mary,  now  deceased; 
Margaret,  wife  of  William  Houston,  a  resident  of 
Iowa;  Mrs.  Gilkeson,  wife  of  our  subject;  James, 
who  is  married  and  resides  in  Chicago;  Eleanor, 
wife  of  Chalmers  Fairly,  a  resident  farmer  of  Jef- 


ferson County,  Neb.;  Martha,  wife  of  Charles 
Houston,  a  farmer  residing  in  Peoria  Countj^  111.; 
David,  who  is  engaged  in  .agricultural  pursuits  in 
Washington;  and  Elizabeth,  who  makes  her  home 
in  Iroquois  County. 

Mrs.  (iilkeson  acquired  an  excellent  education 
in  the  Loda  schools  and  was  a  teacher  of  recog- 
nized ability.  She  taught  for  twenty-one  terras 
in  Iroquois  County,  and  for  four  terms  in  Ford 
County.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  aie  Jlethodists, 
belonging  to  the  Victor  Church.  Two  children 
grace  their  union:  Myrtie  and  Charles  Howard. 
Mr.  Gilkeson  is  a  Republican,  having  supported 
that  party  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Grant.  He  has  served  as  a  chUegate  to  its 
conventions  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its 
success.  He  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways for  three  years,  and  was  School  Director  for 
nine  years.  He  is  a  reliable,  straightforward  busi- 
ness man,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him, 
and  his  .acquaintances  in  this  community  are  many. 


>>»fc*>w^ 


UGUSTUS  TINDALL,  a  prominent  farmer 
residing  on  section  7,  Brenton  Township, 
ffi  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  Illinois. 
He  was  born  in  Rock  Island  County,  on 
the  22d  of  October,  1846,  and  is  a  son  of  William 
T.  and  Ann  (Collier)  Tiudall,  the  former  a  native 
of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Delaware.  In  1834, 
they  emigrated  AVestward  and  settled  in  Rock 
Island  County,  111.  Is  was  then  a  wild  and  almost 
unimproved  tract.  Not  a  house  marked  the  site 
of  the  present  city  of  Rock  Island,  which  then 
contained  only  a  trovcrnment  post.  Mr.  Tiudall 
began  the  development  of  a  farm  and  was  very 
successful  in  his  business  operations,  becoming  a 
well-to-do  man.  His  wife  died  at  the  birth  of  our 
subject,  after  which  he  wedded  Maria  (Weiskeaver) 
Hamilton.  His  death  occurred  in  1883,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-tliree  years.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Re- 
publican, and,  in  religious  belief,  was  a  Universal- 
ist.  The  family  numbered  eight  children:  AVilliam 
E.,  who  now  resides  in  Washington;  C.  H.,  who 
served  in  the  California  militia  at  the  time  of  the 


t? 


auo.(j 


(Lti^tn. 


Cc^tpio-yx. 


\ 


(2^yXfi^ 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


645 


war  and  was  an  old  resident  of  Ford  Count}',  died 
in  Dakota;  Mrs.  Mary  Moore  is  living  in  Montana; 
Berryman,  who  served  in  tlie  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-sixtli  Illinois  Infantry  for  three  years,  is 
now  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Augustus  is  the  next 
younger;  Lemuel  L.  is  a  resident  of  Iowa;  and 
Cordelia  Alice  is  living  in  Kans.as.  The  Last  two 
children  were  born  of  the  second  marriage. 

Our  subject  spent  his  childhood  days  upon  his 
father's  farm  in  Rock  Island  County,  where  he 
acquired  a  common-school  education.  Mo  event 
of  special  importance  occurred  in  his  youth  luitil 
eighteen  years  of  age  wlien,  on  the  2d  of  March, 
1865,  he  enlisted  in  the  country's  service.  When 
his  brother  started  for  the  war,  Augustus  also 
wished  to  go,  but  .is  ha  was  then  only  fifteen  years 
of  age,  his  father  objected,  telling  him  that  he 
could  go  at  eighteen,  and  so  when  he  had  arrived 
at  that  age,  he  at  once  enlisted,  joining  Company 
G,  of  the  Forty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
was  among  the  recruits,  six  companies  of  whom 
joined  the  regiment  at  Spanish  Fort,  ne.ar  Mobile, 
Ala.  He  served  through  the  sieges  of  Mobile  and 
Spanish  Fort,  afterward  went  to  Montgomery, 
Ala.,  and  then  to  Selraa,  thence  to  Randolph  and 
Camden,  and  subsequent!}-  returned  to  Selma, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  guarding  Government 
property.  He  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Selma 
in  the  winter  of  1865-66,  and  was  there  mustered 
out  in  February  of  the  latter  year,  receiving  his 
discharge  in  Springfield,  III. 

When  the  war  w.as  over,  Mr.  Tindall  returned 
home  and  for  five  years  worked  upon  a  farm,  when, 
in  1871,  he  came  to  Ford  County,  locating  on  his 
present  farm.  It  was  then  an  unimproved  tract  of 
land,  but  now  one  hundred  .and  twenty  acres,  di- 
vided into  rich  and  fertile  fields,  yield  to  him 
a  golden  tribute.  He  is  the  inventor  of  several 
improved  farm  appliances,  including  a  cultivator 
wliich  he  has  patented.  He  has  considerable  genius 
in  this  direction  and  very  much  enjoys  working  in 
mechanics. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1873,  Mr.  Tindall  w.as 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Mary  A.  P.atterson,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Anna  J.  I\atterson,  the 
former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.     They  came  to  Illinois  in  18C3,  locating  in 


Knox  County,  and  are  now  residents  of  Piper  City. 
Mrs.  Tindall  was  l)orn  in  the  Buckeye  State,  but 
spent  her  childhood  daj's  in  Knox  County.  By 
her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  four 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters:  Arthur  A., 
who  is  attending  school  in  Davenport;  .lerome  L., 
Sadie  E.,  and  ]\Iyrtlc  Jane.  The  famil>-  holds  a 
high  position  in  social  circles.  Mr.  Tindall  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Piper  City, 
and,  in  politics,  has  been  a  stal  w.art  Republican  since 
he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  Grant 
in  1868.  He  is  a  good  business  man  and  is  highly 
esteemed  for  his  sterling  worth. 


_=]. 


"^ 


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n=' 


{^~ 


■^AMES  L.  SAXTON,  a  le.ading  merchfiut  of 
Gibson  Cit}',  a  dealer  in  dry-goods,  carpets, 
boots  and  shoes,  established  business  in  that 
town  on  the  10th  of  April,  1875.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  German,  Chenango  Count}-, 
N.  Y.,  August  13,  1847,  .and  is  a  son  of  He'nryand 
Serenia  (Brown)  Saxton,  both  natives  of  M.assa- 
cluisetts.  His  father  w.as  born  ISIaich  12,  1814,  and 
his  mother's  birth  occurred  Deceiiilier  24,  1816. 
Botli  are  still  living  .and  make  their  home  in  Cin- 
cinnatus,  Cortland  County,  N.  Y. 

When  James  L.  was  six  years  of  .age,  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Cincinnatus,  where  he  received 
an  .academic  education,  after  which  he  was  engaged 
in  teaching  school  until  August,  1866,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  was  employed  .as  a  merchant's 
clerk  in  Henry,  Marshall  County,  for  three  years. 
He  was  next  engaged  in  the  same  capacity  in 
Mackinaw,  Tazewell  County,  for  a  year  and  a  half, 
after  which  he  became  an  equal  partner  of  his 
brother  William,  of  that  place,  and  there  continued 
mereh.andising  until  March,  1875,  when  he  came  to 
Gilison  City,  starting  his  present  business.  He  was 
quite  successful,  and  has  now  an  annual  trade 
amounting  to  $40,000  and  upwards.  He  is  the 
oldest  dry-goods  merchant  in  the  city  in  continu- 
ous years  of  business,  and,  since  the  beginning,  his 
trade  h.as  rapidly  increased. 

On  the  20th  of  June,  1871,  Mi.  Saxton  married, 
in    Henry,  Marshall    County,  III.,    Miss   Mary    E. 


646 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Whitney.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  Fulton  County, 
111.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  .lane  Whitne3-; 
the  former,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  is  now  de- 
ceased. Her  mother,  who  is  still  living,  was  born 
in  Indiana,  and  is  a  resident  of  (Jibson  City. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Saxton  attiliates  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent 
nieniliers  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Gib- 
son, in  wliich  ho  holds  the  office  of  clerk.  In 
Sunda^'-school  work,  Mr.  Saxton  takes  an  active 
interest  and  part,  having  been  .Superintendent 
eight  years;  President  of  the  Ford  County  Sunday- 
school  Association  one  term;  Treasurer  of  the  same 
three  3'ears;  President  of  the  .Sixtli  District  Sunday- 
school  Association  two  terms. 

In  1886,  he  removed  to  Owatonna,  ISIinn.,  where 
for  two  years  he  carried  on  merchandising,  and 
then  returned  to  Gibson  City  and  resumed  business 
there.  AVitli  the  exception  of  the  two  years  spent 
in  Owatonna,  he  has  lieen  engaged  in  business  in 
Gibson  City  continuously  since  1875.  Mr.  Saxton 
carries  a  full  and  complete  stock  of  goods  in  his 
line,  is  always  up  with  the  times  in  styles,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  popular  and  successful  merchants 
in  Ford  County,  where  he  is  widelj'  and  favorably- 
known.  As  a  business  man  and  citizen  he  stands 
deservedly  high,  and  during  his  many  years  of 
business  in  Gibson  has  won  the  good  opinion  of 
the  best  people  in  the  city  and  adjacent  country, 
witli  whom  he  has  had   business  or  social  relations. 


'THERTON  W.  THAYER,  who  owns  and 
operates  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
valualile  land  on  section  24,  Brenton 
Township,  is  a  native  of  the  old  Bay  State. 
He  was  born  in  South  Rraintree,  Norfolk  County, 
on  the  1st  of  November,  1838,  and  traces  his  an- 
cestry back  to  the  day  of  the  Pilgrim  forefathers. 
His  great-grandfather  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 
His  father,  J.  W.  Thayer,  was  born  and  reared  in 
Massachusetts,  and  yet  makes  his  home  in  South 
Braintree  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years.  He 
learned  the  trade  of  a  boot  and  shoe   maker  and 


was  a  successful  business  man.  He  now  lives  re- 
tired. He  was  married  in  his  native  State  to  Su- 
san Wilde,  who  died  in  1865,  leaving  six  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  two  daughters,  namely:  AVar- 
ren  A.,  a  well-known  boot  and  shoe  man,  of  Onurga, 
III.,  who  died  in  that  place;  A.  W.,  of  this  sketch; 
J.  Q.,  who  resides  with  his  brother;  Susan,  Avis 
and  Elmer  are  living  in  Massachusetts. 

A.  W.  Thayer  spent  his  boyhood  days  under  the 
parental  roof  and  with  his  father  learned  the  trade 
of  shoe-making,  which  he  followed  for  sixteen 
3'ears.  He  acquired  his  early  Education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  subsequently  attended  the  Hollis 
Academy,  of  South  Braintree,  for  four  3-ears,  gradu- 
ating at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  then  resumed 
work  at  his  trade,  which  he  successfully  followed 
until  1803,  when  he  determined  to  try  his  fortune 
in  Illinois  and  make  a  location  in  Lj'man  Town- 
ship, Ford  County.  He  there  remained  until  1865, 
when  he  returned  to  the  East  and  again  worked 
at  his  trade  for  some  years.  It  was  in  1871  that 
he  once  more  sought  a  home  in  Ford  Count3'  and 
purciiased  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  It 
is  a  two  hundred  and  forty  acre  tract  of  valuable 
land  which  he  opcr.ates  in  connection  with  his 
brother.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  is  also 
engaged  in  stock-raising.  Not  an  improvement 
was  on  the  place  at  the  time  of  his  purchase.  He 
has  built  a  residence  and  barns  and  in  the  preseurt 
year  has  laid  fourteen  thousand  tile.  His  labors 
have  thus  made  his  land  veiy  valuable. 

In  this  county  on  the  22d  of  March,  1864,  Mr. 
Thayer  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Roxana 
Margaret  Pierce,  a  native  of  Randolph,  Mass., 
where  her  parents  spent  their  entire  lives.  She  was 
born  July  18, 1842.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  two  children:  Ilattie  Susan,  who  was  educated 
inTha3'er  Academy  and  the  Braintree  High  School, 
spending  five  years  in  study  in  the  I^ast,  success- 
full3-  eng.aged  in  teaching  for  several  terms.  She 
is  now  the  wife  of  Ilarr3'  Ilanfoid,  who  is  em- 
ployed in  the  railroad  shops  at  Savannah,  111. 
Atherton  Augustus  now  aids  his  father  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Tha3-er  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  but  since  that  time  has  been  an 
advocate  of  Democratic  ininciples.     He  has  never 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


647 


taken  any  very  active  part  in  political  affairs  but 
manifests  a  commendable  interest  in  all  tliat  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  to  the 
cause  of  education  he  is  a  warm  friend.  His  life 
has  been  an  uprightaiid  honorable  one  and,  by  his 
sterling  worth  and  integrity,  he  has  won  the  con- 
fidence and  high  regard  of  those  with  whom  he 
has  been  brought  in  contact. 


aALEB  McKEEVER,  wlio  is  practically  liv- 
ing a  retired  life  upon  his  farm  on  section 
'  32,  Drummer  Townsiiip,  was  born  near 
Brandywine,Del.,  on  the  8th  of  May,  1825,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Sarah(Harlan)  McKeever,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  where 
tlieirmarriage  was  celebrated  in  18i 2.  The  father 
was  of  Scotch  extraction.  "When  a  lad  of  fifteen 
years,  he  was  one  day  sent  for  a  jug  of  mo- 
lasses, but  he  hid  the  jug  and  ran  awa}-  to  sea  and 
remained  away  from  home  for  four  years.  On  his 
return  he  looked  for  the  jug  of  molasses  but  failed 
to  find  it.  After  his  marriage,  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  Delaware  County,  and  about  1830, 
returned  to  Chester  Count}',  Pa.,  where  he  resided 
until  1833,  when  he  went  to  Urbana,  Ohio,  spend- 
ing one  year  at  that  place.  He  then  located  upon 
a  farm  east  of  Urbana,  where  the  mother  died  in 
]  842,  at  the  age  of  forty-six  years,  her  remains  being 
interred  in  the  cemetery  near  her  home.  The  father 
remained  in  Clianipaign  County  until  1867,  when 
he  went  to  Iowa,  residing  with  his  daughter  until 
1870.  He  then  came  to  Ford  County  and  made 
his  home  with  our  subject  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  November  23,  1874.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  his  wife  was  a  (.Quaker  in  religious 
belief.  They  reared  a  fainil}- of  six  children:  .John 
and  Isaac,  who  are  now  deceased;  Margaret,  wife 
of  D.  Osborn,  of  Oakland,  111.;  Caleb,  of  this 
sketch;  Mary,  wife  of  William  C.  Ii\incuttcr,  who  is 
living  a  retired  life  in  Iowa;  and  Rutli  A.,  wife  of 
.1.  Spain,  a  carpenter  of  Iowa. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  liy  attend- 
ance at  the  district  school  for  about  thi'ce  montlis 
in  the  year.     On  attaining  his  majority,  he  started 


out  in  life  for  himself  and  engaged  in  farm  labor 
by  the  month  until  twenty-seven  jears  of  age, 
when,  on  the  6th  of  November,  18.51,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Sarah  E.  Thompson,  who  was  born 
in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  on  the  12th  of  De- 
cember, 1826,  and  is  a  daughter  of  .John  and  Eliz- 
abeth (King)  Thompson.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction, 
and  the  mother  was  born  in  County  Armagh,  Ire- 
land, and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  when 
a  maiden  of  twelve  summers.  They  were  married  in 
Newville,  Cumberland  County-,  Pa.,  and  unto  them 
were  born  the  following  ciiildren:  Clarissa,  Nancy, 
.Tames  K.  and  .Jane  Mary,  all  deceased;  .John  K. 
and  Thomas  Iv.,  both  of  Urbana,  Ohio;  Samuel 
Alex,  now  deceased;  and  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  our  sub- 
ject. The  parents  resided  in  Pennsylvania  until 
1820,  when  they  removed  to  Champaign  Count}-, 
Ohio,  and  Mr.  Thompson  became  a  ver}'  success- 
ful and  wealthy  citizen  of  that  community.  He 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty-one 
years,  and  took  (piite  a  prominent  part  in  public 
affairs.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig  and  afterward 
a  Republican.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
tlie  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKeever  were  married  in  Cham- 
paign Countv,  Ohio,  and  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm  in  Logan  County,  where  they  made 
their  home  for  ten  years,  when  they  removed  to 
Sangamon  County,  111.  Our  subject  there  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  but 
in  February,  186.5,  he  sold  it  and  removed  with 
his  family  to  this  county,  where  lie  has  since  made 
his  home.  He  now  owns  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  valualile  land,  constituting  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  desiralile  homes  in  this  locality, 
and  has  also  given  forty  acres  to  his  son.  He  is 
an  enter|)rising  and  capalile  l)usiness  man  and  the 
success  of  his  life  is  all  due  to  his  own  efforts. 

Unto  INIr.  and  Mrs.  McKeever  were  born  six 
children:  .Jolin  T.,  a  farmer  of  Drummer  Town- 
ship; Alex,  deceased;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Dr.  Strauss; 
William,  a  resident  farmer  of  Drummer  Township; 
and  Stephen  and  .James,  both  deceased.  Mr.  Mc- 
Keever cast  his  first  I'residential  vote  for  I^ewis 
Cass,  of  Michigan.  lie  has  been  a  true-blue  Re- 
publican since  the  civil  rebellion,  an  inflexible  ad- 


648 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


hercnt  of  his  party's  principles.  He  has  served  as 
Township  Supervisor  and  School  Director  for 
many  years  and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  of  Gibson.  111.  His  estimable  wife  holds 
membership  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is 
now  living  a  retired  life,  having  by  liis  labor  in 
former  years  acquired  a  competence  sufficient  to 
keep  him  in  his  declining  days. 


4^ 


-^ 


THOMAS  P.  JEFFERY,  one  of  the  early  set- 
jf^^^^  tiers  of  Ford  County,  who  is  engaged  in 
^^y  the  nursery  and  gardening  business  in  Piper 
City,  was  born  at  Campbell  Hill  House,  in  the 
Parish  of  Cromton,  Somersetsiiire,  England,  on 
the  3d  of  September,  1828,  and  is  a  sou  of  William 
.Jeffer\-,  who  resided  upon  tlie  furin  wliere  his  grand- 
father and  gieat-grandfather  had  lived  before  iiim. 
He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Page,  who  died  when  our 
suljjeet  was  a  small  cliild,  leaving  a  family-  of  five 
sous,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  our  subject.  William  died  in  London; 
John  in  New  Orleans;  .lames  in  Ford  County;  and 
Charles,  a  silk  merchant,  died  in  London,  about 
1874. 

Mr.  Jeffery  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  ills  brother's  widow,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Emily  Knight.  They  had  two  children, 
both  of  whom  reside  in  England.  Tlie  father  died 
March  30,  1876,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  vears. 
He  took  quite  a  prominent  part  in  i)olitical  affairs, 
supporting  the  liberal  party.  He  held  the  office 
of  Overseer  of  the  Poor.  Himself  and  family- 
were  members  of  the  Episcopal  Cliurch. 

(Jur  subject  spent  his  early  boyhood  days  upon 
his  fatlier's  farm  and  at  the  age  of  ten  was  sent  to 
boarding-school  at  Clapham  Common,  East  London. 
Through  the  courtesy  of  Lord  Portman,  he  after- 
wards entered  the  Blue  Coat  School  to  prepare 
for  naval  service  and,  in  1844,  received  jiis  com- 
mission as  midshipman.  In  October  of  the  same 
year,  he  went  on  board  tlie  "Vulture"  and  sailed 
with  the  outgoing  East  Indian  Squadron  on  a  three 
years'  cruise  under  Admiral  Lord  Reaghle.  On 
their  return,  he  arrived  at    Portsmouth    dock  in 


August,  1847,  and  was  given  a  ninety-days'  fur- 
lough. He  then  sailed  in  the ''Wellington,"  a  flag- 
ship, under  Admiral  Lord  Raglan,  and  cruised  for 
two  years  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  near  Bomliay  and 
Calcutta,  when  they  were  again  ordered  liome,  liy 
way  of  Van  Dieman's  Land,  the  Australian  Coast 
and  the  Island  of  Sicily.  They  heard  of  the 
wonderful  gold  discoveries  in  Australia,  but  tlie 
troops  were  not  allowed  to  go  ashore  at  any  place 
where  they  stopped  on  the  Australian  coast,  for 
fear  they  would  run  away.  Tlie  vessel  arrived  at 
Woolwich  dock  in  July,  1850,  and  Mr.  Jefifery  gave 
up  iiis  commission  and  returned  to  the  gold  fields 
of  Australia,  arriving  m  Melliourne  in  May,  1851. 
He  at  once  started  for  the  mines  and  engaged  in 
mining  for  about  tiiree  years  with  fair  success. 
Two  years  of  that  time  lie  never  saw  a  coin,  every- 
thing being  paid  for  in  gold  dust.  He  next  spent 
two  years  in  tlie  freight  business  with  his  brother 
James  and  made  considerable  money  in  that  way. 

In  February,  1856,  Mr.  Jeffery  left  Australia 
for  England,  and  soon  afterward  came  to  America, 
landing  at  Ouebec,  whence  he  made  his  way  to 
Chicago.  Looking  about  him  for  a  location,  he 
finally  settled  on  section  32,  Brenton  Township, 
on  the  12th  of  July.  1856,  where  he  secured  a  half- 
section  of  wild  land.  At  that  time  tliere  was  only 
one  house  l)etween  him  and  Onarga.  He  and  his 
brollier  James  lived  alone  for  four  years  and  en- 
gaged in  cattle-raising.  In  February,  1870,  he 
rented  his  farm  and  came  to  Piper  City.  Since 
that  time  he  has  spent  four  years  upon  his  farm 
and  tlie  remainder  of  the  time  has  resided  in  the 
village,  w4ieie  he  lias  a  pleasant  home  and  is  en- 
gaged in  gardening  and  the  nursery  business,  hav- 
ing about  eight  acres,  of  which  over  a  third  is 
witliin  the  corporate  limits  of  Piper  Citj-. 

On  the  IStli  of  November.  1861,  in  Ford  County, 
Mr.  Jeffery  wedded  Isabella  J.  Forbes,  who  was 
born  in  County  Monaghan.  Ireland,  August  3, 
1839,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  T.  and  Armanella 
(Robinson)  Forbes.  She  was  a  maiden  of  ten 
summers  wiien  she  came  to  America  with  her  par- 
ents, who  lived  in  South  Boston.  In  1856,  they 
came  to  Lymau  Township,  Ford  County.  Four 
children  have  been  born  unto  them:  James  William, 
who  was  born  on  the  11th  of  September,  1862,  and 


.*  >■ 


<^,ii~i*vtkt^-^ 


^ 


(0. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


651 


is  now  a  butcher  of  Piper  City;  Alice  Armanella, 
wiio  was  boru  February  1,  1864,  and  is  the  wife 
of  J.  Rohbach,  of  Hrenton  Township;  Mary  Louise, 
who  was  born  September  25,  1866,  and  is  tlie  wife 
of  Asa  Burger,  of  Brenton  Township;  John  Henry, 
born  August  18,  1868,  follows  farming  in  Brenton 
Township.  The  children  were  all  given  good  ed- 
ucational advantages,  which  fitted  them  for  ther 
practical  duties  of  life. 

Mr.  Jcfferj',  his  wife  and  family,  are  alliiiembers 
of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow, 
having  been  connected  witli  that  fraternity  for 
forty  years.  He  was  reinstated  in  the  home 
lodge  in  England  when  lie  revisited  his  native 
land  in  October,  l«9(l.  He  cast  his  first  Presiden- 
tial vote  for  Lincoln  and  has  since  attiliated  with 
the  Republican  party  when  voting  on  questions  of 
national  importance,  Imt  at  local  elections  supports 
the  man  whom  he  thinks  best  (jualified  to  fill 
the  ottice.  He  has  ever  done  his  shai-e  for  the  up- 
building and  development  of  this  community  and 
is  a  valued  citizen  of  the  township.  He  is  also  a 
self-made  man,  who  began  life  empty-handed,  but 
by  his  own  efforts  has  won  a  competence. 


JOSEPH  BUROER,  a  reiiresentative  farmer 
and  extensive  land  owner  of  Brenton  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  2,  is  of  German 
_  birth.  He  was  born  in  Baden  on  the  31st 
of  August,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  F.  A.  Burger,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  the  village  of  Laurisheim, 
where  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  He 
served  in  the  German  army  for  thirteen  j-ears 
and  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  carried  on  a  hotel. 
He  married  Anna  Maria  Kech,  and  after  the  birth 
of  seven  children  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
America,  sailing  from  Havre  to  New  York,  where 
he  arrived  after  a  voyage  of  thirty-three  days.  He 
located  in  New  London  County,  Conn.,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1865,  while  his  wife  passed  away 
in  1863.  Both  were  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  Of  the  family:  Jacob  died  in  Connecticut; 
John  died  in  Brenton  Township;  George  is  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Iroquois  County;  Joseph  is  the  next 


younger;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Phillips  resides  in  this 
county;  Mrs.  Mar}' Haubach  is  living  in  Iroquois 
County;  and  Johanna  is  a  resident  of  New  London 
Count}',  Conn. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  his  native  land 
between  the  ages  of  six  and  fourteen  years  and 
when  seventeen  years  of  age  crossed  the  briny  deep 
with  his  parents,  and  worked  with  his  father  in 
Connecticut  for  four  years.  He  than  began  life  for 
himself  in  Connecticut  as  a  farmer  and  in  1866  re- 
moved to  Fulton  County,  111.,  where  he  spent  three 
years.  In  1868,  he  came  to  Ford  County  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section 
2,  Brenton  Townsliip,  and  on  the  1st  of  February, 
1869,  moved  his  family  thereon.  But  little  im- 
provement had  been  made.  He  planted  each  bush 
and  shrub  upon  it  and  the  buildings  all  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  He  now 
owns  six  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  four 
hundred  and  forty  of  which  are  in  one  body. 

Mr.  Burger  brought  witli  him  to  the  West  his 
wife,  a  native  of  New  London  County,  Conn.  No- 
vember 12,  1854,  he  had  wedded  Mary  Gore,  a 
native  of  that  count}-,  born  October  14,  1821, 
daughter  of  Asa  A.  and  Ruth  Gore,  and  unto  them 
were  born  three  children  in  Connecticut:  Ruth  A., 
who  married  Aug.  ^'ogelbacher,  a  farmer  C)f  Bren- 
ton Township;  one  that  died  in  infancy,  and  Asa 
E.  The  latter  attended  the  Seminary  of  Onarga, 
married  Mary  Jeffrey,  and  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing  in  Brenton  Township.  Mrs.  Burger's  father, 
Asa  A.  Gore,  was  a  survivor  of  the  Wyoming  mas- 
sacre. His  father  and  a  number  of  relatives  were 
killed  b}'  the  Indians  and  he  was  carried  to  a  place 
of  safet}'  1)}'  his  mother  on  horseback. 

Mr.  Burger  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Buchanan  in  1856.  He  then  voted  for  Douglas, 
Lincoln,  Seymour,  Peler  Cooper,  Weaver  and 
Cleveland.  He  has  been  independent,  but  has  al- 
ways taken  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs. 
With  the  exception  of  two  j'ears,  he  has  continu- 
ously served  in  some  township  office  since  moving 
here  and  has  been  Supervisor  of  Brenton  Townsliip 
since  1876.  In  1884,  he  was  a  candidate  for  the 
Legislature  on  the  (Greenback  ticket.  This  county 
has  a  Republican  majority  of  two  to  one,  but  he 
carried  the  county,  although  he  lost  in    the    other 


652 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


county  of  the  district.  The  large  majority  which 
he  received  In  his  own  county  Indicates  his  great 
personal  popularity  and  the  high  regard  in  which 
he  Is  held.  He  has  been  prominently  connected 
with  the  upbuilding  and  advancement  of  this  com- 
munity, and  was  the  first  man  to  circulate  a  peti- 
tion for  drainage  In  this  region.  No  other  enter- 
prise has  done  so  much  for  the  county  as  this, 
and  Mr.  Burger  certainly  deserves  great  credit  for 
his  earnest  labors  in  securing  the  drainage.  He  is 
a  self-made  man  and  the  handsome  property  of 
which  he  is  now  the  possessor  has  been  acquired 
through  his  own  efforts. 


^^  W.  TALLMAN,  Principal  of  the  Sibley 
(I  ^,  schools,  was  born  in  iShelbyvUle,  111.,  Sep- 
^^^  tember  1,  1855.  His  parents  were  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business  in  that  city.  They  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1836. 
In  1860,  they  located  on  their  farm  south  of  Shel- 
byville,  and  there  our  subject  was  introduced  to 
the  bus.y  pursuits  of  an  agricultural  life.  Being 
of  a  delicate  constitution,  he  was  the  favored  and 
petted  one  of  the  family.  During  the  summer 
months,  he  worked  in  the  fields  and  in  the  winter 
attended  the  district  schools.  He  possessed  a  nat- 
ural aptitude  for  study  and  made  the  most  of  his 
privileges.  At  the  ago  of  twenty,  he  was  given 
permission  to  enter  Shelby  College.  He  had  a  room 
in  one  corner  of  the  building,  in  which  he  cooked 
and  did  his  own  work,  pajing  the  rental  by  sweep- 
ing and  building  fires  In  the  college.  Those  were 
lonel}'  days  to  the  country  boy,  but  he  there  laid 
the  foundation  for  success.  The  next  year  a  school 
was  offered  him  just  south  of  Shelby ville,  and,  after 
teaching  for  a  number  of  yeai'S  in  the  country 
schools,  the  principalshlp  of  the  Moweaqua  schools 
was  offered  him  and  he  satisfactorily  filled  the  po- 
sition, as  his  recommendation  at  the  close  of  two 
years  shows.  He  then  went  to  Normal,  111.,  and 
spent  two  and  a  half  years  in  study  at  the  State 
University. 

In  the  meantime,  I'rof.  Tallman   was  united  In 


marrl.age  with  Miss  Susie  C  Mlddleton,  of  Tower 
Hill,  111.  They  reside  in  Slble^-,  where  thej-  have 
many  friends.  Mr.  Tallman  is  a  Mason  in  good 
standing,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Good 
Templars.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  an  active  worker  in  the  Sunday-school. 
In  1891,  he  was  engaged  to  assist  the  County  Su- 
perintendent In  the  Teachers'  Institute,  and  his 
ability  has  been  recognized  by  a  renewal  of  the 
engagement  for  the  present  year. 

In  the  summer  of  1888,  Prof.  Tallman  removed 
with  his  family  to  Sibley,  111.,  having  previously 
been  tendered  the  principalshlp  of  its  schools. 
Prof.  Clinebell,  his  predecessor,  had  held  the  posi- 
tion for  eight  years,  and  it  was  with  no  small 
amount  of  trepidation  that  our  subject  assumed 
his  place,  for  Mr.  Clinebell  was  an  educator  pos- 
sessing a  wide-spread  reputation.  He  had  made  a 
specialtj-  of  the  common  branches,  thus  preparing 
the  way  for  higher  work.  The  new  Principal  be- 
gan on  the  foundation  thus  laid  and  has  added 
branch  after  itranch  to  the  course  of  stud^-  until 
the  scope  of  the  work  done  in  the  Slble;*'  school  is 
almost  on  a  par  with  that  of  Gibson  and  Paxton. 
He  has  remained  here  three  j'ears,  3-et  in  that  short 
time  the  intellectual  status  of  the  schools  has  been 
wonderfully  broadened.  A  great  impetus  has  been 
given  to  the  school  !:>}•  the  introduction  of  this 
new  order  of  studies.  Any  pupil  completing  the 
course  of  stud}'  in  the  Slblc}'  schools  is  fitted  to 
pass  an  excellent  examination  and  well  prepared 
for  the  practical  affairs  of  life.  The  two  assistants 
in  the  school  are  JMlss  Lizzie  McDonald,  of  Bloom- 
ingtou,and  Miss  Eftle  Bicket,  a  daughter  of  W.  A. 
Bicket,  of  Siblej-. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  the  school  Is  what  is  called 
the  S.  S.  Society,  Introduced  b}'  Mr.  Clinebell  in 
1882,  an  organization  which  meets  on  Fridaj' even- 
ings. Here  parliamentary  usages  are  learned  and 
practiced,  and  the  children  are  taught  the  manner 
of  putting  motions  and  of  presiding  over  deliber- 
ative bodies.  Prof.  Tallman  possesses  a  scientific 
turn  of  mind,  as  his  work  here  shows.  Being  su))- 
ported  by  an  intelligent  and  progressive  School 
Board,  addition  after  addition  was  made  to  the 
scientific  apparatus,  which  Is  now  equal  to.  If  it  does 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


653 


not  excel,  that  of  anj'  other  school  in  Ford  County. 
A  laboratory  was  also  built,  by  partitioning  off  one 
corner  of  the  larij:e  room  cf  the  biiildiny'.  This 
has  been  supplied  Mith  all  tlie  necessary  app.aratus 
and  chemicals  for  demonstrating  anything  connec- 
ted with  an  ordinary  IIiii:li  School  course.  Among 
the  many  pieces  of  useful  apparatus  is  a  porte  lu- 
minere,  having  an  imported  magic  lantern  attach- 
ment, also  a  microscopic  attachment  for  projecting 
the  microscope  mountings  upon  the  curtain  b}' 
means  of  solar  light.  Anotliei  instrument  is  a 
compound  microscope,  one  of  the  finest  instru- 
ments ever  given  to  a  school.  It  was  presented  bj- 
an  eastern  firm  through  the  intercession  of  Mr. 
Clinebell,  and  out  of  respect  to  Hiram  Sibley. 
Another  fine  piece  of  apparatus  is  the  air-pumj), 
with  its  five  different  forms  of  receivers,  by  means 
of  which  nearly  any  desired  experiment  with  gases 
can  be  made. 

Prof.  Tallman  lias  inaugurated  and  is  carrying 
out  a  work  seldom  ever  attempted  in  our  town 
schools.  With  the  aid  of  the  worthy  Sciiool  Board 
and  his  pupils,  he  has  succeeded  in  fitting  out  a 
room  in  the  building  for  a  museum.  After  the 
necessarj'  casing  was  completed,  W.  A.  Bicket  made 
an  assortment  of  his  large  collection  of  minerals 
and  presented  a  valuable  collection  to  the  museum. 
He  is  also  constantlj'  finding  and  adding  some- 
thing new  to  his  already  magnificent  gift  and 
almost  daily  the  collection  is  being  enlarged  by 
kind  donors.  The  museum  contains  many  valuable 
antiipie  relics  and  the  number  is  constantly  grow- 
ing. 

The  Professor  is  also  a  taxidermist  and,  liaving 
a  great  love  for  zoological  research,  has  within  the 
last  year  mounted  over  half  a  hundred  specimens, 
among  which  are  five  different  species  of  owls,  in- 
cluding a  large  white  Arctic  owl.  Tiiere  are  tliree 
different  kinds  of  hawks,  .an  eagle,  many  speci- 
mens of  song  birds  and  water  birds,  and  among 
the  mammals  are  found  the  opossum,  raccoon,  fox, 
tree  and  ground  squiirels,  mink  .ind  shrew.  The 
museum  room  is  well  carpeted  and  supplied  with 
comfortable  chairs  and,  as  the  Sibley  Gazette  has 
said,  "It  is  a  profitable  place  in  which  to  spend  an 
hour  or  two."  The  ornithological  collection  is 
increasing  very  rapidly,  as  high   as  six  specimens 


having  been  added  in  one  week  and  another  large 
ease  has  already  been  reipiircd.  The  efHcient 
School  Board,  composed  of  W.  A.  Bicket,  Swcn  An- 
derson and  Eli  Harvey,  who  are  doing  all  they  can 
to  further  the  interest  of  this  valuable  addition  to 
the  school.  This  museum  is  the  pride  of  Sullivant 
Township,  and  well  it  ma\'  be. 

The  school  grounds  and  buildings,  built  in  the 
fall  of  1882  at  a  cost  of  15,000,  are  not  to  be 
overlooked.  Upon  the  front  of  the  school  build- 
ing is  a  tower  four  stories  high,  surmounted  by  a 
m.aiisard  roof,  and  containing  an  open  bell-tower. 
The  view  of  the  landscape  from  this  tower  is  prob- 
ably the  finest  in  the  count}-.  As  j-ou  stand  upon 
its  summit,  Sibley  Lake,  a  most  beautiful  little 
sheet  of  water,  seems  to  lie  nestled  close  below 
you,  although  it  is  more  than  sixty  rods  distant. 
Sibley,  with  her  many  rows  of  shady  stieets,  looks 
more  like  a  pleasure  park  tlian  the  busy  little 
bustling  town  it  is.  The  grounds  surrounding  the 
building  are  commodious  and  well  shaded  and 
cover  nearlj'  a  whole  block. 


^5— 


.^^^_^^.sd^ 


■!— 


'\flOIIN  R.  LEWIS,  the  efficient  County  Sur- 
veyor of  Ford  County  and  a  leading  and 
influential  man  of  Piper  City,  was  born  on 
a  farm  in  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  ,Iune  6, 
1828.  His  grandfather,  Reese  Lewis,  a  native  of 
AVales,  was  over  six  feet,  seven  inches  high,  and 
was  drafted  into  tlio  English  service  to  form  one 
of  the  regiment  of  such  large  men  to  go  to  the 
front  and  serve  in  the  war  against  Napoleon,  but 
Mr.  Lewis,  not  wishing  to  enter  the  army,  made  his 
escape  and  came  to  America  in  1815,  accompanied 
by  his  son,  Lewis  L.  He  settled  near  Utica,  N.  Y., 
became  a  contractor  on  the  Erie  Canal  and  built 
many  locks.  His  wife,  who  bore  tiie  maiden  name 
of  Ann  Jones,  with  the  rest  of  the  children  sailed 
for  this  country  about  1820,  and,  after  a  voyage 
of  eleven  weeks,  reached  New  York,  joining  her 
husband  at  his  home  near  Utica.  He  was  a  suc- 
cessful business  man  and  an  influential  citizen.  He 
died  near  Utica  about  1845. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  David  Lewis,  was  born 


654 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  Wales,  and,  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  came 
til  this  country.  He  worked  with  his  father  for  a 
time  and  also  was  employed  in  a  starch  factory 
near  Utiea.  He  there  met  and  married  Miss  Nancy 
A.  Nichols,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  of  English 
descent,  who  removed  with  her  parents  to  New 
York  in  a  ver^-  early  day.  Her  father  was  a  Rev- 
olutionary soldier  and  his  uncle  was  Gen.  Nichols, 
of  Revolutionarj-  fame.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  were 
married  in  1821,  and  began  their  domestic  life  in 
the  timber  region  of  New  York,  where  the  hus- 
liand  bought  land  and  developed  a  fine  farm,  upon 
which  he  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1876.  He  was  a  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive citizen,  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  and  of  the  Welsh  Club.  In  lii.s  business 
affairs  he  was  very  successful.  In  connection  with 
farming,  he  burned  lime  and  operated  a  stone- 
quarry.  His  wife  passed  away  about  eight  years 
prior  to  the  death  of  her  husband.  Their  faniilj' 
numbered  the  following  children:  Mary  A.,  now 
deceased;  Dennis  N.,  who  resides  on  the  old  home 
farm;  John  R.,  of  this  sketch;  Leonard  J.,  who 
went  with  James,  the  30ungestson,  to  California  in 
1851,  but  has  not  been  heard  from  for  the  past 
four  years;  and  Margaret  E.,  who  resides  in  Ulica, 
N.  Y. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent  in 
attendance  at  the  common  schools  during  the  win- 
ter season  and  in  hard  labor  on  the  farm  during 
the  summer  months,  until  seventeen  years  of  age. 
In  1846,  he  went  to  Whitestown  Seminary,  and, 
after  pursuing  a  three-years'  course  of  study,  en- 
gaged in  teaching  for  three  winter  terms.  In  the 
spring  of  1850,  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  at 
Naperville,  where  he  remained  until  the  4th  of 
July.  He  then  engaged  in  farm  work  until  De- 
cember, when  he  began  teaching  school,  and  to  the 
two  pursuits  devoted  his  energies  until  1856,  when 
he  came  to  Ford  County,  at  that  time  Vermilion, 
and  made  the  fust  settlement  in  Brenton  Township. 
He  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  at  $8  per  acre,  and  engaged  in  farming  for 
some  time.  In  1865,  he  located  on  what  is  now 
the  site  of  Piper  City,  but  it  was  all  a  tract  of  wild 
prairie  at  that  time.  The  following  year  he  began 
to  sell  laud  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  con- 


tinuing eighteen  years.  He  has  bought  and  sold 
probabl}'  more  land  than  any  other  man  in  the 
county.  When  he  settled  here  there  was  not  a 
house  to  be  seen  and  one  could  ride  thirty  miles  to 
the  north  without  coming  across  a  settlement.  For 
two  j'ears  he  Lad  charge  of  the  land  sales  on  the 
Sullivant estate.  In  1871,  he  removed  to  Chicago, 
returning  to  Ford  Countv  in  1878,  and  locating  on 
a  farm  in  Fella  Township.  In  February,  1881,  he 
came  to  Piper  City,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home. 

Mr.  Lewis  was  married  on  the  3d  of  .June,  1852, 
near  Naperville,  to  Miss  Delia  O.  Johnson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hiram  and  .Sarah  A.  Johnson,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Vermont.  The  daughter  was  born 
in  Rutland  County,  Vt.,  May  27,  1833,  and  came 
to  Illinois  in  1844.  Her  father  made  a  claim  of 
Government  land,  and  followed  farming  for  some 
time.     He  died  in  Aurora. 

Four  children  have  been  born  to  our  subject  and 
his  wife:  Sarah  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Albert  J.  John- 
son, a  hardware  merchant  of  Hull,  Iowa;  Wallace 
David,  who  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in 
Chicago;  Albert  W.,  a  civil  and  railroad  engineer, 
employed  b3'  the  Burlington  &  Missouri  Railroad 
Company,  residing  in  Plattsiuouth,  Neb.;  Adelaide 
B.,  who  was  educated  at  Normal,  111.,  and  now  has 
charge  of  the  grammar  department  in  the  public 
schools  of  Piper  City. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  have  been  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Pii»er  Cit3'  since  its  organ- 
ization. Tlie3'  are  honored  pioneers  of  the  count}', 
who  have  witnessed  its  entire  growth  and  have 
been  prominent  in  its  development  and  upbuilding. 
None  are  more  worth}'  of  representation  in  this 
volume  than  they.  Mr.  Lewis  has  filled  various 
public  positions  of  trust.  For  eight  years  he  has 
served  as  Surve^'or  of  Ford  County,  and  was  Dep- 
uty for  some  time  previous.  In  1859,  he  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  has  held  that 
office  altogether  for  about  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
He  has  served  as  Assessor,  Clerk  and  Supervisor 
and  the  duties  of  these  offices  have  ever  been 
promptlj'  and  faithfully  discharged.  He  was  the 
first  Postmaster  of  Piper  City.  He  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Winfield  Scott,  and  was  a 
Whig  until  1856,  when    he    supported    Gen.  Fre- 


ct 


^^^^'X^^\^ 


^^/x^«-^t-'-"^Y 


-c^c^^t<.-xz^  c/fLt/~^^t^>^\^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


659 


mont  and  since  that  time  he  has  voted  for  each 
Republican  candidate.  No  man  is  more  familiar 
with  the  early  history  and  settlement  of  the  county 
than  our  subject,  who  knows  each  foot  of  land 
within  its  borders.  His  friends  througlrout  the 
community  are  many  and  his  popularity  is  only 
equaled  by  the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 


■^1= 


3E5" 


eAPT.  WILLARD  PROCTOR,  an  honored 
veteran  of  the  late  war,  now  residing  in  the 
village  of  Proctor,  is  a  native  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State.  The  family  is  of  English  descent 
and  the  ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to  1461.  He 
was  born  iu  Rutland  County  on  tlic  .5th  of  March, 
1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Dorcas  (Dimmick) 
Proctor.  The  former  was  born  in  the  vicinitj'  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  in  Connecticut.  They 
were  married  in  Sullivan,  N.  H.,  in  September,  1809, 
and  reared  a  familj^  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
Willard  is  the  youngest.  By  occupation,  Mr.  Proc- 
tor was  a  farmer,  and  followed  that  business 
throughout  his  entire  life.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  were  highly 
respected  people.  Their  remains  were  laid  to  rest 
in  the  cemeterj'  near  their  old  home. 

The  educational  advantages  which  the  Captain 
received  were  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  twenty  j'ears  of  age,  and,  being  the  youngest 
of  the  family,  the  care  of  his  parents  devolved 
upon  him,  and  he  faithfully  performed  his  duty. 
On  the  10th  of  March,  1847,  he  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Rutland  County,  Vt.,  with  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Hewitt,  who  was  born  in  that  county,  February 
22,  1829,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Esther 
(Doolittle)  Hewitt,  natives  of  Connecticut,  anil  of 
English  descent.  Her  grandfather,  Amos  Hewitt, 
was  a  Revolutionary  hero.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Vermont  about  1800,  and  his  last  days  were 
spent  in  his  native  State.  By  trade  he  was  a  cooper. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Mt.  Holl}',  Vt.,  about  1802, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  In  the  family 
were  three  children:  Chauncey  E.,  who  is  married 
and  follows  farming  in  Sudburj,  Vt.;  Mrs. Proctor, 
27 


of  this  sketch;  and  Horace,  who  is  married,  and  fol- 
lows farming,  and  also  carries  on  a  meat  market  in 
Shrewsbur}',  Vt. 

Mrs.  Proctor  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  iu  the  academy 
of  West  Rutland,  Vt.,  which  she  attended  one 
term.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  began  their  do- 
mestic life  upon  the  old  homestead,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1850,  when  Capt.  Proctor  began 
dealing  in  lumber,  following  that  business  for  two 
years.  He  then  went  to  Connecticut,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  real-estate  business  until  1855.  That 
year  witnessed  his  emigration  to  Illinois.  He  lo- 
cated in  La  Salle  County,  where  he  was  residing, 
when  in  August,  1862,  he  responded  to  the  coun- 
try's call  for  troops,  and  joined  the  boys  in  blue 
of  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Infantry. 
He  served  for  three  years,  and  was  discharged  in 
June,  1865,  having  participated  in  many  hard- 
fought  l)attles.  He  entered  the  service  as  First 
Lieutenant,  and,  in  recognition  of  his  meritorious 
conduct,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain. 
His  regiment  was  joined  to  the  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps,  commanded  by  Gen.  Thomas,  and  assigned 
to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  At  the  battle  of 
Ilartsville,  Tenn.,  the  brigade  was  taken  prisoner 
and  sent  to  Murfreesboro,  but  were  parolled  within 
a  week.  Capt.  Proctor  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Chickaniauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission 
Ridge  and  Chattanooga,  where  Capt.  Proctor  was 
knocked  down  by  a  shell.  He  was  also  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Pumpkin  Vine,  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Re- 
saca,  Ringgold,  the  siege  of  Atlanta  and  the  battle 
of  Peach  Tree  Creek.  He  was  present  when  the 
forces  entered  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  was  there  taken 
sick  and  confined  to  the  hospital.  He  then  re- 
ceived a  furlough  and  returned  home,  not  expecting 
to  live,  but  recovered  and  rejoined  his  regiment. 
He  was  present  at  the  review  in  Washington,  the 
grandest  military  pageant  on  record.  He  received 
his  discharge  iu  the  Capitol  City. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Proctor  returned 
to  his  home  in  La  Salle  County,  where  he  resided 
until  1872,  when  he  removed  to  Rutland,  111.,  there 
making  his  home  until  1879,  when  became  to  Ford 
County,  and  purchased  a  farm  on  section  34, 
Drummer  Township.     To  its  cultivation  and  im- 


660 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGEAPHICAL  EECORD. 


provement  he  devoted  his  energies  until  1890, 
when  he  sold  his  beautiful  home  and  removed  to 
the  village  of  Proctor,  where  he  is  now  living  a 
retired  life.  His  business  career  has  been  a  prf)S- 
perous  one  and  by  his  enterprising  efforts  he  ac- 
quired a  handsome  competence,  which  now  enables 
him  to  lay  aside  all  care.  In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch 
Eepublican. 

Unto  Captain  and  Mrs.  Proctor  have  been  born 
the  following  children:  Sarah  D.,  now  the  wife  of 
V.  G.  Way,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
work;  P211en  E.,  wife  of  M.  Y.  Ames,  a  farmer  of 
Iowa;  Willard  E.,  whose  sketch  is  given  elsewhere 
in  this  volume;  Etta,  uow  deceased;  William  S.,  a 
resident  of  Shelby  County,  111.;  Frank,  a  partner 
of  his  brother  Willard;  Florence  E.,  deceased;  and 
I.  Belle,  an  accomplished  young  lady,  at  home. 
The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  this  commu- 
nity, its  meml)ers  ranking  high  in  social  and  busi- 
ness circles. 


W>ILLIA]M  J.  HUNT,  who  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
on  section  36,  Peach  Orchard  Township, 
has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  citizen  of  Illinois, 
his  birth  having  occurred  on  the  30th  of  Januarj', 
1841,  in  Marshall  County.  His  father,  Cornelius 
Hunt,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  of  German 
extraction.  He  came  to  Illinois  about  1831,  locat- 
ing near  Magnolia,  and  the  usual  experiences  of 
l)ioneer  life  were  his.  He  served  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War,  and  was  one  of  the  honored  early  set- 
tlers. His  wife  bore  the  name  of  Ann  Sidle,  and 
was  also  of  German  descent.  His  death  occurred 
in  1873,  and  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  Mag- 
nolia Cemetery,  but  Mrs.  Hunt  is  still  living,  and 
makes  her  home  in  Melvin. 

Unto  this  worthy  conple  were  born  twelve  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Craw- 
ford, of  Gibson  City;  Caroline,  deceased,  was  tlie 
wife  of  Edward  Fazzie;  Ann  is  also  deceased; 
John  S.  is  a  retired  farmer  of  Melvin;  Enoch  S. 
also  lives  in  Melvin ;   Sarah  wedded  Joshua  Poll- 


ing, and  lives  in  Ottawa,  111.;  Ruth,  the  widow  of 
Andrew  Miller,  makes  her  home  in  Melvin;  Jane 
is  the  wife  of  James  Dixon,  of  Saybrook,  111.; 
William  J.,  of  this  sketch;  Jacob  was  killed  at  Al- 
tuna,  Tenn.,  during  the  late  war;  Elizabeth  mar- 
ried George  Dixon,  and  lives  in  Melvin;  and  Philip 
is  a  retired  farmer  of  Paxton. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood among  the  wild  scenes  of  pioneer  life,  and 
spent  his  boyhood  days  in  tlie  usual  manner  of 
farmer  lads,  attending  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood  through  the  winter  season  until 
about  nineteen  years  of  age,  while  in  the  summer 
months  he  worked  upon  the  farm.  He  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  had  almost  attained  his 
majority,  when  the  late  war  having  broken  out,  he 
responded  to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  and 
enlisted,  in  August,  1861,  as  a  member  of  Company 
H,  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Ottawa,  and  went 
south  with  his  regiment.  The  first  active  engage- 
ment in  which  he  participated  was  at  HartsviUe, 
Tenn.,  where  he  was  taken  prisoner,  but  some  time 
afterward  was  exchanged.  The  next  battles  in 
which  he  braved  the  rebel  fire  were  Cbickamauga, 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge.  He  liad 
been  sick  for  some  time,  and  after  the  last-named 
battle,  received  an  honorable  discharge,  and  re- 
turned home  in  February,  1864. 

On  partially  recovering  his  health,  Mr.  Hunt 
rented  land  near  Magnolia,  Marshall  County,  and 
turned  his  attention  lo  agricultural  pursuits.  On 
the  20th  of  December,  1865,  a  marriage  ceremony 
was  performed  which  united  his  destiny  with  that 
of  Miss  ISIary  U.  Van  Home, a  daughter  of  Josei)h 
and  Ann  Van  Home.  Two  children  grace  their 
union,  a  daughter  .and  son:  Annie,  wife  of  At- 
wood  Wliite,  a  butcher  residing  in  Roberts,  III.; 
and  Jacob  Clyde,  who  is  still  at  home.  Mrs.  Hunt 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

It  was  in  1872  that  Mr.  Hunt  left  his  native 
county  and  came  to  Ford  County,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  on  section  36,  Peach  Orchard  Town- 
ship, and  began  its  development.  He  has  there 
been  engaged  in  general  farming  continuously 
since,  and  has  been  very  successful  in   his    opera- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


661 


tions,  being  numbered  among  the  well-to-do  agri- 
culturists of  this  community.  He  has  ever  proved 
a  viilued  citizen,  as  he  was  a  faitlifiil  soldier,  and 
liis  sterling  worth  li.as  won  him  nian3'  friends.  He 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  tlie 
Republican  party,  and  in  his  social  relations  is  a 
member  of  both  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  and 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 


^\  ICHAEL  COX  (deceased)  was  a  worthy 
son  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  He  was  born  in 
Munster.  Ireland,  September  1.5. 1823,  and 
was  the  third  of  nine  children  born  unto 
Michael  and  Bridget  (Hunt)  Cox,  who  were  worthy 
citizens  of  Munster,  Ireland.  They  were  born, 
reared,  married  and  spent  their  entire  lives  in  one 
county.  Mr.  Cox  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing and  was  accounted  one  of  the  most  wealthy 
citizens  of  his  native  county.  He  and  his  wife 
were  firm  believers  in  the  Roman  Catholic  religion 
and  reared  their  children  in  that  faith.  They  were 
widel3'  known  and  their  many  excellencies  of 
character  won  them  the  high  regard  of  all. 

Michael  Cox  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof 
and  acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
On  the  4th  of  March,  1848,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Margaret  "Walsh,  who  was  born  in 
Munster,  Ireland,  November  11,  1828,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Mulvahill)  Walsh. 
Her  parents  were  also  natives  of  Ireland  and  were 
farming  people  who  owned  consideral)le  property'. 
They  were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
reared  a  family  of  nine  children. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  liegan  their  domestic 
life  ill  the  Old  Country,  and  three  years  later,  in 
April,  1851,  bade  good-bye  to  the  land  of  their 
birth  and  sailed  from  Limerick  to  America.  After 
a  pleasant  voyage  of  twenty- three  days,  they 
landed  in  Nevv  York  and  thence  went  to  Albany, 
where  they  remained  for  about  four  montiis,  while 
Mr.  Cox  engaged  in  general  labor  in  order  to  se- 
cvu'e  funds  for  their  further  journey,  .as  his  money 
had  been  exhausted.  They  afterward  made  their 
way  to  La  Porte  Count}',  Ind.,  where  they  resided 


for  a  year  and  then  removed  to  La  Salle,  111., 
where  the  succeeding  yearof  their  lives  was  passed. 
They  next  became  residents  of  Bloomington,  111., 
and  in  that  localit.y  Mr.  Cox  engaged  in  farming 
for  twenty  years.  In  187.5,  lie  came  to  Ford 
County  and  located  upon  a  farm  which  is  yet  the 
home  of  his  widow.  It  is  a  model  farm,  highly 
improved  and  cultivated,  and  fields  a  good  income 
to  its  owner. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  were  consistent  members  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  iu  that  faith  our 
subject  died,  .Januar.y  21,  1888.  His  remains  were 
interred  in  Bloomington  Cemetery,  where  a  mon- 
ument marks  his  last  resting  place.  He  was  a 
Democrat  in  political  sentiment  and  a  worthy  citi- 
zen, upright  and  honorable  in  all  things  and  held 
in  high  regard  for  his  many  excellencies  of  char- 
acter. 

The  Cox  family  numbered  nine  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom  is  MaryG.;  the  second  is  Michael, 
who  was  born  in  INIunster,  County  of  Kerry,  Ireland, 
on  the  21st  of  May,  1850,  and  was  only  a  year  old 
when  brought  to  this  country,  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  and  remained  with  his 
parents  until  his  marri.age.  On  the  12th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1879,  he  wedded  Ellen  Crummy,  who  was  born 
in  Kentucky  and  is  a  daughter  of  Berney  and 
Mary  Crumm}-,  who  were  of  Irish  extraction.  They 
have  five  children:  Mary  E.,aged  eleven;  Maggie, 
aged  nine;  Lizzie,  seven  years  old;  Sadie,  a  little 
maiden  of  five;  and  James,  the  two  year-old  baby. 
The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  In  politics,  Michael  is  a  Democrat.  He 
owns  five  hundred  and  sixt^'  acres  of  well-improved 
land  in  this  county  and  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Minnesota. 

William,  the  next  younger,  was  born  in  La  Fay- 
ette, Ind.,  November  11,  1852,  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  began  life  for  himself  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  years.  In  1874,  he  made  his  first  pur- 
chase of  land  of  two  hundred  acres,  which  now 
constitutes  the  old  home.  He  operated  it  until 
1880  when  he  purchased  his  present  beautiful 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xtj^  acres,  a  most  de- 
sirable place,  with  a  pleasant  residence,  good  out- 
buildings and  all  the  improvements  of  a  model 
farm.     He  was  married,  September  5, 1881,  to  Liz- 


662 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


zie  Graden,  who  was  born  in  Heyworth,  111.,  in 
1859,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mar}-  (Jones) 
Graden,  who  were  of  Irish  descent.  They  have 
five  children:  James,  William,  John,  Nellie  and 
Maggie.  The  father  is  a  Democrat  and  a  worthy 
citizen  who  ever  has  the  interest  of  this  county  at 
heart.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic Churcli. 

John,  the  fourth  child,  is  a  farmer  and  stock- 
raiser  of  Minnesota;  James  is  a  real-estate  agent  of 
Minnesota;  Margaret  is  one  of  the  most  successful 
school  teachers  in  this  county;  Thomas  is  a  graduate 
of  Mt.  St.  Mary's  School  of  Maryland,  was  ordained 
a  priest  in  Niagara  and  is  now  tlie  honored  assist- 
ant of  the  Rev.  Father  Cashman,  of  St.  Jarlath's 
Parisli,  of  West  Chicago;  Robert,  who  was  born  in 
McLean  County,  111.,  October  10,  1862,  and  also 
acquired  a  common-school  education,  is  one  of 
Ford  County's  most  successful  and  enterprising 
farmers.  In  connection  with  Joseph,  who  was  born 
February  22,  1865,  and  is  tlie  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily, he  owns  and  operates  three  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  valuable  land,  which  pays  a  golden  tribute 
to  their  care  and  cultivation.  Both  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  Church  and  are  sturdy  workers  for 
the  Democratic  party.  By  their  many  friends 
and  neighbors  they  are  honored  for  their  many 
excellencies  of  character. 

s ' "="=]  <■■  "r  ">  t=i  '^  e> 

'OSIAH  UMBARGER,  who  resides  on  sec. 
tion  26,  Peach  Orchard  Township,  where  lie 
follows  general  farming,  was  born  in  Dau- 
phin County,  Pa.,  January  15,  1833,  and  is 
a  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Bear)  Umbarger, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
were  of  German  extraction.  His  first  wife  was 
Miss  Cassel,  by  whom  he  had  three  children:  Cor- 
nelius, who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Putnam  County;  Catherine  (deceased)  was  the 
wife  of  David  Patton,  of  Livingston  Count}',  111., 
and  John,  deceased.  The  father  was  again  married, 
in  Pennsylvania,  this  time  to  Miss  Bear.  In  early 
days,  the  father  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
about  1844,  locating  in  Putnam  County,  where  he 


spentone  year,  when  he  removed  to  Bureau  County. 
Some  fifteen  years  later,  however,  he  returned  to 
Putnam  County,  where  he  resided  until  bis  death, 
earring  on  general  farming.  He  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  in  August,  1877,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
in  January,  1876.  They  were  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Churcli.  He  was  a  Repulilican.  In  their 
family  were  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  our  suliject  is  the  second  in  or.der  of 
birth.  His  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads  and  he  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  which  he  attended  until 
about  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
wlien  he  began  farming  for  himself.  He  first 
worked  in  a  brick-yard,  where  lie  was  employed  for 
three  or  four  years,  and  then  commenced  to  work 
as  a  farmhand  by  the  month,  being  thus  employed 
until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  November 
17,  1858,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jane 
Allen,  daughter  of  James  and  Rosana  Allen. 

After  his  marriage.  Mr.  Umbarger  began  farming 
on  rented  land.  In  1862,  he  came  West,  locating 
in  La  Salle  County,  where  he  resided  for  four  years. 
Removing  to  Ford  County  in  1866,  he  settled  upon 
the  farm  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He  first 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  railroad 
land  on  section  26,  Peach  Orchard  Township,  and 
afterward  bought  another  eighty-acre  tract,  and 
since  has  added  eighty  acres  more,  making  a  fine 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He  is  an 
enterprising  farmer  and  as  the  result  of  his  indus- 
trious efforts  has  won  success.  He  well  deserves 
his  prosperity,  for  his  life  has  been  a  busy  and  use- 
ful one. 

Five  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Umbarger,  namely:  Ada,  wife  of  Thomas  Huxtable, 
a  farmer  residing  near  Sibley,  Ford  County;  Hat- 
tie,  at  home;  Almond,  a  resident  farmer  of  Wall 
Township;  and  Jesse  and  Jennie,  twins.  The  lat- 
ter is  the  wife  of  William  Short,  a  resident  of  Dix 
Township,  and  Jesse  farms  at  home. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Umbarger  is  a 
Republican,  having  supported  that  party  since  he 
attained  his  majority.  He  has  held  the  offices  of 
Road  Commissioner,  School  Trustee  and  School 
Director.     The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 


J 


^mim^ 


^ ^<^/>/^/^/hi 


r///^^ 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


665 


warm  friend,  and  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  and  upbuilding  of 
the  town  and  county.  Unancially,  he  has  made  a 
grand  success;  commencing  witli  nothing,  he  has 
made  all  he  has  by  his  own  efforts,  ably  assisted  by 
his  wife. 


\T|  OHN  WAGNER,  who  is  numbered  among 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Brentoii  Township, 
has  made  his  home  for  almost  a  quarter  of 
'  a  century  upon  his  present  farm,  on  section 
34.  lie  was  born  in  Woodford  Count\-,  111.,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1839.  His  father,  Michael  Wagner,  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  and  when  a  young  man 
came  to  America.  He  lierded  sheep  in  the  old 
country  and,  on  coming  to  the  United  States, 
made  a  location  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  Illinois,  becoming  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Woodford  County,  and  was  there 
united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Mathews,  a  native  of 
Germany.  His  death  occurred  in  that  county  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years,  but  his  widow  is  still  liv- 
ing on  the  old  homestead.  He  applied  himself 
closely  to  his  business  and  became  n  well  to-do  cit- 
izen. In  politics,  he  was  a  Republican  and  in  relig- 
ious belief  was  a  Lutheran,  his  wife  holding  mem- 
bership with  the  same  church. 

The  family  of  this  worthy  couple  numbered 
seven  children:  .John  and  Michael  twins,  the  latter 
a  farmer  of  Woodford  County;  Jacob,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Brenton  Town- 
ship; Dan  and  Henry,  who  reside  on  the  old  home 
farm;  Kate,  the  wife  of  Michael  Barth,  a  resident 
of  Minonk,  111.;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Lewis  Schunk, 
wlio  is  living  in  Brenton  Township. 

Our  subject  was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes  of 
frontier  life  in  his  native  county  and  was  early  in- 
ured to  the  arduous  labor  of  developing  a  new 
farm.  There  were  no  English  schools  in  the  neigh- 
borhood at  that  time  and  in  the  winter  season,  un- 
til fourteen  years  of  age,  he  attended  the  German 
school,  which  was  held  in  a  log  house  furnished  in 
the  primitive  manner  of    the   time.     On  attaining 


his  majority,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself  and 
for  two  years  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand  near 
El  Paso,  when  circumstances  arose  which  caused 
him  to  abandon  that  work.  The  war  had  broken 
out  and  in  July,  1862,  Mr.  Wagner  joined  Com- 
pany D,  One  Hundred  and  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
assembled  in  Peoria.  The  troops  were  sent  to 
Cincinnati  and  on  through  Kentucky  to  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  and  participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
Mr.  Wagner  aided  in  making  the  canal  which  let 
the  boats  through  and  was  present  at  the  surrender 
of  the  city  on  the  4th  of  July.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Little  Rock,  Ft.  Gibson,  Champion 
Hill,  Memphis  and  Corinth,  the  siege  of  Mobile 
and  of  Spanish  Fort.  On  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  discharged  in  A'icksburg,  in  August,  186.5, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Chicago  after  three  years 
of  faithful  service. 

Mr.  Wagner  then  returned  to  his  home  in 
Woodford  County,  and  remained  with  his  father 
until  his  marri.ige.  On  the  17th  of  February,  1868, 
he  wedded  Miss  Rachel,  daughter  of  Christian 
and  Sophia  (Pepper)  Meinholt,  who  were  natives 
of  Germany.  The^'  came  to  America  in  1841  and 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  Woodford 
Count}',  where  their  daughter  was  born  and  reared. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  have  a  family  of  seven 
children:  Anna  M.,  who  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  at  Onarga  Seminary,  is  a  teacher  of 
recognized  ability;  Lewis,  Charles,  AVilliam,  Au- 
gust, Eddie  and  Albert  are  still  under  the  parental 
roof. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Wagner  came  with  his 
young  wife  to  Ford  County,  and  purchased  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  wild  land,  which  he 
has  transformed  into  the  fine  farm  upon  which  he 
makes  his  home.  He  has  erected  good  buildings, 
planted  trees  and  made  other  improvements  which 
add  both  to  the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of 
the  pl.ace  and  in  connection  with  general  farming, 
he  successfully  carries  on  stock-raising.  Himself 
and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
and  are  hospitable,  kindly  people,  well  and  favor- 
ably known  in  this  community.  Socially,  Mr. 
Wagner  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  of 
Piper  City  aud,  in  politics,  has  been  a  warm  advo- 
cate of  the  Republican  party  since  he  cast  his  first 


666 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  Vie 
started  out  in  life  with  only  a  young  man's  bright 
hope  of  the  future  and  a  determination  to  succeed. 
That  resolve  he  has  fully  carried  out,  for  he  is 
now  considered  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
this  community. 


■So~ 


Stuart. 


NDREW  STUART,  a  retired  farmer  resid- 
ing in  Kempton,  was  born  on  the  20th  of 
September,  1829,  in  Canada  East,  and  is  a 
son  of  David  and  Margery  A.  (Fife) 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Scotland. 
They  had  a  family  of  fourteen  children:  Daniel, 
now  deceased;  Mary;  Isabel,  deceased;  Elizabeth; 
Margaret,  who  has  also  passed  away;  Ann;  Cath- 
erine, now  deceased;  An(h'ew,  of  this  sketch;  David, 
now  deceased;  Charles;  Elijah,  .James  and  Agnes, 
all  of  whom  have  departed  this  life;  Daniel;  and 
Mary  J.,  deceased.  The  father  of  this  family  died 
in  1845,  and  tiie  mother  passed  awaj'  in  1871. 

Andrew  Stuart  was  born  and  reared  upon  his 
father's  farm.  He  was  early  inured  to  the  hard 
labors  of  farm  life,  but  his  training  in  school  was 
much  more  limited.  Indeed,  he  is  self-educated, 
for  he  never  attended  school  after  eight  years  of 
age.  In  1844,  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents, 
locating  in  Grundy  County,  where  they  resided 
for  one  year,  after  which  they  removed  to  Living- 
ston County,  where  the  father  and  mother  spent 
their  last  days.  Our  subject  remained  with  his 
mother  on  the  old  homestead  until  twenty-four 
years  of  age.  He  was  then  married,  in  1853,  to  Miss 
Myra  Leonard,  daughter  of  Edmund  D.  and  I^liza- 
beth  H.  Leonard.  The  previous  fall  he  had  pur- 
chased eight3'-eight  acres  of  land,  upon  which  the 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life,  and  Mr. 
Stuart  devoted  his  energies  to  its  cultivation  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war. 

On  the  call  for  troops  to  put  down  the  Rebellion, 
he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  G,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  the 
first  important  engagement  in  which  he  participa- 
ted was  at  Ringgold.  He  afterward  took  part  in 
the  battles  of  Buzzards' Roost,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 


Peach  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta,  and  was  with  Sherman 
on  his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  When  the  war 
was  over,  he  was  honorably  discharged  in  June, 
1865.  He  had  proved  himself  a  faithful  and  loy.al 
defender  of  his  country,  and  of  his  army  record 
may  well  be  proud. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Stuart  returned  to 
his  home  in  Grundy  County,  111.,  whither  his  wife 
had  removed  during  his  absence,  living  with  his 
brother-in-law.  He  again  turned  his  attention  to 
farming,  and  resided  in  that  county  until  1870, 
when  he  removed  to  Ford  County.  Locating  in 
Rogers  Township,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  .32,  where  he  lesided 
until  1888.  He  was  a  practical  and  progressive 
farmer,  and  by  his  good  management  and  persever- 
ance, acquired  a  handsome  competence.  He  has 
now  laid  ;iside  all  business  cares,  and  is  resting  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  and  belongs 
to  the  Grand  Arir.y  Post,  and  to  the  Methodist 
Church.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stuart  were  born 
seven  children:  Alice,  who  died  November  13, 
1882;  Frank,  Maggie  E.,  Daniel;  Edmund,  who 
died  in  infancy;    and  Anna  IMaiia. 


^i* 


THOMAS  ROWAN,  deceased,  was  born  in 
'/('M\  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  on  the  22d  of  De- 
^>i^/  cember,  1827.  His  early  boyhood  da3'S  were 
spent  on  the  Emerald  Isle,  but  when  a  young  man 
he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  America  and 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  New  York  City.  He 
made  his  first  location  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
remained  for  four  months,  removing  thenee  to 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  some  time. 

It  was  in  that  county,  on  the  19th  of  March,  1850, 
that  Mr.  Rowan  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Bridget  Brown,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  on  the 
5th  of  April,  1825,  and  is  a  daughter  of  .John  and 
Mary  (Ma3-ea)  Brown.  Her  mother  died  when  she 
was  only  two  and  a  half  years  of  age.  She  came 
to  America  with  a  smuggler,  who  was  a  cousin  of 
hers,  and  landed  in  New  York  in  1840,  after  hav- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


667 


ing  spent  three  months  upon  the  bosom  of  the  At- 
lantic. However,  they  had  a  pleasant  voyage  and 
the  passengers  on  board  numbered  three  hundred 
and  seven.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowan  were  born 
ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Mary, 
wife  of  B.  C.  Bumbarger,  who  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Iowa;  Annie,  wife  of  G.  B.  Dungan,  of  Okla- 
homa; Johnnie,  Maggie  and  .Jane,  all  deceased; 
L^'dia,  who  resides  with  her  mother;  Millie,  wife 
of  William  West,  a  farmer  of  Adrian,  Minn.; 
Michael,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Drummer  Township;  Charles,  a  farmer  of  Williams, 
Iowa;  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  Rowan  resided  in 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  1859,  when  they  emigrated  Westward 
to  Dodge  Count}',  Wis.,  where  they  remained  until 
1867.  The  succeeding  three  years  of  their  lives 
were  passed  in  Saybrook,  111.,  after  which  they  re- 
moved to  the  farm  which  is  now  the  home  of  the 
widow.  It  comprises  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  the 
well-tilled  fields  j-ield  a  golden  tribute  to  the 
owner.  The  death  of  Mr.  Rowan  occurred  on  the 
old  homestead  on  the  4th  of  June,  1886,  from  a 
cancer,  and  he  was  laid  to  rest  in  Gibson  Cemeterj', 
where  a  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  supporter  of  Republican  princi- 
ples, and  was  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  He  led  a  busy  and  useful  life  and  was 
well  and  favorably  known  throughout  this  com- 
munity as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict  in- 
tegrity. He  was  public-spirited  and  progressive 
and  took  a  deep  interest  in  all  that  pertained  to 
the  welfare  of  the  communitj-  and  the  upbuilding 
of  the  county.  His  loss  was  mourned  by  many 
friends  as  well  as  by  his  immediate  family. 


OBERT  BARBER  CHAMBERS,  one  of  the 
C  most  prominent  merchants  of  Roberts  and 
one  of  its  leading  and  inlluential  citizens, 
^'^  was  born  in  Union  County,  Pa.,  August  10, 
1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Matilda  (Smith) 
Chambers.  The  father  was  born  in  Union  County, 
Pa.,  February    1,  181 1,  and  was  a  tanner  by  trade 


but  afterward  engaged  in  fanning  and  stock-raising. 
He  commenced  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of 
twenty  and  was  married,  October  20,  1835,  to  Miss 
Smith,  who  was  born  Januar}'  15,  1815.  He  won 
success  as  a  tanner  and  his  career  as  a  farmer  was 
equall}'  prosperous.  He  made  two  different  trips 
to  the  West  and  saw  Illinois  when  this  State  was 
in  its  primitive  condition.  In  politics,  he  w.as  an 
old-line  Whig  and  cast  his  flist  Presidential  vote 
for  John  Quincy  Adams,  but  afterward  became  a 
stanch  Republican,  though  never  an  ofHce-seeker. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
and  his  wife  of  the  German  Reformed  Church. 
His  death  occurred  October  15,  1864,  and  his  wife 
died  August  2, 1863.  Both  were  interred  in  Union 
County,  where  a  beautiful  monument  marks  their 
last  resting  place. 

In  the  Chambers  family  were  nine  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  yet  living:  M.  B.,  who  married 
Miss  Annie  Sheckler  and  resides  in  Prairie  Cit}', 
111.;  Katie  E.,  who  is  living  in  Mifflinburg,  Pa.; 
James,  deceased;  J.  M.,  who  married  Miss  Lizzie 
Cole,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Prairie  City;  W.  J.,  who 
married  Miss  Lizzie  Bogenreif,  and  is  a  farmer  of 
Avon,  111.;  Rhoda,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years;  C.  M.,  who  married  Miss  Alice  Stroubel,  and 
is  a  farmer  of  Edwards  County,  Kan.;  Robert,  of 
this  sketch,  and  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  G.  G.  AVyland, 
a  skillful  machinist  of  Williamsport,  Pa. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent  in 
his  native  county,  and  his  early  educntion  was 
supplemented  by  a  commercial  course  in  New 
Berlin  Seminary.  He  afterward  engaged  in  clerk- 
ing. In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  determined  to  try  his 
fortune  in  the  West  and  went  to  Piper  City,  111., 
where  he  began  clerking  for  C.  Montelius  &  Son, 
general  merchants  and  grain  dealers.  When  that 
firm  sold  out,  he  came  to  Roberts,  in  1873,  and 
clerked  with  J.  A.  Montelius.  In  1875,  he  pur- 
chased a  lot,  upon  which  he  erected  a  frame  build- 
ing, two  stories  in  height,  nnd  put  in  a  general 
stock  of  merchandise  worth  $3,000.  Robert  Cham- 
bers is  inseparably  connected  with  the  business 
history  of  this  locality.  He  owns  a  half  interest 
in  the  Roberts'  Creamery,  an  enterprise  of  much 
importance  in  this  community.  They  ship  the  en- 
tire   products  of    the    creamery  to  New  Orleans, 


668 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


where  there  is  a  good  demand.  They  have  lately 
placed  a  new  boiler  of  sixteen-liorse  power,  at  an 
expense  of  1400.  They  employ  three  men,  at  an 
expense  of  $125  per  month,  and  have  four  teams 
in  use  in  gathering  cream  from  the  surrounding 
farms.  They  feed  about  four  car  loads  of  hogs 
annually  from  the  products  of  the  creamery,  and 
this  adds  not  a  little  to  their  income. 

Mr.  Chambers  was  married,  August  11,  1875,  to 
Miss  Anna  E.  Thompson,  who  was  the  sixth  child 
in  the  family-  of  the  Rev.  J.  L.  and  Harriet  (Marsh) 
Thompson.  Her  father  was  born  May  25,  1811, 
and  died  October  12,  1872.  He  was  graduated 
from  Hamilton  College,  N.  Y.,  in  1831,  and  on  the 
6th  of  November,  1836,  wedded  Miss  Marsh,  who 
was  born  December  10,  1821,  and  died  April  23, 
1870.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chambers  have  been 
born  four  sons:  Willie,  who  died  in  infancy;  Elmer 
and  Louis  Gill,  who  are  attending  school,  and  Ora 
T.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  one  year,  ten  months 
and  twenty-one  days. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Cliambers  is  a  stalward  Repub- 
lican and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  R  B. 
Hayes.  The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm 
friend,  and  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board  nine  years.  He  is  now  President  of 
the  Board,  ever  using  his  influence  iu  securing 
efficient  teachers  and  thereby  good  schools.  The 
school  building,  erected  at  a  cost  of  82,700,  was 
built  since  he  has  been  on  the  Board.  He  also 
served  as  Alderman  two  years  and  was  Treasurer 
of  Roberts.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church  and  were  largely  instru- 
mental in  securing  their  present  excellent  house  of 
.  worship. 

Close  application  and  enterprise  have  been  im- 
portant factors  in  Mr.  Chambers'  success.  He  is 
now  enjoying  a  flourishing  trade  as  a  merchant, 
carrying  a  full  and  complete  stock  of  staple  and 
fancy  groceries,  dry-goods,  clothing,  hats  and  caps, 
boots  and  shoes,  etc.  His  stock  is  valued  at  |!10,- 
000,  and  his  annual  sales  amount  to  135,000.  He 
also  owns  eighty  acres  of  highly  cultivated  land. 
His  residence,  standing  on  Main  Street,  is  one  of 
the  most  commodious  in  town  and  is  the  abode 
of  hospitality.  He  is  an  affable,  courteous  gentle- 
man, fair  and  upright  in  all  business  transactions, 


and  has  the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
been  brought  in  contact.  This  work  would  be  in- 
complete without  the  sketch  of  Mr.  Chambers  and 
we  feel  assured  that  it  will  be  received  with  interest 
by  many  of  our  readers. 


"jfjOHN  W.  SMITH,  who  owns  and  operates 
ninety-seven  acres  of  valuable  land  on  sec- 
tion 15,  Drummer  Township,  is  a  representa- 
^_^  five  farmer  of  the  community  and  one 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  Ford  County.  He 
is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred on  the  16th  of  October,  1849.  His  parents 
were  William  C.  and  Mary  J.  (Everil)  Smith,  the 
former  of  German  and  the  latter  of  Irish  descent. 
They  were  married  in  Perry  County,  in  1837,  and 
reared  a  family  of  five  children:  Sarah  J.;  John 
W.,  of  this  sketch;  Anna  E.,  wife  of  N.  Hinshaw, 
a  farmer  of  McLean  County,  111.;  Samuel  E.,  who 
is  also  living  in  McLean  County;  and  Wilhelmina, 
now  dece.ased.  The  parents  now  reside  in  Danvers 
Township,  McLean  County,  where  Mr.  Smith  fol- 
lows the  carpenter's  trade.  Himself  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  are  highly 
respected  i>eople.  He  attlliates  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  during  the  late  war  served  for  three 
j'ears  as  a  member  of  the  Third  Ohio  Cavalry,  prov- 
ing a  faitliful  soldier. 

John  W.  Smith,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
was  a  young  lad  when  his  parents  removed  to 
McLean  County,  111.  In  the  common  schools  of 
the  community  he  acquired  his  education  and  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  .assisting  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  (Jn 
the  29th  of  February,  1872,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jennie  Hinshaw,  who  died  on  the 
11th  of  December  of  the  same  year,  leaving  an  in- 
fant daughter,  Jennie,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Wil- 
bur D.  Knick,  a  resident  of  Danvers,  111.  Mr. 
Smith  was  again  married,  December  19,  1881,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Caroline  F.  Williams, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  .Tane  (McCracken)  Will- 
iams, natives  of  the   Keystone  State,  and  of  ling- 


i.  f-^ 


Jk. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


673 


lish  and  Irish  lineagre,  respectively.  Mrs.  Smith 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1846.  She  acquired 
her  education  at  the  State  Xonnal  in  Edinboro,  Pa., 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1872,  and  that 
winter  taught  the  first  school  ever  taught  in  Gib- 
son City. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Smith  is  a  Repub- 
lican, having  supported  that  party  since  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests.  As  before 
stated,  he  owns  a  good  farm  of  ninety-seven  acres, 
which  lias  been  mostly  improved  b}'  his  own  hard 
labor.  Its  neat  appearance  and  the  many  good 
improvements  found  tliercon  indicate  his  thrift 
and  enterprise. 


_^=^) 


M>^-<^ 


w 


"jf  AMES  CRAWFORD,  who  follows  general 
farming  on  section  21,  Peach  Orchard 
Township,  is  one  of  the  large  land-owners 
of  tiie  county,  over  six  hundred  acres 
yielding  to  him  a  golden  tribute  for  the  care  and 
cultivation  bestowed  upon  it.  He  has  made  his 
home  in  Ford  Counly  since  1875,  and  in  these 
years  he  has  formed  a  wide  acquaintance,  so  tliat 
this  record  of  his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers.  A  native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  he  was  born  in  County  Clare,  on  the  1 2tii  of 
April,  1838,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Mar- 
garet (Flaherty)  Crawford.  In  the  family  were 
eight  children,  as  follows:  Bridget,  now  deceased; 
John,  a  farmer  residing  in  Vermilion  Count3'; 
Mary,  also  deceased;  James,  whose  name  heads 
this  record;  Martin,  a  farmer  living  near  Earl- 
ville,  La  Salle  County;  Patrick,  Mary  and  Michael, 
all  of  whom  have  departed  this  life. 

The  father  of  this  family  died  in  1817,  and 
soon  afterward  Mrs.  Crawford,  accompanied  by 
her  family,  emigrated  to  tlu'  New  World,  locating 
in  Upper  Canada,  where  she  made  her  home  for 
about  four  years.  She  then  removed  to  Niagara 
County,  N.  Y.,  settling  near  Lewiston,  where  she 
resided  until  1857,  which  j-ear  witnessed  her  ar- 
rival in  La  Salle  County,  111.     Our  subject  was  a 


lad  of  about  eleven  years  when  they  left  their  na- 
tive land,  and  in  the  various  removals  he  accom- 
panied his  mother.  After  locating  in  La  Salle 
County,  he  began  life  for  himself,  working  on  a 
farm  by  the  month,  and  the  next  spring,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brothers,  John  and  Martin,  rented 
a  farm.  Thejr  continued  to  operate  rented  land 
until  1863,  when  Mr.  Crawford  purchased  a  tract 
of  eight}'  acres  in  La  Salle  County,  and  there 
made  his  home  until  1875. 

On  the  16th  of  September,  1866,  our  subject 
was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to 
Miss  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  Mar}' 
Roark,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  County 
Longford,  Ireland.  Mrs.  Roark  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1833,  and  her  husband  the  following 
year.  They  were  married  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  In 
1856,  the}'  came  to  La  Salle  County,  III.,  where 
they  died,  aged  respectively  eighty-four  and 
seventy-six  years.  Mrs.  Crawford  was  born  June 
6,  1841,  on  Long  Island.  Mi',  and  Mrs.  Crawford 
became  the  parents  of  eleven  children:  John,  Mary 
E.,  Thomas  J.,  James  P.,  Margaret  J.,  Catherine 
A.,  Nora  (deceased).  Frank  W.,  Lucy,  Gertrude 
and  Walter  M. 

On  the  12th  of  February,  1865,  Mr.  Crawford 
responded  to  the  call  of  his  adopted  country  for 
troops,  and  became  a  member  of  Company  L, 
Seventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  but  on  account  of  ill- 
health  did  not  engage  in  active  service,  being  as- 
signed to  hospital  duty.  When  the  war  was  over, 
and  his  services  were  no  longer  needed,  he  was 
honorably  discharged,  October  4,  1865,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican, 
having  been  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  party  prin- 
ciples since  its  organization.  His  first  Presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  religious 
belief,  the  family  are  Catholics,  holding  member- 
ship with  the  church  in  Melvin.  As  before  stated, 
he  made  his  home  in  La  Salle  County  until  1875, 
in  which  year  he  came  to  Ford  County  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
section  21,  Peach  Orchard  Township,  where  he 
yet  makes  his  home,  although  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm  have  been  much  extended  since  that  time. 
He  has  a  pleasant  home  and  good  buildings  upon 
his  farm,  his  fields   are  well    tilled   and   he    is   an 


674 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


enterprising  and  progressive  agriculturist.  His 
lande'l  possessions  now  aggregate  six  liundred 
acres — a  valuable  property — all  of  which,  save 
eighty  acres  in  Gernianville  Township,  Livingston 
County,  is  situated  in  Peach  Orchard  Township. 
Mr.  Crawford  is  a  man  of  determination  and  in- 
dustry, and  whatever  he  undertakes  he  geuerally 
carries  forward  to  a  successful  completion.  He 
has  been  upright  and  honorable  in  all  his  dealings, 
and  the  prosperity  which  has  crowned  his  efforts 
and  made  him  a  wealtiiy  citizen  is  certainly*  justly 
deserved. 


^1 


H; 


B 


3M^ 


j^.KOF.  D.  GUYN  FOREMAN,  Principal  of 
the  Melvin  schools,  has  held  that  position 
for  the  past  nine  years,  winning  commen- 
dation from  all  concerned,  in  respect  to 
his  able  management.  A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was 
born  in  Dover,  Union  County,  September  28, 
1856,  and  is  a  sou  of  Samuel  S.  and  Mar^v  (Diltz) 
Foreman.  His  father  was  born  near  AVheeling, 
W.  Va.,  July  7,  1822,  and  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Union  County,  Ohio,  when  four  ^-ears  of 
age,  there  residing  until  after  iiis  marriage.  He 
learned  the  mason's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  a 
few  years  in  Union  County,  and  then  removed 
with  his  family  to  Delaware  County,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1865,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He 
and  his  wife  are  still  residing  in  Livingston 
County,  where  they  first  settled.  Mr.  Foreman 
was  reared  under  the  auspices  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  after  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Living- 
ston County,  111.,  in  1865.  He  was  educated  at 
Grand  Prairie  Seminary,  of  Onarga,  pursuing  a 
Latin  and  scientific  course,  and  was  graduated  in 
the  Class  of  '82.  Prof.  Foreman  enjoys  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  a  self-educated  man.  By  work- 
ing on  the  farm  and  carefully  husbanding  his 
earnings,  he  procured  the  means  to  carry  him 
through  the  first  two  years  of  his  college  course.  De- 
siring to  complete  the  work  begun,and  not  possessed 


of  the  requisite  funds,  he  served  during  the  remain- 
ing two  \'ears  as  janitor,  carrying  coal,  building  fires 
and  performing  various  other  duties,  while  most  of 
the  other  students  were  taking  recreation.  This 
training  in  manual  labor  he  considers  more  bene- 
ficial as  giving  vigor,  health  and  physical  devel- 
opment than  a  regular  course  in  gymnastics.  In 
addition  to  the  manual  labor,  he  carried  on  as 
man^'  studies  as  the  others.  Apparent  hardships 
are  often  the  greatest  conservators  of  manhood. 
Upon  graduation,  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
Crescent  City  Schools,  where  he  was  employed  one 
year  and  then  accepted  the  position  of  Principal 
of  the  Melvin  graded  schools,  which  he  has  held 
to  the  present  time,  covering  a  period  of  nine 
years.  At  the  last  meeting  of  the  School  Board, 
he  was  chosen  to  the  same  position  for  the  tenth 
year.  This  school  has  one  hundred  and  eighty 
studeuts  and  four  trained  teachers. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1884,  Prof.  Foreman 
was  married,  in  Onarga,  111.,  to  Miss  Mattie  Ander- 
son Haight,  who  was  bor]i  April  22,  1866, ,  in 
Onarga,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Orriu  Sheperd  and 
Jane  (Anderson)  Haight.  Her  father  was  born 
near  Rensselaerville,  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y., 
January  30,  1829,  and  her  mother  was  born  in 
Mayfield,  Fulton  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  11th  of 
May,  1835.  They  came  to  Iroquois  County,  111., 
about  1860,  making  that  their  home  until  1890, 
when  they  removed  to  Oklahoma,  their  present 
place  of  residence. 

Mrs.  Foreman  is  a  self-educated  woman.  When 
only  thirteen  years  of  age,  she  taught  her  first 
school,  at  Plato,  111.  Subsequently,  she  attended 
the  Grand  Prairie  Seminary,  at  Onarga,  III.,  gradu- 
ating from  the  scientific  department  in  the  Class 
of  '81.  In  1882,  she  was  engaged  by  Prof.  J.  II.  At- 
wood,  of  the  Commercial  College,  of  Onarga,  as  his 
assistant,  and  spent  one  j'ear  in  that  work,  tak- 
ing a  commercial  course  in  the  evenings  and  in- 
structing classes  in  the  day  time.  She  was  gradu- 
ated from  this  department  in  1882,  and  the  next 
year  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  northern  part 
of  Iroquois  County.  In  1883,  she  accepted  the 
position  of  primary  teacher  in  the  Melvin  schools, 
which  she  has  held  without  interrui)tion  to  the 
present  time. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


675 


Since  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foreman 
have  made  their  home  in  Melvin.  In  June,  1890, 
he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixt3' 
acres  in  Sullivant  Township,  within  two  and  a 
half  miles  of  Sibley,  on  which  he  has  made  sub- 
stantial improvements.  Tlie  farm  is  pleasantly  lo- 
cated, the  soil  is  good  and  it  is  destined  to  be 
one  of  the  vahiable  farms  of  Ford  County. 

Prof.  Foreman  is  a  Republican,  but  has  had  no 
time  to  devote  to  active  politic*.  lie  is  a  memljer 
of  the  Good  Templars'  order  and  has  served  as 
Chief  Templar  of  the  lodge  in  Melvin.  He  and 
his  wife  have  both  won  enviable  reputations  as 
educators  and  rank  among  the  most  able  and  con- 
scientious te.achers  in  this  part  of  the  Slate.  Their 
long  continuance  in  the  positions  they  now  hold 
speaks  volumes  in  their  favor.  They  have  by 
persistent  and  well-directed  effort  advanced  the 
standard  of  scholarship  in  the  Melvin  school  until 
it  ranks  among  the  best  schools  of  Ford   County. 

V ♦^♦^^  J 


=■5.^=* 


A 


^^  APT.  NAPOLEON  .SNYDER,  one  of  the 
[if  ^^  early  settlers  of  Gibson  Cit}',  is  a  man  well 
^^^J(J  known  in  business  circles.  Easton,  Pa.,  is 
the  place  of  his  birth,  and  tlie  date  is  .January  8, 
1832.  His  father,  .Tohn  Snyder,  in  early  life  went 
to  sea,  and  for  nine  ^ears  was  with  Commodore  De- 
catur. During  the  War  of  1812,  he  served  on 
board  a  man-of-war,  "The  Old  Constitution,"  and 
subsequently  married  and  settled  in  Pennsylv^ania. 
In  1836,  he  loaded  liis  family  and  worldly  effects 
into  a  six-horse  wagon  and  started  across  the  moun- 
tains for  the  Far  West.  His  purpose  was  to  go 
direct  to  the  lead  mines  of  Galena,  III.,  l)ut  on 
reaching  Tazewell  Connt\',  he  decided  there  to  lo- 
cate. For  a  numlier  of  3-ears  he  was  engaged  in 
teaming,  and  as  there  were  no  railroads  at  that 
time,  he  w.as  often  called  upon  to  haul  loads  both 
from  Chicago  and  St.  Louis.  He  also  engaged  in 
farming  in  Tazewell  County.  In  politics,  he  voted 
with  the  Democratic  party.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Elizabetli  Lunger,  died  in  Taze- 
well County  in  the  jn-ime  of  life.     He  passed  away 


at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  Mrs.  Snyder,  who 
was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  be- 
came the  mother  of  eight  children,  only  tliree  of 
whom  are  now  living. 

Our  subject  is  the  fouitli  child  in  oi-der  of  birth 
in  the  family.  He  was  reared  to  m.inhood  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  until  fourteen 
years  of  age  attended  tiie  district  school,  where  lie 
acquired  his  literary  education.  Being  then  left  an 
orphan,  he  hired  out  on  a  farm,  receiving  ^6  per 
month  as  a  comjiensation  for  liis  labors. 

Before  Mr.  Snyder  reached  liis  niaj(nity,  he  was 
united  in  marriage,  on  the  22d  of  October,  1852,  to 
Miss  .luliet,  daughter  of  Myron  B.  and  Sarah 
(Spike)  Sjn-ague,  who  were  natives  of  A'ermont  and 
New  York,  resiieetively.  In  1850,  Mr.  Sprague 
came  bj'  water  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Tremont, 
Tazewell  County,  and  there  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  though  by  trade  he  was  a  cooper. 
He  went  to  Clieney's  Grove,  McLean  County-,  in 
1853,  where  he  entered  Land  from  the  Government, 
and  began  its  cultivation.  There  himself  and  wife 
spent  the  remainder  of  their  daj-s,  he  dying  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two,  and  she  p.assing  away  at  about 
the  same  age.  Mrs.  Snyder  is  the  second  in  their 
family  of  seven  children,  five  sons  andtvro  daugh- 
ters. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Snyder  and  wife  also  moved  to 
Cheney's  Grove,  wiiere  he  secured  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  raw  land  on  a  land  warrant  which  he 
had  purciiased.  To  the  breaking  and  im[)roving  of 
this  he  gave  his  entire  time  and  attention,  and  soon 
had  the  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
The  war  having  broken  out,  lie  left  his  farm,  stock 
and  crops  to  be  cared  for  by  his  wife,  and  October 
12,  1861,  enlisted  as  a  meinlier  of  Comiiany  L, 
Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry.  The  regiment  was  or- 
dered to  join  Grant's  Brigade  at  Cairo,  III.  The 
chief  liattles  in  which  onr  suliject  i)articipated  were 
Ft.  Heniy,  Ft.  Donelson  and  Shiloh.  On  the  1st 
of  .July,  1864,  Mr.  Snyder  was  commissioned  Cap- 
tain of  Company  D,  Mississippi  iNIounted  Rifles, 
and  one  year  later,  the  war  having  closed,  he  was 
mustered  out  of  service  .June  1!»,  1865.  During  his 
entire  service  he  was  never  off  duty,  and  never  in 
a  hospital.  Upon  being  discharged,  he  returned  to 
his  farm.     During  his  absence,  his  wife  had  battled 


676 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


heroically  to  keep  home  affairs  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition, and  her  efforts  were  not  in  vain.  Having 
remained  on  the  farm  until  1873,  they  removed  to 
Gibson  City,  and  soon  after  disposed  of  their  land 
in  McLean  County. 

For  some  ten  or  twelve  years,  Capt.  Snyder  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  in  Gibson  City,  be- 
ing associated  with  N.  B.  Tyler  two  years  of  that 
time.  As  a  traveling  salesman,  he  has  been  em- 
pl03'ed  for  about  five  years,  and  is  now  traveling 
for  John  vS.  Gould  <te  Co.,  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  are  active  workers  in  the 
Metliodist  Episcoi)al  Cliurcli,  of  which  he  has  been 
Steward,  and  is  now  a  Trustee.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  Republican,  having  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  John  C.  Fremont.  He  holds  membership  with 
the  Masonic  order,  and  is  also  a  member  of  Lott 
Post  No.  70,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Gibson  City.  Wlien  he 
came  to  that  place,  it  contained  only  four  stores, 
but  is  now  one  of  the  important  towns  in  this  part 
of  the  State.  Mr.  Snyder  has  done  much  for  tlie 
upbuilding  of  the  community,  and  is  one  of  the 
prominent  and  public-spirited  citizens  of  the  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  have  no  children  of  their  own, 
but  have  an  adopted  son,  Ciiarles  H.,  who  is  em- 
plo_yed  in  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Office  of 
Chicago. 


-T^ 


■T'     H    '      - 


eALVIN  HILBORN  has  for  many  years  been 
a  resident  of  Cabery,  and  is  recognized  as 
oneof  itsmost  prominent  citizens.  He  was 
born  in  Columbia  Count}',  Pa.,  .January  8,  1823, 
and  is  a  son  of  Abel  and  Eleanor  (Vale)  Hilborn. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State,  but 
was  married  in  Canada.  He  then  returned  with 
his  bride  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  upon  a  farm, 
where  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  his  entire 
life.  He  died  in  1864,  and  his  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  cemetery  of  Lawrenceville,  Pa.  His 
wife  survived  him  several  years  and  passed  awaj' 
in  1885.  She  lies  buried  in  Lochaven,  Pa.  In  the 
family  were  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  as  fol- 
lows: Charlotte,  now  the  widow  of  Jacob  Moyer, 
resides  in   Danville,  P.i.;  Lewis  died   in   January, 


1892;  Hiram  is  a  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  lum- 
lier  in  Cedar  Run,  Pa.;  Jesse  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Lycoming  County,  Pa.;  Calvin  is  tiie  next 
younger;  Rose  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Wetherall.a  res- 
ident of  Findla}',  Ohio;  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Quiggle,  a  resident  of  Lochaven,  Pa.;  Mary  resides 
in  Newbury,  Pa.;  Kate  is  the  widow  of  Jonas  Mer- 
cer and  makes  her  home  in  Lochaven;  Abel  is  the 
proprietor  of  an  iron  foundry  in  Findlay,  Ohio. 

Tiie  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  tlie  days  of  his 
bojhood  and  3'outh  in  the  State  of  his  nativity. 
His  school  privileges  were  very  limited;  indeed, he 
has  acquired  the  greater  part  of  his  education  since 
arriving  at  years  of  maturity.  Much  of  his  youth 
was  spent  in  an  iron  foundry  and  he  worked  at 
that  trade  in  Blossburg,  Pa.  After  a  few  years  spent 
in  that  place,  he  was  subsequently  employed  in 
Wellsboro  and  in  Lawrenceville.  He  came  West 
ill  18G9,  and  located  in  Ford  County.  Forming  a 
partnersliip,  he  established  a  general  merchandise 
store  and  engaged  in  business  in  that  line  for  two 
years,  when  he  sold  his  interest.  He  then  removed 
to  Chebanse,  Iroquois  County,  where  he  again  em- 
barked in  the  same  line  of  trade  and  was  in  active 
business  for  a  number  of  j'ears.  He  sold  out  in 
that  place  in  1883  and  again  located  in  Cabciy, 
once  more  establishing  a  general  merchandise  store. 
He  IS  a  man  of  good  business  ability  and  has  met 
with  excellent  success  in  his  undertakings.  His 
wife  has  now  a  millinery  and  notion  store  and  also 
enjoys  a  large  trade. 

In  Blossl)urg,  Pa.,  January  14,  1849,  Mr.  Hil- 
born was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  A.  Cole,  a 
native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Curtis  Cole,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  Mrs.  Hilborn  was  reared.  Two 
children  were  born  of  their  union  but  both  are  now 
deceased:  Dora  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  and 
Cora  died  when  nine  3'ears  of  age. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hilborn  are  active  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  our  subject  holds 
the  office  of  Deacon.  For  thirty  years,  he  has  been 
connected  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging 
to  the  lodge  in  Cabery.  In  politics,  he  was  first  a 
Whig,  supporting  that  party  until  the  Republican 
party  sprang  into  existence.  He  has  voted  for 
each  Presidential  nominee  since  that  time   and,  as 


n 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


079 


every  true  American  citizen  should  do,  takes  an 
active  interest  in  political  affairs.  He  has  been 
honored  with  various  offices  of  public  trust  and 
his  duties  have  ever  been  faithfully  performed. 
In  1885,  lie  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  of 
Ford  County  and  was  re-elected.  He  afterward 
resigned,  however,  and  was  elected  Police  Magis- 
trate, which  position  he  has  since  filled  with  credit 
to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 
Mr.  Hilborn  has  also  served  as  a  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
Illinois  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  is  widely 
and  favorabl}'  known  in  Ford  and  adjoining 
counties. 

^/I'GUST  OPPERMAN,  who  is  engaged  in 
^/IM  general  farming  on  section  28,  Brenton 
Township,  is  a  son  of  David  Opperman, 
,^^  who  was    born  in  the  town  of    Wollmir- 

stadt,  Saxony,  Germany,  November  13,  1824.  His 
father  was  a  miller  and  he  learned  th.at  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  some  years.  He  married 
Dorothea  Brauman,  who  died,  leaving  one  child, 
Frederick,  who  was  killed  at  Beaumont  in  the 
Franco-German  AVar,  August  30,  1870.  David 
Opperman,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  married 
her  sister,  Frcdericka  Brauman,  and  in  1868  they 
crossed  tlie  Atlantic  to  America,  sailing  from 
Bremen  to  New  York. 

Two  weeks  after  landing  in  this  country,  Mr. 
Opperman  reached  Chatsworth,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  team  and  engaged  in  the  operation  of 
rented  land  until  1875,  when  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land,  the  present  home  of  his  family.  He 
afterward  bought  another  eighty-acre  tract  and 
left  his  widow  a  comfortable  home  and  a  fine 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Every  im- 
provement upon  the  land  stands  as  a  monument  to 
his  thrift  and  enterprise.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  intluential  citizen  of  this  community,  and 
highlj'  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  In  poli- 
tics, he  was  n  life-long  Republican,  and  for  some 
years  held  the  office  of  .Tustice  of  the  Peace.  His 
death  occurred   on  tlie    Gth  of    May,  1888,  at  the 


age  of  sixty-three  years.     His  widow  is  still  living 
with  her  son  August. 

The  Opperman  famil>'  numbered  seven  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Fredericka,  wife  of  F.  Bork,  a 
farmer  of  Brenton  Township;  William  and  Charles, 
who  are  also  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
the  same  township;  August,  of  this  sketch;  Emma, 
wife  of  Andrew  Ilecht,  of  Pella  Township;  Lizzie, 
wife  of  William  Brauman,  of  Brenton  Township; 
and  Ernest,  at  home;  the  latter  was  born  in  this 
country,  the  others  being  natives  of  Germany. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  six  years  when,  with 
his  parents,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic.  lie  has  al- 
ways resided  with  his  mother,  and  since  liis  fa- 
ther's death  has  had  charge  of  the  farm.  lie  now 
operates  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  good 
land  and  is  one  of  the  energetic  and  wide-awake 
young  business  men  of  the  community.  The  neat 
appearance  of  the  place  indicates  his  thrift  and 
enterprise.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community  and 
is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen.  He 
advocates  Republican  principles  and  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  .Tames  G.  Blaine.  He  has 
served  as  delegate  to  the  county  conventions  and 
has  held  the  office  of   Commissioner  of   Highways. 

Mr.  Opperman  is  quite  a  skilled  musician,  es- 
pecially on  the  violin  and  wind  instruments,  and 
he  and  three  of  his  brothers  are  members  of  the 
Artesia  Band,  of  Thawville.  In  his  social  relations, 
he  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Mason,  belonging  to  the 
societies  of  Piper  City.  He  has  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  this  locality,  and  by  all  who 
know  him  he  is  held  in  high  esteem  for  his  sterling 
worth. 


^AVID  WOOLSTONCROFT,  an  honored 
veteran  of  the  late  war  and  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Roberts,  claims  Illinois  as  the 
State  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in 
Magnolia,  Putnam  County,  July  18,  1840,  and 
mention  is  made  of  his  father's  family  on  another 
page  of  this  work.  In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads,  his  boyhood  days  were  spent,  and   he  after- 


680 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ward  learned  the  trade  of  a  stone  and  brick  mason 
and  plasterer.  On  attaining  liis  majority,  lie  started 
out  in  life  for  liimself  and  from  that  time  was  de- 
pendent upon  hi.<s  own  exertions. 

The  first  important  event  in  his  life  occurred 
August  20, 1861,wben1ie  enrolled  his  name  among 
the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  I,  Eleventh  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  He  enlisted  in  Magnolia  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Birds'  Point,  Mo.,  where  he  was  mustered 
into  service.  He  was  placed  on  duty  as  a  teamster, 
and  went  to  Ft.  Donelson  just  after  the  battle,  and 
from  thence  to  Ft.  Henry  and  up  the  Tennessee 
River  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  whence  he  advanced 
to  within  five  miles  of  Corintli,  Miss.  He  then 
turned  and  went  to  Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  thence 
back  to  Cairo  and  Ft.  Henry  and  across  the  river 
to  Ft.  Donelson.  He  was  later  at  raducah,  K_v., 
where  lie  shipped  aboard  a  transport  for  Meinphis. 
Tenn.  From  Mempliis,  the  troops  went  to  Lake 
Providence,  La.,  to  Mississii)pi,  and  afterward  on 
transports  to  Grand  (iulf  and  to  the  rear  of  Vicks- 
burg.  They  took  part  in  the  battles  of  .Jackson, 
Champion  Hills,  the  Black  River  Bridge  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg  until  the  surrender  of  that  city, 
July  4,  1863.  Next  they  went  to  Natchez,  and, 
after  returning  to  Vicksburg,  went  to  Yazoo  Citj'. 
Soon  afterward,  Mr.  Woolstoncroft's  time  having 
expired,  he  was  sent  to  .Springfield,  where  he  was 
honorabh'  discharged,  September  16,  1864.  He 
was  ever  a  faithful  soldier,  and  fortunately  escaped 
uninjured,  but  hi.s  constitution  was  impaired  and 
he  has  never  \'et  fullj'  regained  his  health. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1868,  Mr.  Woolstoncroft 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Maiy  Warner,  who  was 
born  near  Peru,  La  Salle  County,  111.,  February  22, 
1846,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(vSmith)  AVarner,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Germany.  The  father  was  born  in  Darmstadt  in 
1810,  and  died  in  1849.  Her  mother  was  born 
November  24,  1820,  and  is  yet  living.  She  is  now 
the  wife  of  Gottlieb  Hahn.  a  native  of  Germany 
and  a  mechanic.  I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woolston- 
croft have  been  born  tiuee  sons:  James  Henry, 
born  February  12,  1869;  John  Edward,  who  was 
born  August  13,  1871,  and  has  learned  the  jeweler's 
trade,  and  Gilva  Victory,  born  September  6,  1885. 

Mr.  Woolstoncroft  is  a  member  of  Melvin  Lodge 


No.  157,  L  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  Grand  Army  Post  of 
Melvin.  He  and  his  wife  are  numbered  among  the 
best  citizens  of  this  communit}',  being  held  in  high 
regard  by  their  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances. 


~oi 


W  OSEPH  HURST,  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
I  influential  farmers  of  Ford  County,  residing 
on  section  17,  Lyman  Township,  was  born 
in  Lancashire,  England,  in  P^dgcrton,  in 
1834,  and  was  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, wliose  parents  were  Joseph  and  Mar3-  Hurst. 
Further  mention  is  made  of  them  in  the  sketch  of 
William  Hurst  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

Our  subject  spent  his  bojhood  days  in  England, 
until  twelve  years  of  age,  and  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  a  t^uaker  academy.  With  his  parents,  he 
emigrated  to  America  about  1846,  and  commenced 
life  for  himself  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  He 
started  for  Illinois,  and,  locating  in  Cass  County, 
began  to  work  on  a  farm  at  *8  per  montli.  He 
was  there  employed  until  his  removal  to  Bureau 
County  about  1854.  It  was  there  he  met  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Harriet  Harvey,  a  native  of  Ohio,  their 
union  being  celebrated  in  1855.  Unto  them  were 
born  five  scms  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  are 
yet  living. 

The  first  land  which  ISIr.  Hurst  purchased  in 
Ford  County  was  a  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre 
tract  of  raw  prairie,  for  which  he  paid  $10  peracre. 
He  afterward  bought  eight}-  acies  which  was  par- 
tially improved,  at  *15  jjeracre.  He  now  has  three 
hundred  and  twentj-  acres  of  arable  land  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  well  improved.  In 
the  rear  of  his  beautiful  residence  are  good  barns 
and  other  outbuildings,  and  the  rich  and  fertile 
fields  indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the 
owner,  who  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  model  farm- 
ers of  Lyman  Township. 

In  1879,  _Mr.  Hurst  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  first  wife.  Her  remains  were  interred 
in  Roberts  Cemetry.  In  1880,  he  wtis  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Harvey,  a  native  of  Illinois, 
and  their  union  has  been  l.ilessed  with  one  daugh- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


681 


ter,  Florence.  Mr.  Hurst  lias  affiliated  with  the 
Republican  party  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  a  well-informed 
man,  both  on  political  questions  and  otherwise, 
and  lias  filled  numerous  offices  to  the  credit  of  him- 
self and  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He 
has  filled  the  office  of  Assessor  for  a  longer  period 
than  almost  any  citizen  of  the  community.  He 
was  Supervisor  of  Lyman  Township  for  a  number 
of  j-eai's,  was  Collector  two  terms,  was  School 
Trustee  for  two  terms  and  Highway  Commissioner 
for  a  number  of  years.  Tlie  cause  of  education 
has  ever  found  in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  organ- 
ized the  first  school  in  the  western  part  of  the 
township,  and  his  labors  in  behalf  of  the  schools 
have  been  instrumental  of  much  good.  He  is  an 
honored  jiioneer  of  the  county,  having  witnessed 
its  growth  from  the  da^'S  when  its  lands  were  all 
uncultivated,  when  deer  roamed  over  the  prairie, 
and  when  many  of  its  villages  had  not  yet  sprung 
into  existence.  The  earlj'  settlers  were  the  found- 
ers of  the  county,  and  to  them  we  owe  a  debt  of 
gratitude  which  can  never  be  iei)aid  for  what  they 
have  done  in  its  behalf. 


Vj^^ELSON  STEDMAN,  a  retired  farmer  resid- 
I  )/)  i"g  ill  Piper  City,  is  a  rfative  of  the  Em- 
flit^  pire  State.  He  was  born  in  Genesee  County, 
May  27,  1833,  .and  is  a  son  of  .John  and  Sally  (Silli- 
way)  Stedman.  His  father  was  born  in  Rhode  Is- 
land in  1800,  became  a  New  York  farmer,  and 
visited  Uuffalo  just  after  that  cit}'  was  burned  by 
the  British  in  1813.  He  S[)ent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  and  in  the  midst  of 
the  forest  developed  a  farm.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stedman  were  born  three  sons  and  four  daughters: 
Mrs.  Bassett,  of  Minnesota;  La  Fayette,  who  re- 
sides in  Wyoming  County,  N.  Y.;  -John,  deceased; 
Nelson,  of  this  sketch;  Sophia,  now  Mrs.  Clark,  of 
Jamestown,  N.  Y  ;  Mrs.  Dolly  A.  Brooks,  who  died 
in  Dakota;  and  Mrs.  Melissa  Mandel,  a  widow  re- 
siding near  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

The   subject  of  this   sketch  spent  his  boyliood 
days  in  the  usual  manner  of  fanner  lads,  and  his 


educational  advantages  were  very  limited.  At  the 
early  age  of  nine  years,  he  began  earning  his  own 
livelihood,  working  as  a  farm  band  at  $7  per 
month.  He  was  afterward  employed  in  the  lum- 
ber woods,  and  in  summer  worked  in  the  sawmills 
for  ten  years.  In  1864,  he  bade  good-bye  to  his 
home  in  the  East,  and  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in 
Ottawa,  where  he  worked  upon  a  farm  for  nearly 
seven  years.  He  had  to  begin  life  empty-handed 
in  this  State.  From  the  low  wages  which  he  had 
received  in  the  East,  he  had  managed  to  save 
$1,000,  but  lost  it  all  by  signing  notes.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  1870,  he  came  to  Ford  County  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixt}'  acres  of  wild  land 
in  Pella  Township.  This  he  tiled  and  drained  and 
placed  the  entire  amount  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. He  also  extended  the  boundaries  of  his 
farm  until  it  comprises  four  hundred  acres  of  valu- 
a,ble  land,  which  3'ields  bountifully.  The  income 
he  derives  therefrom  now  enables  him  to  live  a  re- 
tired life,  and  he  is  resting,  after  many  years  of 
faithful  labor,  at  his  pleasant  home  in   Piper  City. 

Mr.  Stedman  was  married  in  New  York,  on  the 
6th  of  November,  18.59,  to  Miss  Harriet  Read,  a 
native  of  ChauLauqua  County,  born  August  1, 
1837.  Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  a  family 
of  seven  children:  Earl,  who  was  born  in  the  P^m- 
pire  State,  operates  his  father's  farm ;  John,  who  was 
born  in  Illinois,  educated  at  Valparaiso,  and  pur- 
sued his  medical  studies  in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  is  now 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Chicago, 
where  he  resides  with  his  wife,  having  married  Jen- 
nie Tyler,  of  Aurora,  111.;  INIary  is  the  wife  of 
Lewis  Stafford,  a  merchant  of  Chicago;  Nellie; 
James  is  a  farmer  of  Iroquois  County;  Nora  and 
Henry. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Stedman  was  a  Demociat  in 
politics,  but  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Fremont,  and  has  been  a  stalw.art  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  since  that  time.  He  has  been 
officially  connected  with  the  schools  of  this  com- 
munity, and  served  as  Pathmaster  for  fourteen 
years,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  in  fact, 
has  refused  to  fill  public  positions.  His  wife  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Stedman  is  numbered  among  the  pio- 
neer settlers  of  this  community.     He  has  traveled 


682 


J^ORTEAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


all  over  tlie  swamijs  of  Ford  County,  and  in  the 
earlier  da)s  reaped  quite  an  income  as  a  trapper. 
He  has  caught  large  numbers  of  muskrats  and 
minks,  and  still  follows  this  business  to  a  limited 
extent,  which  is  the  onl3-  industr}'  which  now  oc- 
cupies his  attention.  He  has  done  much  for  the 
upbuilding  of  the  county,  has  taken  a  commend- 
able interest  in  all  its  leading  enterjjrises,  and  well 
deserves  mention  in  its  history. 


-T^^" 


=5^* 


ENRY  A.  FORNEY,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  5,  Lyman  Town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State.    He 

•J  was  born  .Tune  29,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  II.  and  Margaret  (Allewelt)  Forney.  The 
father  now  resides  in  Rrimfield,Ill.  He  is  a  painter 
by  trade,  and  also  engages  in  teaching.  He  was 
educated  in  Hanover,  Fa.,  and  has  taught  both 
German  and  English.  He  emigrated  to  Illinois  in 
the  spring  of  1855,  locating  in  Feoria  Count3-,  and 
is  one  of  its  hont)red  and  respected  citizens.  A 
public-spirited  man,  he  has  always  been  identified 
with  tliose  interests  calculated  to  benefit  the  com- 
munity, and  has  held  a  number  of  official  positions. 
In  i)olitics,  he  is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  and  himself 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, and  the  family  circle  yet.remains  unbroken: 
Henr^-  A.,  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest;  Adolphus  is 
married  and  is  living  in  Feoria  County,  111.;  Eph- 
raim  is  .also  married,  and  is  a  farmer  of  Jubilee 
Township;  Belmina  E.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Hart, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  tile  in  Dun- 
lap,  Feoria  County;  Leander  is  married  and  suc- 
cessfully follows  farming  in  Kansas;  James  is  an 
agriculturist  residing  witli  his  family  in  Peoria 
County;  and  Cora  is  the  wife  of  William  Hay  word, 
a  merchant  of  Brimfield,  111. 

Our  subject  was  only  five  years  of  age,  when, 
with  his  family,  he  came  to  Illinois.  The  da^'S  of 
his  boj'hood  and  youtli  were  spent  in  Peoria 
County,  where  he  acquired  a  common-school  edu- 
cation, and  became  inured  to  the  labors  of  the  farm. 
On  attaining  his  majority,  he  commenced   life   for 


himself  with  a  cash  capital  of  about  ^300.  Remov- 
ing to  Woodford  County,  he  spent  about  five  years, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  a  resident  of  Ford 
County.  He  now  owns  and  operates  eighty  acres 
of  rich  land  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute 
in  return  for  the  care  and  cultivation  he  bestows 
upon  it.  The  home  is  a  lieautiful  and  comfortable 
residence,  and  its  surrounding  are  such  as  are 
found  on  a  model  farm. 

On  tlie  5th  of  September,  1872,  a  marriage  cere- 
mony was  performed  which  united  the  destinies  of 
Mr.  Forne}-  and  Miss  Frances  Shambrook,  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  Shambrook,  a  sketch  of  whom  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.  She  was  born  in 
Tazewell  County,  May  25,  1854,  but  the  greater 
part  of  her  maidenhood  days  were  passed  in  Wood- 
ford County.  By  their  marriage  was  born  a  little 
daughter,  Eva  May,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight 
months.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forney  are  well-known 
peo])le  of  this  community.  He  cast  his  first  Fresi- 
dential  vote  for  II  ^race  Greeley,  and  has  since 
voted  with  the  Demccratic  party,  the  principles  of 
which  he  warmly  advocates.  He  has  been  a  teacher 
in  the  Union  Sunday-school  of  the  district  for  three 
years,  and  ever  gives  his  sujiport  to  those  interests 
and  enterprises  calculated  to  improve  and  upbuild 
the  community. 


■^  OSEFH  McKINNEY',  deceased,  was  a  promi- 
nent early  settler  of  Ford  County.  A  na- 
tive of  the  Emerald  Isle,  he  was  born  March 
17,  1840,  and  was  a  son  of  Archil)ald  and 
P.lizabeth  McKinney,  also  natives  of  Ireland.  He 
acquired  a  common-school  education  in  his  native 
land,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  emigration  to  America  in 
1857.  Tlie  family  first  located  in  Breuton  Town- 
ship, Ford  County. 

Mr.  McKinney  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  on 
the  6th  of  November,  1873,  Miss  Susie  Goodman 
becoming  his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Bellamy)  Goodman,  and  is  a  most  esti- 


/^^  vk&^(^c^ 


'^x^CcU^^uV     C/Acu>^Q^i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


687 


inable  lady.  Two  children  were  born  of  their 
union:  Archibald  and  Sarah,  both  of  whom  are 
still  with  their  mother. 

Mr.  McKinnej-  continued  to  engage  in  farming 
for  a  number  of  years,  making  his  home  in  Bren- 
ton  Township  until  1880.  In  that  year  he  came 
to  Kempton  and  establisiied  a  hardware  store  and 
lumber  yard,  carrying  on  business  in  that  line 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
10th  of  Januarj',  1885.  He  was  a  good  business 
man,  enterprising  and  progressive,  and  his  success 
in  life  was  all  due  to  his  own  efforts.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  the  cemetery  of  Piper  Cit}'  and 
manj'  friends  mourned  his  loss,  for  he  was  widel}' 
and  favorablj'  known  in  this  communitj-.  In  poli- 
tics, he  was  a  Republican,  and  alwa^'S  took  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  political  affairs,  keeping  himself 
well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day,  and  on  all 
subjects  of  general  interest.  He  held  membership 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His  widow  still 
resides  in  Kempton,  where  she  has  man}'  friends. 
She  is  a  lady  of  many  excellencies  of  character, 
and  to  her  husband  proved  a  true  helpmate  and 
companion. 


•^^ 


E^^« 


'  OIIN  THACKRAY,  one  of  the  highly  re- 
spected farmers  of  Peacli  Orchard  Town- 
ship, resides  on  section  14,  where  he  owns  a 
valuable  tract  of  land.  He  first  purchased 
eighty  acres,  but  as  the  3'ears  have  passed  he  has 
made  additional  purchase,  and  his  possessions  now 
aggregate  five  hundred  and  twelve  acres,  which 
yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  for  his  care  and  cul- 
tivation. His  home  farm  is  well  improved  with 
fair  buildings  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model 
farm,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  ins  chosen  occupation 
he  has  acquired  a  handsome  competence. 

Mr.  Thackray  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
March  2'J,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Isabella 
(Dawson)  Thackraj',  who  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  namely:  William,  now  deceased;  John  of 
tliis  sketch;  Thomas,  also  deceased;  Henry,  a  tailor 
residing  in  Bradford,  England;  Charles,  who  has 
departed  this  life;  George,  a  resident  of  Bradford, 
28 


England,  and  a  blacksmith  by  trade;  Elizabeth, 
now  Mrs.  Franks;  Mary  and  James.  The  father  of 
this  familj'  followed  blaoksmithing  in  pursuit  of 
fortune,  and  was  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1890, 
his  wife  having  departed  this  life  in  1888.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  and 
were  people  highly  esteemed. 

The  common  schools  of  his  native  land  afforded 
our  subject  his  educational  privileges.  He  started 
out  in  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  sixteen  3  ears, 
working  as  a  farm  hand  and  at  other  labor 
whereby  he  might  earn  an  honest  dollar  and  pro- 
vide for  his  own  support.  At  length,  he  determined 
to  make  a  home  in  America, of  whose  excellent  ad- 
vantages and  prospects  he  had  heard  much.  In 
1856,  he  sailed  from  Liverpool,  and  after  about 
seven  weeks  spent  upon  the  broad  Atlantic,  reached 
New  York  City  in  safetv.  He  soon  afterward 
made  his  way  to  Chicago,  and  began  work  at  day's 
labor  in  a  chair"factory  of  that  place,  in  which  he 
was  employed  until  1857.  That  year  was  spent  in 
Michigan,  chopping  cord  wood  and  clearing  land, 
working  either  by  the  mouth  or  day,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1858,  we  find  him  at  Keastner's  Mills, 
Putnam  County,  111.  He  also  worked  upon  a  farm. 
To  that  employment  he  devoted  his  energies  until 
the  winter  of  1859,  when  he  began  chopping  cord 
wood.  In  the  spring,  he  purchased  some  land  in 
Putnam  County,  a  tract  heavily  timbered,  and  be- 
gan the  development  and  improvement  of  the 
farm,  clearing  it  and  placing  it  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  1865,  INIr.  Thackray  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine  Phillips, 
daughter  of  George  and  Martha  Phillips,  both  of 
whom  were  of  English  descent.  Eight  children 
have  blessed  their  union,  namely:  George  \V.,  now 
engaged  in  farming  in  Peach  Orchard  Township; 
Edward,  who  died  in  infancy';  Martha  I.,  at  home; 
Mary,  who  died  in  infancy';  John,  Amos,  Mary 
Etta  and  James,  who  are  still  under  the  parental 
roof. 

In  the  spring  of  1869,  Mr.  Thackrav  left  Putnam 
County,  III.,  sold  his  farm  and  came  to  Ford 
County,  locating  on  section  14,  Peach  Orchard 
Township,  on  railroad  land,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided.     He  is  a    Republican   in]  politics,  and,   as 


688 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


every  true  American  citizen  should  do,  feels  an  in- 
terest in  political  affairs.  He  has  served  both  as 
School  Director  and  Township  Trustee.  All  enter- 
prises calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit  receive 
his  hearty  support  and  co-operation,  and  his  aid  is 
never  withheld  from  an\'  interest  which  tends  to 
promote  the  general  welfare.  lie  is  a  valued  and 
representative  citizen,  and  one  well  deserving  of 
honorable  mention  in  tiie  history  of  his  adopted 
county. 


THOMAS  MoDERJIOTT,  who  is  numbered 
among  the  early  settlers  of  Ford  County, 
residing  on  section  9,  Pella  Township,  was 
\nn\  in  County  Roscommon,  Ireland,  on  the  19th 
of  March,  1837.  His  parents,  Patrick  and  Bridget 
(Conlon)  McDermott,  were  both  natives  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  The  father  was  a  farmer,  and  in 
1851  emigrated  to  America.  After  a  year  and  a 
half  spent  in  the  Empire  State,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1853,  locating  in  Peoria  County.  He 
lived  in  that  count>-  with  his  son  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in  Peoria 
in  1874.  His  wife  passed  away  in  that  city  in 
1860.  Unto  them  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: James,  who  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in 
Peoria  County;  .John,  wlio  served  in  the  Fort>'- 
seventh  Illinois  Infantry  during  the  late  war  and 
now  resides  in  Streator,  111.;  Patrick,  who  makes 
his  iiome  in  Chicago;  Ann,  who  is  living  in  Peoria 
County;  Michael,  now  deceased;  and  Thomas,  of 
this  sketch.  All  of  the  children  were  born  and 
reared  in  Ireland. 

Our  subject  began  his  school  life  in  his  native 
land  and  completed  his  education  in  the  schools 
of  this  country,  whither  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents when  fourteen  3-ears  of  age.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  and  then  began  working  as  a  farm  hand 
bj-  the  month.  As  soon  as  he  had  acquired  suf- 
ficient means,  he  purchased  land  and  began  farm- 
ing in  Peoria  County,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  1869,  when  lie  came  to  Ford  County  and 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
constituting  his  present  farm.     It   has   since  been 


his  home,  and  in  the  years  which  have  since  come 
and  gone  he  has  transformed  it  from  a  wild  tract 
into  a  highly-improved  place,  whose  rich  and  fer- 
tile fields  yield  to  him  a  good  income.  In  con- 
nection with  general  farming,  he  engages  in  stock- 
raising,  having  for  about  fifteen  years  made  a 
speeialt}'  of  thorough-bred  horses. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1860,  Mr.  McDermott  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Ellen  Berigan,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  when  about 
nine  years  old  with  her  parents,  Patrick  and  Ann 
(Macke3')  Berigan,  who  settled  on  Staten  Island, 
and  after  five  years  spent  in  that  locality  emi- 
grated to  Peoria,  111.  The  mother  now  resides  in 
Chatsworth,  Livingston  County.  The  father  died 
May  20, 1892.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDermott  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Piper  City,  and 
in  this  communit}'  are  well  and  favorably  known, 
having  many  friends  throughout  the  county. 

Mr.  McDermott  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  has  since  been  a 
stanch  advocate  of  Democratic  principles.  He  has 
been  honored  with  a  number  of  local  olflces;  for 
eleven  consecutive  j-ears  he  has  been  Supervisor  of 
his  township,  for  eight  3'ears  served  as  Assessor, 
was  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  Treasurer  of 
several  drainage  districts.  He  is  now  Treasurer  of 
Districts  Nos.  1  and  2.  The  land  in  Ford  County 
being  swampy  and  low,  it  was  unfit  for  farming 
purposes  until  drained,  and  those  citizens  who 
have  labored  so  earnestly  in  this  direction  deserve 
great  credit  for  what  they  have  done.  Mr.  Mc- 
Dermott has  ever  had  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  at  heart  and  is  a  highly  respected 
citizen  of  Pella  Township. 


-^¥r 


/i^^  HRISTOPHER  C.  CRANDALL,  a  well- 
(11  ^-^  known  farmer  of  Pella  Township,  residing 
^^^  on  section  4,  was  born  September  3,  1845, 
in  Cook  Count}',  111.  His  father,  Heman  Cran- 
dall,  was  a  native  of  Vermont  and  a  son  of  John 
Craudall,  a  farmer  who  served  in  the  War  of  1812. 
He  resided  for  many  years  in  the  town  of  Mona, 
Franklin  County,  N.  Y.,  where  his  death  occurred 


PORTRAIT  A^■D  WOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


689 


in  1867.  Heman  Crandall  came  to  Illinois  in  the 
fall  of  1833,  and  settled  at  Chicago,  which  was 
then  only  a  log  tavern.  He  was  at  the  first  land 
sale  which  occurred  at  that  place  and  purchased 
land  in  Cook  County,  wliere  he  made  his  home 
for  many  years,  devoting  his  time  and  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits.  lie  served  as  a  Lieuten- 
ant in  the  Illinois  Militia  under  Gov.  Carlin,  as 
a  member  of  Company  A,  Sixtieth  Illinois  Infan- 
try-, and  the  commission,  which  bore  date  June 
15,  1842,  is  still  in  possession  of  his  son,  Christo- 
pher C.  He  married  Lydia  Bushnell,  who  was 
born  near  Mentor,  Ohio,  and  when  twelve  years 
of  age  came  to  Illinois  and  worked  in  the  old  New 
York  House,  the  first  hotel  in  Chicago.  She  was 
there  married,  .lune  13,  1836,  when  sixteen  years 
of  age,  and  is  still  living  in  California  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years.  The  death  of  Mr.  Crandall 
occurred  in  Ford  Countj-,  and  his  remains  were 
laid  to  rest  in  Brentou  Cemetery. 

In  the  familj'  were  eleven  children:  Eady,  born 
September  12,  1837;  Ruey  K.,  September  17,  1839; 
Mary  M.,  July  14,  1841;  Martha  E.,  October  6, 
1843;  Christopher  C,  September  3,  1845;  Imogene 
E.,  October  9,  1847;  Herman  A.,  December  8, 
1849;  George  C,  October  11,  1851;  Lydia  S.,  who 
was  born  March  20,  1854,  and  died  September  3, 
1855;  Eva  E.,  born  April  4,  1857;  Benjamin  S., 
March  6,  1859;  and  William  A.,  June  2,  1861. 

The  early  life  of  our  subject  passed  unevent- 
fully in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  on  the 
frontier,  but  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war, 
he  responded  to  the  call  for  troops,  enlisting  at 
Jolict,  in  1862,  as  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Phalanx, 
Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry — Gov.  Yates'  picked 
regiment.  Their  first  service  was  in  the  Shenan- 
doah Valley,  and  they  were  the  first  regiment  at 
the  siege  of  Charlestown.  Mr.  Crandall  partici- 
pated in  Butler's  expedition  up  the  James  River, 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  the  battle  of  Appomat- 
tox, and  has  in  his  possession  a  piece  of  the  apple 
tree  under  which  the  surrender  was  made.  At  the 
battle  of  Deep  Bottom,  Va.,  Mr.  Crandall  was  hit 
by  a  piece  of  shell  in  the  shoulder,  his  ribs  were 
broken,  a  piece  of  the  shell  cracked  his  skull  and 
he  received  seven  bullet  wounds,  all  in  going  six- 
teen rods.     Of  all  the  officers  of  the  regiment  who 


went  into  the  service  only  one  lieutenant  re- 
turned. After  the  surrender  of  Ft.  Monroe,  Va., 
our  subject  received  his  discharge,  in  October,  1865, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield  in  December. 

On  the  28th  of  March  of  the  following  year, 
Mr.  Crandall  was  married,  in  Chicago,  to  Miss 
Roxanna  Reed,  who  was  born  in  Bristol,  Ontario 
County,  N.  Y.  They  removed  to  Martin  County, 
Minn.,  and  took  up  a  claim  of  Government  land,  on 
which  they  resided  for  a  year,  when  they  returned 
to  Illinois.  In  the  spring  of  1871,  they  went  to 
Missouri,  and  for  eleven  years  Mr.  Crandall  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Adair  County.  He  came  to 
Ford  County  in  1882,  and  has  since  made  his 
home  on  section  4,  Fella  Township,  where  he  owns 
eight}'  acres  of  valuable  land.  However,  he  oper- 
ates two  hundred  acres.  He  is  a  practical  and 
progressive  farmer,  and  by  close  attention  to  busi- 
ness has  won  a  competence.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  and  the  Masonic 
fraternity  of  Piper  City.  In  politics,  he  has  been 
a  stalwart  Republican  since  he  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  Grant.  His  wife  and  two 
eldest  children  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Unto  Mr.  aud  Mrs.  Crandall  were  born  seven 
children:  George  M.,  who  was  born  in  Cook 
County,  April  1,  1869,  is  now  engaged  in  farming 
in  Pella  Township;  Lizzie  K.,  born  April  5,  1875; 
Henry  M.,  born  February  6,  1876,  is  in  Wilson, 
Mo.;  Bessie  E.,  born  December  15,  1879;  Martha 
E.,  July  31,  1882;  Inez  0.,  September  18,  1884; 
and  Christopher  C,  April  15,  1887.  Carrie,  the 
eldest,  was  born  June  5,  1867,  in  Minnesota,  and 
died  in  Missouri,  in  1872. 


AVID  BAARE.  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  section  27,  Rogers  Township, 
claims  Pennsj'lvania  as  the  State  of  his  na- 
tivitj'.  He  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  October 
16,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  David  Baare,  Sr.,  who  was 
also  born  in  Lancaster  County.  The  grandfather 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  became  one  of  the 
honored  pioneers  of  Lancaster  County.   The  mother 


690 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  our  subject,  who  bore  the  maideu  name  of  Cath- 
erine Sanders,  died  whan  her  son  was  a  babe  of 
nine  months.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade 
and  did  business  as  a  contractor  and  builder  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  lo- 
cating in  Naperville,  Du  Page  County,  where  he 
made  his  home  for  a  few  j^ears,  when  he  removed 
to  Will  County,  locating  in  Joliet.  His  death  oc- 
curred several  years  later,  in  1870. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  j'outh  in  the  county  of  his  nativity, 
and  when  a  young  man  came  to  the  West  with  his 
father.  He  began  working  for  himself,  and  was 
employed  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for  several 
years.  In  1864;,  he  joined  the  Fourth  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, which  was  afterward  consolidated  with  the 
Twelfth  Regiment  of  Cavalry,  and  served  imtil 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  be  was  discharged,  in 
October,  1865.  He  went  South  with  his  regiment 
and  did  duty  in  Mississippi,  Louisiana  and  Texas. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
Mr.  Baare  returned  to  his  home  and  spent  one  3'ear 
as  a  farm  hand  in  Will  County.  In  1867,  he  came 
to  Ford  County,  and  purchased  an  eighty-acre 
tract  of  wild  land.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  this  community.  He  began  the  development  of 
his  farm,  and  after  a  time  extended  its  boundaries 
until  it  now  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  im- 
proved. The  house,  barn,  and  other  outbuild- 
ings all  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and 
enterprise. 

A  marriage  ceremony  performed  in  Will  Count}', 
March  19,  18G7,  united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Baare 
and  Mrs.  Margaret  Ann  INIanser.  She  was  the 
widow  of  Samuel  Manser  and  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin Pennell.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two 
children:  John  F.,  who  resides  in  Cabery;  and 
MayMelinda,  wife  of  Samuel  Dorman,  who  resides 
in  Livingston  County.  Mrs.  Baare  is  a  native  of 
Lancaster  County,  Pa.  By  the  second  marriage 
there  have  been  born  three  children:  Henry  S.,  a 
carpenter  employed  by  a  bridge  company  in  Mis- 
sissippi; David  M.  and  William  A.,  who  aid  in 
the  operation  of  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Baare  votes  with  the  Democratic  party.  We 
see  in  him  a  self-made  man,  who  began  life   with 


only  a  young  man's  bright  hope  of  the  future  and 
a  determination  to  succeed,  and  he  has  succeeded, 
winning  his  way  upward  to  au  enviable  position 
among  the  substantial  and  prominent  citizens  of 
Ford  County.  Ilislife  has  been  well  and  worthily 
spent,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this 
record  to  our  readers. 


3^" 


^^  HRISTIAN  HOLMES,  who  owns  and  oper- 
[l(  ates  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section 

^^J/j  31,  Brenton  Township,  is  a  native  of  Den- 
mark. He  was  born  near  AUinge,  February  20, 
1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Anders  Holm,  who  lived  on 
a  little  island  called  Allinge.  He  spelled  his  name 
Holm,  but  since  the  family  came  to  America  the 
letters  e  and  s  have  been  added.  He  married  Caren 
C.  Kaas,  who  was  reared  on  the  same  island.  His 
death  occurred  in  1877,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  their  family  numbered  eight  children : 
Hans  Cliristian,  a  cooper  of  Louisville,  Ky.;  Chris- 
tian of  this  sketch;  and  Christina  who  died  in  Den- 
mark.    The  other  children  died  in  infancy. 

The  education  of  our  subject  was  acquired  in 
his  native  land  prior  to  his  fifteenth  year,  and 
when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  began  learning  the 
carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  in  the  Old 
Country  until  1865,when,  having  determined  to  try 
his  fortune  in  America,  he  made  his  way  to  Liver- 
pool, England,  from  whence  he  sailed  to  New  York, 
reaching  his  destination  after  a  voyage  of  sixteen 
days.  He  made  his  first  location  in  Jamestown,  N. 
Y.,  and  after  a  few  months  went  to  Chicago,  after- 
wards spending  a  short  time  in  Cincinnati,  in  Ind- 
ianapolis and  in  Greencastle,  Ind.  He  did  Govern- 
ment work  as  a  carpenter  for  a  few  months  and  in 
February,  1866,  went  to  Nashville,  Washington 
County,  111.,  where  he  spent  two  years  working  at 
car|)entering.  We  next  find  him  in  Normal,  Mc- 
Lean County,  where  he  resided  from  1868  until 
1875,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County  and  purchased 
his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres.  A  little  shanty' 
constituted  the  improvements  at  that  time  and  the 


^^A^  /^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


693 


land  was  still  in  its  primitive  condition,  but  acre 
after  acre  was  soon  cleared  and  the  well-tilled 
fields  now  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute.  A  com- 
fortable home  has  been  built  and  all  the  accessories 
of  a  model  farm  can  there  be  found. 

In  Chicago,  in  1869,  Mr.  Holmes  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Maria  Hansen,  who  was  liorn  in 
Denmark,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  this  country 
about  1869.  By  their  union  have  been  born  seven 
children,  namely:  Hannah,  wife  of  Ira  Knight,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Livingston  County;  Lewis, 
George,  Minnie,  Johnnie,  Fred  and  William.  The 
three  eldest  children  were  born  in  Normal  and  all 
were  educated  in  the  public  schools. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Holmes  is  a  Re- 
publican. Wlien  ho  landed  at  New  York,  he  had 
only  $20  in  gold,  and  he  may  well  be  termed  a  self- 
made  man,  for  by  his  own  efforts  he  has  acquired  a 
good  competence  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
prosperous  had  valued  citizens  of  this  community. 
He  has  made  his  home  in  Ford  County  for  seven- 
teen j'cars,  his  duties  of  citizenship  have  ever  been 
faithfully  performed  and  the  upright  life  which  he 
has  led  has  won  him  the  confidence  of  all. 


RS.  JOHN  PHIPPS,  who  resides  on  section 
6,  Lyman  Township,  was  born  in  Iloward- 
ville,  Center  County,  Pa.,  May  21,  1841, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Eliza 
(Courter)  Britton.  Her  father  was  born  in  the 
Keystone  State,  March  8,  181.3,  acquired  a  com- 
mon-school education,  and  was  early  inured  to  hard 
work.  For  some  tune,  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  iron  goods,  but  after  a  time  concluded  to 
try  his  fortune  on  the  broad  prairies  of  the  AVest, 
and  with  a  team  made  an  overland  journey  to  Illi- 
nois across  the  States  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and 
Indiana.  He  first  located  in  Kendall  County, 
where  he  remained  for  about  eleven  years,  when 
he  came  to  Ford  County  and  made  his  fiist  |)ur- 
chase  of  land,  becoming  owner  of  forty  acres,  later 
of  fort^'  more  of  unbroken  prairie.  His  death  oc- 
curred at  the  age  of  sixty  j'ears.     His  wife,  who 


was  bom  April  1,  1818,  died  June  12,  1892.  They 
were  parents  of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  three  are  yet  living:  Thomas 
T.  is  now  married  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  medicine  in  Re3'nolds,  Ind.  He  served  in  the 
Eight3'-ninth  Infantry  during  the  late  war,  and 
was  badly  wounded  in  the  head  at  Mission  Ridge, 
on  the  2.5th  of  November,  186.3.  Mrs.  Phipps  is  the 
next  younger;  Franklin  Pierce  is  married  and  fol- 
lows farming  in  Livingston  Count}',  III.;  John  M., 
Dorcas  M.  and  Mary  C.  are  all  deceased,  and  there 
was  only  eight  days'  difference  in  their  deaths. 

Mrs.  Phipps  was  a  maiden  of  fifteen  summers 
when,  with  her  parents,  she  came  to  Illinois.  She 
was  educated  in  the  seminary  in  Howardville,  Pa., 
and  in  the  schools  of  this  State.  On  the  27th  of 
September,  1865,  in  Bristol,  Kendall  County,  she 
became  the  wife  of  John  Phipps,  who  was  a  native 
of  New  York,  but  was  reared  in  Kendall  County. 
B}'  occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  but  when  the  coun- 
tr3'  called  for  troops  during  the  late  war,  he  aban- 
doned his  work  and  entered  the  service,  August  15, 
1862,  as  one  of  the  brave  boys  of  Company  D, 
Ninety-first  Illinois  Infantry,  under  Capt.  August 
P.  Stover.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  and  its  line  of  duty  lay 
through  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  ]Mississippi  and  Ala- 
bama. Mr.  Phipps  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Elizabeth  town.  Point  Isabel,  Atchafalaya,  White 
Ranch,  Whistlers'  Station,  and  the  siege  of  Spanish 
Foit.  He  twice  crossed  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
was  taken  prisoner  in  Kentucky,  but  was  parolled 
shortly  afterward.  On  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  honorably  discharged,  July  12, 1865,  in  Mobile. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
Mr.  Phipps  returned  to  his  home  in  Kendall  Count}') 
and  in  1857  brought  his  family  to  Ford  County. 
He  became  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixt}-  acres 
of  highly  improved  land,  and  made  it  an  excellent 
farm,  devoting  his  energies  to  its  cultivation  and 
development.  He  was  called  to  his  final  rest,  May 
9,  1889,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  Chat- 
worth  (Jemeterj',  his  death  being  deepl}'  regretted 
by  all.  In  politics,  he  was  a  stalwart  Republican. 
He  served  as  School  Director,  and  did  everything 
in  his  power  for  the  u[)building  and  improvement 
of  the  community. 


694 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phipps  were  born  four  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  a  daughter,  two  of  whom  are 
yet  living:  Eddy  .T.,  superintends  the  management 
of  his  mother's  farm,  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. He  was  educated  in  the  High  School  and  the 
Normal  School,  both  of  Morris,Gruudy  County,  and 
is  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability.  He  wedded 
Miss  Mamie,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Olive  (Kil- 
patriclv)  Woodrow.  They  were  married  March  20, 
1888,  and  unto  them  was  born  a  daughter,  Grace 
B.,  and  a  son,  but  the  latter  is  now  deceased.  Ada 
B.  became  the  wife  of  .lohn  Hawthorne,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Lyman  Township,  March  4,  1890,  and 
thej'  have  a  little  son,  Leroy  James. 

Mrs.  Phipps  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Cluirch, 
and  is  a  lady  of  cliaritable  and  I)enevoIent  im- 
pulses, whose  good  works  have  won  lier  the  love 
of  manj'.  She  still  resides  on  the  old  home  farm 
where  she  has  a  commodious  and  comfortalilo  resi- 
dence, supplied  with  all  the  comforts  and  many  of 
the  luxuries  of  life. 


E^ 


#, 


HARLES  E.  CHAPIN,  M.  D.  Among  the 
successful  young  physicians  and  surgeons 
^^^.'  of  Ford  County,  who  have  built  up  a  large 
and  rapidly  increasing  practice,  and  have  arisen 
by  their  own  merit,  must  be  mentioned  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  a  prominent 
practitioner  of  Melvin.  He  was  born  in  De  Witt, 
De  Witt  County,  111.,  on  the  29th  of  .January,  1866, 
and  is  a  son  of  Stillman  A.  and  Susan  (Lafifertj) 
Chapin.  His  father  is  also  a  native  of  Illinois,  and 
was  l)orn  on  the  site  of  East  St.  Louis,  in  1821,  his 
parents  being  natives  of  Virginia,  who  emigrated 
to  Illinois  about  the  time  this  State  was  admitted 
to  the  Union.  The  Doctor's  mother  was  born  in 
Champaign  County,  Ohio,  in  1823,  and  during  her 
childhood  came  with  her  family  to  Illinois.  Botli 
parents  are  still  living,  and  yet  reside  in  De  Witt, 
where  they  have  made  their  liome  since  early  life. 
In  their  familj'  are  four  children,  three  sons  and  a 
daughter.  All  the  boys  are  physicians:  Samuel  L., 
of  Saybrook,  111.;  Hiram  8.,  of  Holder,  111.;  and 
Charles  E.,  of  this  sketch. 


Charles  E.  Chapin  acquired  his  literary  educa- 
tion in  the  Clinton  High  School,  and,  having  de- 
termined to  enter  tiie  medical  profession,  began 
fitting  himself  for  practice.  After  pursuing  a  three- 
years'  course  of  study  in  the  Rush  Medical  College 
of  Chicago,  he  was  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  the  Class  of  '91,  and  on  receiving  his  di- 
ploma, he  at  once  established  practice  in  Melvin. 
Dr.  Chapin  is  well  up  in  his  profession,  is  energetic 
and  prompt  in  the  discharge  of  his  professional 
duties,  and  has  rapidly  won  his  way  into  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  patrons. 

In  LeRoy,  111.,  on  the  8th  of  May,  1889.  the 
Doctor  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Lizzie 
Sterling,  who  was  born  near  that  city,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Martlia  (West)  Sterling. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child,  a  son, 
Arnett  Sterling,  who  was  born  in  Le  Roy,  on  the 
7th  of  September,  1890.  The  parents  are  well  and 
favorabl}'  known  in  this  comniuuity,  and  rank  high 
in  social  circles.  Dr.  Chapin  is  a  member  of  jNIel- 
vin  Lodge  No.  811,  A.  F.  ife  A.  M.,  and  also  belongs 
to  Peach  Orchard  Lodge  No.  179,  K.  P.  In  his 
political  affiliations,  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has 
served  two  years  as  Postmaster  of  De  Witt,  111., 
under  President  Cleveland's  administration.  He 
has  already  won  an  enviable  recognition  among 
his  professional  brethren  of  experience,  and  has  the 
ability  which  will  make  him  a  successful  physician. 

(*  IVILLIAIM  PERDUE,  a  retired  farmer  and 
\rj//  Stock-grower  now  residing  in  Paxton,  is 
W^  the  owner  of  six  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
valuable  land  in  Ford  County,  situated  in  tracts 
on  sections  2,  4,  9  and  14,  Town  23,  Range  9,  Pat- 
ton  Township.  The  old  homestead  lies  on  section 
2,  and  the  tracts  are  mostly  contiguous. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  born  in  Chester  County,  on  the 
nth  of  April,  1840,  being  the  third  of  eight  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  parents  were 
Mentor  and  Marj'  Perdue.  His  father  was  born  in 
Southern  Virginia,  December  1,  1796,  of  parents 
who  were  emigrants  from  Pennsylvania.     In  earlj' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


695 


life,  he  made  his  home  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and 
with  his  family  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1852,  loca- 
ting in  Chicago.  He  had  been  an  extensive  iron 
manufacturer  in  Pennsylvania,  Virginia  and  Mar}'- 
land.  In  18.")y,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, lie  removed  to  Ford  County,  and  located  on 
what  was  later  the  homestead  farm  of  his  son  Will- 
iam, on  section  2,  Patton  Township.  The  parents 
both  died  in  this  county,  the  death  of  the  father 
occurring  September  22,  1872,  and  the  mother,  who 
was  born  February  29,  1811,  p.assed  awaj'  April  2, 
1889.  Both  were  members  of  the  Quaker  Church, 
to  wliicli  they  ever  adhered. 

William  Perdue,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  his  childhood  on  his  father's  farm  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  when  twelve  years  of  age,  came  with 
the  family  to  Chicago,  where  he  spent  seven  j-ears 
and  attended  the  Chicago  schools.  When  eleven 
daj'S  p.ast  his  majority,  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  with  the  small  capital  whicli  he  iiad  earned 
the  summer  before  in  tlie  harvest  field.  One  year 
later,  he  began  farming  in  iNIorris,  and  after  three 
years  returned  to  Patton,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  mostly  on 
credit,  to  which  he  has  added  by  additional  pur- 
chase until  his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate 
six  hundred  and  ten  acres.  He  early  began  rais- 
ing stock,  and  by  care  in  breeding  became  quite 
successful  in  that  line. 

On  the  23rd  of  September,  18G3,  Mr.  Perdue  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Paxton  with  Miss  Minerva 
C.  Stoner,  daugliter  of  Daniel  C.  Stoner,  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Patton  Township.  The  lady  is  a  native 
of  La  F'ayette,  Ind.,  and  came  to  wliat  is  now  Pat- 
ton Township  with  her  parents  in  18.51.  Mr.  .ind 
Mrs.  Perdue  have  four  daughters  and  one  son: 
Susan  A.,  Lena  B.,  Bessie  G.,  Hortense  and  Daniel 
Stoner,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Patton  Town- 
ship. 

In  iiis  political  attiliations,  Mr.  Perdue  is  a  Re- 
publican, but  has  never  sought  or  desired  public 
office.  He  and  his  wife,  also  their  daughters,  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
since  1883  tlie  family  has  resided  in  Paxton.  Mr. 
Pel  due  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  early  settlers 
and  successful  farmers  of  Ford  County.  He  has  led 
an  .active  and  useful  life,  has  been  an   indu^tl■i()us 


man,  and  h.as  accumulated  a  valuable  property. 
His  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men  h.as  been  dis- 
tinguished b3'  strict  integrity,  kind  and  .accommo- 
dating ways,  and  a  Christian  spirit,  so  th.at  all  with 
whom  business  or  pleasure  has  brought  him  in  con- 
tact entertain  for  him  only  kind  regard  and  pro 
found  respect. 


-^^ 


-^ — 


^  OHN  ESSINGTON  lias  for  seventeen  years 
resided  upon  his  present  farm  on  section 
12,  Mona  Townsliip,  and  is  numbered 
_  among  the  leading  farmers  of  tlie  commu- 
nity. He  was  born  in  England,  March  7,  1849, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Sar.ali  (Scott)  Essing- 
ton,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  F^ngland.  The 
father  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  came  to 
America  on  a  sailing-vessel  in  1856,  reaching  New 
York  after  a  V03\age  of  thirty  days.  He  then  came 
to  Illinois,  locating  in  Du  Page,  where  he  spent 
one  3ear  working  at  his  chosen  occupation.  He 
then  removed  to  Plainfield,  Will  Count}-,  where 
he  purchased  a  shop  and  engaged  in  business  for 
a  few  years,  afterward  purchasing  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  spent  tlie  remainder  of  liis  days,  his  death 
occurring  February  12, 1886.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Plainfield  Cemetery.  In  politics,  he  w.as  a 
Democratand  was  a  prominentcitizen.  His  wife  had 
long  since  passed  awa\',  liaving  lieen  called  to  the 
home  beyond  in  1854,  and  he  was  .again  married,  in 
Fjngland,  this  time  to  Mary  Buffhan,  a  widow  lady, 
by  whom  there  were  born  the  following  children: 
Mary  D.  D.  and  .Tolin  .losepli.  She  now  resides  at 
Dwight  with  her  son  .loliii.  Unto  this  worthy 
couple  were  born  eight  children:  Mar}',  widow  of 
John  Clayton,  resides  in  Kendall  County,  111.; 
(reorge  is  a  farmer  of  Mona  Township;  Hugh  died 
in  1876;  Henry  is  a  farmer  residing  in  Rogers 
Township;  Eliza  became  the  wife  of  AVilliain  Bry- 
ant, a  resident  fanner  of  Kendall  County,  111.,  and 
was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1885;  John,  of  this 
sketch,  is  the  next  younger;  Edwin  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Kendall  County;  and  Car- 
oline, who  completes  the  family,  is  the  wife  of 
Lewis  Pierson,  also  a  farmer  oi  Kendall  County. 


696 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


In  the  common  scliools,  John  Essington  acquired 
an  education  which  has  well  fitted  him  for  the 
practical  duties  of  life.  He  began  to  earn  his  own 
livelihood  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  working 
as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for  a  year.  He 
then  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  renting 
land.  In  1871,  he  came  to  Ford  County,  and  for 
four  years  operated  a  rented  farm  in  Mona  Town- 
ship. By  his  industry,  perseverance  and  good 
management,  he  acquired  some  capital,  and  in 
1875  made  purchase  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  on  section  12,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. 

On  the  11th  of  February,  1875,  Mr.  Essington 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Clara  Olson,  daugh- 
ter of  Charlie  and  Elizabeth  Olson.  Nine  children 
have  been  born  of  their  union,  but  two  died  in 
infancy.  The  two  sons  and  five  daughters  yet 
living  are:  Walter,  Mabel,  Jennie,  Rachel,  Julia, 
Emma  and  Wallace.  The  family  have  a  pleasant 
home,  and  tiie  farm  which  our  subject  owns  is 
one  of  the  desirable  places  of  the  community. 
It  is  well  improved  and  the  highly  cultivated  land 
yields  him  a  golden  tribute  for  the  care  and  labor 
he  bestows  upon  it.  In  his  political  affiliations, 
Mr.  Essington  is  a  Republican. 


fcllOMAS  SCOTT,  a  leading  agriculturist  of 
Dix  Township,  residing  on  section  31,  was 
born  on  the  29th  of  November,  1841,  near 
Magnolia,  La  Salle,  County,  III.,  and  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Harriet  B.  (riiillips)  Scott,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
They  became  the  parents  of  five  children:  Nancj' 
J.,  wife  of  Lewis  Luddington,  who  is  one  of  the 
grain  inspectors  in  Chicago;  Thomas,  of  tliis  sketch; 
Lewis,  who  died  in  infancy;  Henry,  a  dealer  in 
farm  implements  of  Kansas  City,  Mo.;  and  George 
Z.,  an  attorney  at  law,  located  in  Decatur,  111.  The 
father  of  this  family-,  attracted  by  the  discovery  of 
gold  on  the  Pacific  slope,  made  an  overland  trip  to 
California  in  1850,  reaching  his  destination  after 
about  six  months  of  travel.  He  made  the  return 
journey    by   water.     In    1870,  he   came    to    Ford 


County,  111.,  and  located  in  Wall  Township,  where 
he  purchased  land.  After  two  years  spent  in  farm- 
ing in  that  locality,  he  removed  to  Dix  Township, 
and  purchased  a  one  hundred  and  twenty  acre  farm 
on  section  31,  where  he  resided  until  called  to  the 
home  beyond.  He  died  February  7,  1885,  and  his 
remains  were  interred  in  Gibson  Cemetery.  In  his 
political  affiliations,  he  was  a  Republican.  His 
widow  still  lives,  making  her  home  in  Gibson  City. 

Mr.  Scott  of  this  record  attended  the  district 
schools  in  his  earlier  years  and  completed  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Northern  Illinois  Institute,  after 
which  he  located  in  Henry,  111.  He  started  out  in 
life  for  himself  when  nineleen  years  of  age,  and 
has  made  farming  his  principal  occupation.  On 
attaining  his  majority,  he  responded  to  the  coun- 
try's call  for  volunteers  to  crush  out  the  Rebellion, 
and,  in  1862,  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Eighty-sixth 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into  service 
at  Peoria,  August  27,  and  the  first  important  en- 
gagement in  which  he  participated  was  at  Perry- 
ville,  Ky.  He  went  with  Sherman  on  the  cele- 
brated march  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea.  In  a 
skirmish  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  he  was  wounded 
in  the  left  arm  by  a  rainie  ball  and  was  taken  to 
the  field  hospital  in  Nashville.  Soon  afterward,  he 
was  granted  a  furlough  and  returned  home.  Sub- 
sequently, he  was  transferred  to  Company  K,  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant.  He 
participated  in  man^- other  engagements,  and  when 
the  war  was  over  was  honorably  discharged,  in  De- 
cember, 1865. 

Mr.  Scott  then  returned  to  his  home,  and,  with 
his  parents,  came  to  Ford  County.  He  is  still  liv- 
ing on  the  old  homestead.  As  a  companion  and 
helpmate  on  life's  journey,  he  chose  Miss  Laura 
McCann,  a  daugliter  of  William  W.  and  Sarah  H. 
(Bell)  McCann.  Tiieir  union  was  celebrated  De- 
cember 2,  1874,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  seven 
children,  .as  follows:  Jennie,  Harry,  Mabel,  Ilattie, 
Laura,  Lona  and  Florence.  With  the  exception  of 
Laura,  who  died  Februaiy  2,  1891,  all  are  yet 
living. 

Mr.  Scott  supports  that  party  which  stood  by 
the  Union  during  the  late  war,  and  is  a  stalwart 
Republican.     He  was  a  faithful  soldier,  ever  found 


I 


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eoiy^'VcO 


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I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


699 


at  his  post  of  duty, and  by  his  meritorious  conduct 
won  promotion.  He  is  also  a  valued  citizen  of 
the  community'  in  which  he  makes  his  home,  and  is 
a  successful  farmer. 


f,OBERT  M.  KARR  resides  on  section  34, 
Wall  Township,  where  he  follows  general 
Ji  \\\  farming.  He  was  born  in  Cosliocton 
County,  Ohio,  October  13,  1834,  and  is  a 
son  of  Robert  Karr,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
removed  to  Ohio  in  an  earl}'  day.  He  also  fol- 
lowed farming  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  He 
wedded  Mary  .1.  Endsley,  who  was  of  English  des- 
cent and  unto  them  were  born  a  family  of  seven 
children:  John,  a  retired  farmer,  residing  in  Paxton ; 
Isal)ella,  wife  of  John  MuKinsley,  who  follows 
farming  near  Otter  Lake,  Mich.;  Nancy,  wife  of 
James  McKinsley,  a  resident  farmer  of  Summit 
County,  Ohio;  Andrew,  who  is  living  near  the 
old  homestead  in  Ohio;  Mary  Jane,  deceased,  and 
Matilda,  wife  of  Alonzo  Bradley,  who  also  en- 
gages in  agricultural  pursuits  near  Otter  Creek, 
Mich.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  in  1841, 
and  in  1844.  Mr.  Karr  married  Martha  Young,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children:  Elizabeth  A.,  wife  of 
Isaac 'Rush,  a  farmer  residing  in  Summit  County, 
Ohio;  Martha  E.,  wife  of  John  Doughtery,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Ohio,  and  James  A.,  deceased. 
Robert  Karr  attended  the  district  schools  until 
about  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  his  school  life 
was  ended  and  he  gave  his  attention  to  farm  work. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  twent}'- 
four  years  of  age.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate 
on  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss  Martha  Ann,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Jane  (McArmlty)  McLaughlin. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  and 
was  a  weaver  by  trade.  He  came  to  America 
about  1820,  the  vo\'age  across  the  Atlantic  con- 
suming a  month,  and  in  New  York  he  followed 
weas'ing.  Afterward,  he  went  to  Pittsburg  and 
later  to  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  where,  in  1824,  he 
entered  land  from  the  Government  and  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  the  Mc- 
Laughlin family  were  seven  sons  and  seven  daugh- 


ters, of  whom  four  sons  and  two  daughters  are 
yet  living:  John,  who  wore  the  blue  during  the 
late  war  and  has  since  followed  farming  in  Iowa; 
Mrs.  Karr,  wife  of  our  subject;  Mar}',  wife  of  Col. 
Anderson,  a  farmer  residing  in  Green  City,  Mo.; 
Robert,  who  for  four  years  was  a  union  soldier 
daring  the  late  war,  resides  with  his  wife  and  four 
children  in  Iowa;  Hugh,  who  is  also  a  veteran  of 
the  late  war,  and  was  an  inmate  of  Libby  Prison, 
married  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Yates,  a  brother  of 
the  War  Governor,  and  resides  in  Springfield,  and 
George,  the  youngest,  is  living  with  his  mother 
in  Missouri.  Mrs.  McLaughlin  survives  at  the 
age  of  eighty-eight  jears  and  is  still  hale  and 
heartj'.  Mrs.  Karr  is  a  lad}'  of  pleasing  address 
and  has  been  a  valued  helpmate  to  her  husband. 
She  has  in  her  home  an  old  English  volume  on  re- 
ligion, which  was  published  in  1767,  and  is  a 
century  and  a  quarter  old.  This  is  a  cherished 
heirloom  and  probaljly  in  Ford  Count}'  there  is 
not  another  volume  bearing  so  ancient  a  date. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Karr  purchased  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Ohio,  and  there  engaged 
in  farming  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war 
when,  in  the  spring  of  18G3,  lie  responded  to  the 
country's  call  for  troops,  enlisting  in  Company 
H,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-third  Ohio  Infantry. 
He  was  mustered  into  service  at  Camp  Chase  and 
given  .the  rank  of  Corporal  ere  the  close  of  the  war. 
With  his  command  he  engaged  in  active  duty  un- 
til his  services  were  no  longer  needed,  when  he 
was  discharged  September  13,  1864,  and  returned 
to  his  home  in  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until  1869. 
That  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Ford  County, 
111.  For  three  years  he  rented  land  near  Pax- 
ton  and  then  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Wall  Town- 
ship, upon  which  he  made  his  home  for  four  years. 
He  afterwards  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  then  comprising  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  section  34.  He  has  succeeded  in 
his  undertakings  and  with  the  increase  of  his  finan- 
cial resources  has  made  other  purchases,  his  landed 
possessions  now  aggregating  ihree  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  one  hundred  and  sixty  on  section  34 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty  on  section  35. 

Seven  children  grace  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Karr:  William,   who  now  lives  with  his   wife  and 


700 


PORTRAIT  AM>  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


one  child  upon  a  farm  in  Wall  Township;  Thomas; 
Mary  E.,  who  is  blind  and  graduated  from  the 
Jacksonville  Institute  for  the  Blind  in  1887;  Ed- 
ward and  Frank,  twins;  Samuel  L.,  and  Nettie 
Belle,  who  died  in  infaiic}'. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Karr  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Paxton;  he  also  holds  mem- 
bership with  Post  No.  387,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Pax- 
ton,  and  in  his  political  affiliations  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commis- 
sioner for  nine  years  and  his  long  continued  ser- 
vice is  proof  of  the  fact  that  his  duties  were  ever 
faithfully  discharged.  Those  who  have  met  Mr. 
Karr  esteem  him  highly  and  we  know  him  worthy 
of  their  regard. 


-m 


y^ 


/,..,  N.SP^LM  T.  BLAKE,  who  resides  on  section 
Ol    28,  Uix  Township,  where  he  is  engaged  in 


farming,  is  numbered  among  the  earl^'set- 
v5g^  tiers  of  the  county,  his  residence  here  cov- 

ering a  period  of  twenty-three  j'ears.  With  the 
history  of  the  communit}'  he  has  been  prominently 
identified,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  its  leading 
and  influential  citizens. 

On  the  -iStli  of  March,  1824,  Mr.  Blake  was  born 
in  Cable  County,  Va.  His  father,  David  Blake, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  the  old 
block  house  at  Marietta,  Washington  County,  dur- 
ing the  Indian  war,  and  was  of  English  descent. 
For  many  years  he  was  a  hop-grower  in  the  Buck- 
eye State.  In  1850,  he  came  with  his  wife  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Wayne  Count}',  where  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  The  father  died  in 
1861,  and  Mrs.  Blake,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Marj'  Slone,  passed  away  in  1868.  They  were 
the  parents  of  seven  children,  .as  follows:  John  8., 
Anselm  T.,  Elizabeth,  Benjamin,  Sarah,  Augusta 
and  William. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  his  education 
in  a  little  logschoolhouse  with  slab  seats  and  punch- 
eon floor,  to  which  he  had  to  walk  a  mile  and  a 
half.  He  attended  school  at  intervals  until  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  and   remained  with  his  parents 


until  twentj'-two  years  of  age.  He  then  engaged 
in  building  and  running  flat-boats  down  the  Ohio 
River,  from  Sample's  Lauding  to  Cincinnati.  After 
four  or  five  years  spent  in  that  way,  he  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  in  1848,  locating  in  Wayne  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1855,  he  re- 
moved to  Logan  County,  settling  near  Lincoln, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1859. 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Blake  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Cynthia,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  Staats.  Their  union  was  celebrated  in 
1848,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  a  familj'  of 
six  children,  as  follows:  Harriet,  Amanda.  Viola, 
Atlanta,  Lucy  and  Arizona. 

In  1859,  on  leaving  Logan  County,  ]\Ir.  Blake 
came  to  Ford  County,  settling  in  Dix  Township. 
He  purchased  his  present  farm  on  section  28,  and 
since  that  time  has  here  made  his  home.  He  has 
led  a  busy  and  useful  life,  yet  has  found  time  to 
devote  to  public  interests.  He  has  held  the  office 
of  Constable,  served  as  Road  Commissioner,  for 
nine  j'ears  was  School  Director,  and  in  an  early 
d.ay  kept  a  post-office  in  his  home  for  twelve  years. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  in  his 
social  relations  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  having  been  con- 
nected with  that  fraternity  since  1856.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  who  has  the 
best  interests  of  the  comraunit^y  at  heart.  His  pub- 
lic duties  have  ever  beeu  faithfull}'  performed  and 
he  has  therefore  won  the  confidence  of  all,  while 
his  upright  life  has  gained  him  the  respect  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


^- 


^ 


^^^ERD  GERDES  now  owns  and  operates  forty 

1(1  , — ,  acres  of  ijood  land  on  section  27,  Dix  Town- 
Ill  (^  ^ 
^^J)   ship.     He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  one 

of  eight  children  born  unto  Gerd  and  Gertrude 
(Wilkins)  Gordes.  The  father  was  a  farmer  and 
followed  that  occupation  throughout  his  entire 
life.  Neither  of  the  parents  ever  left  their  native 
land  and  both  are  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  daj-s  of  his 
boyhood  and  3-outh  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Ger- 
many, and  acquired  a  good  education  in  the  public 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


roi 


schools  of  his  native  land.  In  1840,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Gasscha  Franz.an,  and  unto 
them  were  born  five  children,  tliree  sons  and  two 
daughters,  namely:  Abbie  F.,Mary,  Frank,  Charlie 
and  Annie. 

Mr.  Gerdes  continued  to  make  his  home  in  Ger- 
many uutil  1872,  when,  in  company  with  his  fam- 
ily, he  emigrated  to  America.  He  crossed  tiie 
Atlantic  to  New  York  Citj',  and  came  on  at  once 
to  Illinois, making  a  settlement  in  McLean  County, 
where  he  spent  the  two  succeeding  years  of  his 
life.  He  then  came  to  Ford  County,  and  engaged 
in  the  operation  of  rented  land  for  seven  years. 
He  was  successful  in  his  business  undertakings  dur- 
ing that  period  and,  with  the  capital  thus  acquired, 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land  on  section  27,  Dix 
Township,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
has  lived  the  quiet,  unassuming  life  of  a  farmer, 
.and  has  busied  himself  with  his  agricultural  inter- 
ests. He  has  never  taken  a  very  prominent  part 
in  public  affairs,  but  has  proved  himself  a  worthy 
and  valued  citizen  of  the  community.  In  his  po- 
litical aftiliations,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

It  was  a  fortunate  day  for  Mv.  Gerdes  when  he 
decided  to  emigrate  to  America,  for  here  he  has 
found  a  pleasant  home  and  has  met  with  success  in 
his  business  career. 


S]  RA  W.  HAND,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers 
I  of  Pella  Township,  residing  on  section  10,  was 
/li  born  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  near  tlie  city  of 
Utica,  on  the  1st  of  April,  1831.  The  father,  8eth 
Hand,  was  born  in  Vermont,  May  20,  1807,  and 
during  his  boyhood  removed  toNew  York,  settling 
at  York  Mills,  Oneida  County.  He  engaged  in 
milling  until  his  death,  which  occurred  December 
19,  1845.  He  was  married,  in  the  Empire  State,  to 
Irene  Runnyan,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  was 
born  December  9,  1810,  and  died  in  Herkimer 
County,  in  August,  1891.  Four  children  yet  sur- 
vive: Thaddeus,  who  is  living  in  I'tica,  N.  Y.;  Ira. 
of  this  sketch;  Charles,  a  traveling  salesman,  who 
resides  in  New  York  City;  and  AVilliam  Harrison, 
of  Little  Falls,  Herkimer  County. 


Our  subject  had  limited  educational  advantages. 
He  attended  the  night  scliools,  for  when  his  father 
died  he  had  to  begin  to  earn  his  own  livelihood. 
He  was  married,  on  the  23d  of  August,  1853,  to 
IMiss  Harriet  Seeber,  a  native  of  Jlontgomcry 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  of  David  and  Lana 
(Yorden)  Seeber,  who  were  of  German  descent. 
Both  grandparents  of  David  Seeber  served  in  the 
Revolutionary-  War.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Hand 
died  in  Sandwich,  De  Kalb  County,  111.  She  was 
reared  in  Boouesville,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
in  1856  accompanied  her  husband  on  his  emigra- 
tion to  DeKalb  County.  Mr.  Hand  there  engaged 
in  farming,  having  purchased  his  land  with  money 
that  he  had  saved  from  his  earnings  while  working 
in  a  factory.  In  1859,  he  came  to  La  Salle  County 
and  two  years  later  removed  to  Livingston  County, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm. 

On  the  12tli  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Hand  enlisted 
for  the  late  war  as  a  member  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Twenty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  Col.  G. 
P.  Smith.  The  regiment  was  sent  to  TyOuisville,' 
Ky.,  and  assigned  to  the  Tenth  Division,  R.  S. 
Gr.anger  being  commander  of  the  Brigade.  They 
went  in  pursuit  of  Bragg  to  Crab  Orchard,  then 
retreated  to  Danville,  and  were  sent  to  garrison 
Mitchellville,  Ky.,  November  21,  1862.  They  were 
afterward  on  guard  duty  at  Ft.  Thomas,  and  Gal- 
latin, and  in  August,  1863,  marched  to  Nashville, 
where  they  did  guard  duty  until  February  24,  1864. 
Previous  to  this,  the  regiment  had  been  assigned 
to  the  First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Twentieth 
Army  Corps,  under  Gen.  Joseph  Hooker.  On  the 
3d  of  May,  they  started  for  Atlanta  with  Gen. 
Sherman  and  particiiiated  in  tlie  battles  of  Resaca, 
Buzzards"  Roost,  Dallas  and  Peach  Tree  Creek.  Mr. 
Hand  w.as  wounded  at  Kenesaw  ^Mountain  in  the 
left  leg.  The  ball  p.assed  through  the  leg  and 
lodged  in  his  pocket-book  and  tiiis  piece  of  lead  he 
yet  has  in  his  possession.  The  wound  proved  quite 
serious  and  he  was  confined  in  the  hospital  until 
the  24th  of  .lune,  when  he  was  sent  l)ack  to  Chat- 
tanooga, and  afterward  to  the  Cumlierland  Hospital 
in  Nashville.  By  the  neglect  of  the  surgeon,  g.an- 
grene  set  in  .and  his  sufferings  were  intense.  His 
father-in-law  came  for  him  and  he  returned  home, 
just  two  years  from  the  day  of  his  enlistment.     He 


702 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


receivt-fl  his  discharge  January  28,  1865.  He  might 
have  had  a  position  as  Captain  of  a  colored  regi- 
ment but  determined  to  remain  with  the  regiment 
in  which  he  had  enlisted.  They  marched  to  the 
front  with  nine  hundred  and  twenty-seven  and 
returned  with  less  than  two  hundred. 

Mr.  Hand  began  farming  with  crutches  under  his 
arms,  having  not  yet  recovered  from  his  wound. 
He  resided  in  Livingston  County  until  1872,  when 
he  came  to  Ford  Count}-  and  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  land  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He 
now  has  a  good  residence  surrounded  with  shade 
and  orn.imental  trees,  barns  and  outbuildings  liave 
been  erected  for  the  care  of  his  grain  and  stock, 
and  every  improvement  upon  the  place  is  the 
work  of  his  own  hands. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hand  have  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren: Cora,  who  was  born  in  New  York,  was  mar- 
ried, November  28,'  1877,  to  Jacob  L.  Miller,  a  far- 
mer of  Pella  Township;  David  S.,  who  was  born  in 
La  Salle  County,  was  married,  February  1.5,  1882 
to  Minnie  McLean,  and  resides  in  Seward  County, 
Neb.;  Warren,  born  in  La  Salle  County,  was  mar- 
ried, on  Christmas  Day  of  1888,  to  Cora  A.  Serine, 
in  Randalia,  Iowa,  and  resides  in  Fayette  County, 
that  State;  AViliiam,  born  in  DeKalb  County,  led 
to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Edith  Geary,  on  the 
28th  of  February,  1890,  and  is  living  in  Seward, 
Neb.;  Curtis  J.,  who  was  born  in  Livingston 
County,  and  follows  fanning  in  Mona  Township, 
married  Virginia  Thompson,  who  died  February 
24,  1892;  Alma  I.,  who  was  born  in  Livingston 
County,  is  keeping  house  for  Curtis;  Lewis  S.,  who 
w.as  born  in  Ford  County,  is  still  on  the  home  farm 
with  his  parents;  Seth,  the  eldest  child,  who  was 
born,  in  DeKalb  County,  died  in  Livingston 
County,  April  7,  18GG,  at  the  age  of  nine  years. 

The  children  have  all  been  given  good  educa- 
tional advantages  and  thereby  fitted  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life.  Fatlier  and  sons  are  all  supporters 
of  the  Republican  part}'.  Mr.  Hand  and  his  wife 
have  been  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  for 
man}'  years  and  he  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post  of  Piper  Cit}',  of  wliich  lie  served 
as  Chaplain  for  some  years,  was  Adjutant  and  is 
now  Past  Commander.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.     He    has  served    as   Clerk  of 


Pella  Townshij)  for  about  fourteen  years,  was  Com- 
missioner of  Highways  and  Drainage  Commis- 
sioner, has  been  Treasurer  of  the  Fair  Association 
for  seven  years,  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as 
a  director  of  the  Brenton  and  Pella  Fire  Insurance 
Company.  No  man  h.as  done  more  for  the  drain- 
age interests  of  the  county  than  our  subject  and 
no  other  enterprise  has  aided  so  greatly  in  im- 
proving and  developing  the  count}-.  INIr.  Hand 
has  frequently  served  as  delegate  to  the  county 
and  State  conventions  of  his  party,  and  in  1887 
was  policeman  in  the  Capitol  during  the  Thirty- 
fifth  General  Assembly.  The  community  find  in 
him  a  valued  citizen  and  a  public-spirited  and 
progressive  man,  who  has  ever  liorne  his  share  in 
the  upbuilding  of  town  and  county.  He  is  highly 
esteemed  liy  all  who  know  him  as  a  man  of  sterling 
wt)rtli,  and  well  deserves  representation  in  this 
volume. 


■^  OHN  GOODMAN,  who  is  living  a  retired 
life  in  Kempton, claims  England  as  the  land 
of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  in  Hunting- 
tonshire,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1818,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Russell)  Goodman,  who 
were  also  natives  of  England.  Both  parents  are 
now  deceased.  The  mother  died  in  182.5,  and  the 
father  survived  her  only  about  three  years,  pass- 
ing away  in  1828.  In  their  family  were  four  chil- 
dren, the  eldest  of  whom  is  our  subject;  Sarah  is 
now  deceased;  William  died  in  infancy;  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  William  Hall  and  resides  in  Nebraska. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  reared 
upon  a  farm,  and  the  educational  advantages 
wiiich  he  received  were  those  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools.  Left  an  orjihan  at  an  early  age,  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  when  a  lad  of  ten 
summers,  and  did  general  work  or  anything  he 
could  find  to  do  in  order  to  provide  for  his  own 
maintenance.  At  length,  he  determined  to  try 
his  fortune  in  America  and  sailed  for  New 
York,  where  he  arrived  after  a  voyage  of  one 
inonth.  He  made  his  first  settlement  in  Erie 
County,  Ohio,  where  he   worked  as    a  farm  hand 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


703 


bj'  the  month  until  1856.  In  that  year  he 
came  to  Forrl  County,  III.,  and  located  in  Brenton 
Township,  where  he  purchased  eighty  .acres  of 
railroad  land  at  88  per  .acre.  Piper  City  at  that 
time  had  not  been  founded  and  the  nearest  trading 
point  was  Onarga,  twelve  miles  aw.ay. 

Mr.  Goodman  was  united  in  marriage,  March 
17,  1852,  to  Miss  Sarah  Bellamy,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel and  Susan  Bellamy.  Four  children  graced 
their  union,  as  follows:  Susie,  wife  of  .Joseph  Mc- 
Kinney,  who  died  in  .January,  1885;  William,  a 
hardware  merchant  residing  in  Kempton;  Samuel, 
a  dealer  in  hardware  in  Caber^-,  111.;  and  Sophia, 
wife  of  .lohn  Herron,  who  resides  in  Kempton. 

After  purchasing  his  farm  in  Brenton  Town- 
ship, Mr.  (ioodman  turned  his  attention  to  its  care 
and  cultivation,  and  made  it  one  of  the  desirable 
places  of  the  cunimunity.  He  there  continued  to 
reside  until  1882,  when  he  removed  to  Piper  City. 
The  succeeding  eight  years  of  his  life  were  there 
passed,  and  in  1890  became  to  Kempton,  where  he 
has  since  lived  retired.  In  politics,  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  Republican  principles,  and,  in  religious 
belief,  is  a  Methodist.  His  name  li.as  been  an  index 
to  his  character,  and  his  honorable,  upright  life  has 
won  him  the  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
been  Ijrought  in  contact.  He  is  numbered  among 
the  early  settlers  of  the  community,  his  residence 
in  the  county  covering  a  period  of  thirty-six 
years.  He  has,  therefore,  watched  the  greater 
part  of  its  growth  and  development,  and  he  has 
aided  in  its  advancement  and  upbuilding,  doing 
all  in  his  power  to  promote  its  best  interests. 


=^>-^<i 


i£a^ 


/p^  LIVER  A.  SHIRLEY,  an  honored  veteran 
lj(  I  of  the  late  wtir  and  an  influential  and  promi- 
^^  nent  farmer  of  Drummer  Township,  resid- 
ing on  section  36,  claims  Kentucky  as  the  State 
of  his  nativity.  His  birth  occurred  in  Scott  County, 
March  28,  1843,  and  he  is  the  son  of  William  R. 
and  Elizabeth  (Alsop)  Shirley,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Virginia.  In  that  State  they 
were  married  and  there  resided  until  1846,  when 
they  removed  to  Logan  County,   111.     The  father 


there  departed  this  life  on  the  4th  of  August, 
1862.  He  was  a  stalwart  Repulilican  in  (jolitics 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church.  By 
occupation,  he  was  a  farmer  and  followed  that  busi- 
ness throughout  his  entire  life.  His  widow  still 
survives  him.  .She  continued  to  reside  on  the  old 
home  in  Logan  Country  until  1891,  when  she  went 
to  Nebraska  and  now  resides  with  her  daughter. 
Their  children  areas  follows:  James,  who  operates 
the  old  homestead;  Martha,  Wesley,  Henry,  Oliver; 
Emily  and  .Sarah,  lioth  deceased;  George,  Charles, 
Sarah  and  Margaret. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history-  of  our 
subject,  who  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county  and  spent  his 
time  in  the  usual  manner  of  farming  people  until 
1861,  when,  on  the  12tli  of  August,  at  the  .age  of 
eighteen  years,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  Second 
Illinois  Cavalry,  for  three  years'  service,  but  was 
not  discharged  until  .January-,  1866,  having  there- 
fore worn  the  blue  for  four  and  a  half  years.  He 
now  receives  a  pension  of  812  per  month.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Ft.  Donelson,  Shiloh.  and 
many  others  of  importance.  He  was  ever  faithful 
to  his  duty  and  need  never  be  ashamed  of  his 
army  record. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Shirley  again 
gave  his  attention  to  farming,  and  on  the  loth  of 
April,  1869,  was  m.arried  in  Logan  County,  III., 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Mary  F.  Sumner,  who 
was  born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  on  the  20th  of 
October,  1843.  Her  parents,  Orin  and  Elizabeth 
(Carn.ahan)  Sumner,  were  natives  of  \ermont,  .and 
were  of  English  and  tierman  extraction,  respect- 
ively. Three  children  grace  the  union  ofoursul)- 
ject  and  his  wife,  and  the  family  circle  yet  re- 
mains unbroken.  They  are  as  follows:  Harry, 
Elizabeth  and  Ollie. 

Mr.  Shirley  continued  to  reside  in  Logan 
County  until  1869,  when  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Ford  County  and  settled  upon  the  farm 
which  is  now  his  home.  It  then  comprised  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  but  he  has  since 
doubled  it  in  extent.  When  he  came  to  the  county, 
his  means  were  limited,  but  by  his  persistent  efforts, 
industry  and  enterprise,  he  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward  and  secured  a  handsome  competence, 


704 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


being  ranked  among  the  substantial  farmers  oC  tiie 
community.  In  connection  with  general  farming 
he  has  considerable  stock.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  (Jrand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and,  in 
politics,  is  a  supporter  of  Republican  principles. 
lie  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  tlirougliout  the  community  are  held 
in  high  regard. 


^•{•^••{••S* 


•{•♦•{••{•t; 


(f^^HOMAS  J.  LYNCH,  a  manufacturer  and 
'^W^^  dealer  in  harness,  etc.,  is  one  of  the  enier- 
y^^  prising  young  business  men  and  influential 
citizens  of  Melvin.  His  parents,  Timothy  and 
Margaret  (Long)  Lynch,  were  natives  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle.  The  father  was  born  in  County  Kerry 
and  the  mother  in  the  city  of  Limerick.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  about  18r34,  and  his  wife 
soon  followed.  They  were  married  in  New  Jersey, 
and  later  removed  to  Yates  County,  N.  Y.,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Mr. 
Lynch  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  By  trade,  he  was  a  blacksmith.  His  widow 
subsequently  married  again.  She  was  the  mother 
of  nine  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living,  one 
born  of  the  first  marriage  and  three  of  the  second. 
In  1889,  she  too  passed  from  among  the  living. 

Our  subject,  the  eldest  surviving  child  of  the 
family,  was  born  September  19,  1857,  inPennY'an, 
Y'ates  County,  N.  Y'.  Having  acquired  a  common- 
school  education,  he  began  to  learn  the  harness- 
maker's  trade,  serving  a  three-years'  apprentice- 
ship in  Penn  Y'an.  After  completing  his  trade,  he 
worked  two  years  as  a  journeyman,  and  for  the 
next  year  and  a  half,  he  acted  the  role  of  clog- 
dancer,  negro  and  Irish  comedian  for  the  Dan  Bur- 
ley  New  Y'ork  Serenaders.  During  the  following 
four  j'ears,  he  was  on  the  stage  or  worked  at  his 
trade,  by  turns.  In  1880,  he  went  to  Hillsdale, 
Mich.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  the  fall 
of  1882,  then  went  to  New  Orleans,  and,  after 
clerking  in  a  store  for  a  time,  joined  the  Donald- 
son London  Ghost  Show  and  S[)eeialty  Compan}- 
and  went  with  it  to  Mississippi  in  the  spring  of 
1883.    At  Canton,  Miss.,  he  parted  with  that  com- 


pany and  in  July  of  that  year  came  to  Paxton, 
111.  Soon  afterward,  he  located  in  Ro.berts,  where 
he  was  engaged  at  his  trade. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  1886,  Mr.  Lynch 
wedded  Miss  Inez  W.  Thompson,  daughter  of  Po- 
lice Sergeant  F.  G.  Thomj^son,  of  Chicago.  The 
following  year  he  came  to  Melvin,  and  purchased  a 
half  interest  in  the  harness  establishment  of  E.  G. 
Collins,  but  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  he  sold 
out  his  share.  Removing  to  Chicago,  he  was  em- 
ployed at  his  trade  for  two  years  and  a  half,  with 
C.  H.  Lanyon,  of  P^nglewood.  In  1889,  he  again 
came  to  Melvin,  and,  after  working  in  the  harness 
shop  of  ().  Thompson  &  Son  for  a  time,  he  pur- 
chased their  interests  in  June,  1891,  and  has 
since  done  a  prosperous  business. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Lynch  is  a  Re- 
publican, and,  socially,  is  Past  Chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  in  Melvin.  His  wife 
holds  membership  with  the  Methodist  Church.  Mr. 
Lynch  is  courteous  and  pleasant  in  all  his  busi- 
ness relations,  thereby  winning  a  liberal  patronage 
and  the  good-will  of  all.  He  is  an  enterprising 
business  man  and  well  merits  success. 


/ 


5.J.SS* 


/^^EORGE  ESSINGTON,  who  resides  on  scc- 
(il  J-—,  tion  1,  Mona  Township,  is  a  native  of  Lin- 
*^^l[f  colnshire,  England.  He  was  born  Septem- 
ber 25,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Sarah 
(Scott)  E;ssington.  In  their  family  were  eight 
children:  ]\Iary,  wife  of  John  Clayton,  deceased, 
resides  in  Kendall  County,  111.;  George  is  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth;  Hugh  died  in  1876;  Henry 
is  a  resident  farmer  of  Rogers  Township;  Eliza, 
who  died  in  1885,  was  the  wife  of  William  Bryant, 
a  farmer  of  Kendall  County;  .John  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  IMona  Township;  Edward  follows 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Kendall  County;  Caroline 
is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Pierson,  a  resident  farmer  of 
Kendall  County.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade.  He  came  to  America  on  a 
sailing-vessel  in  1856,  and  was  thirty  days  on  the 
water.     He  located  in  Du  Page,  111.,  where  he  com- 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


705 


menced  work  at  his  trade,  and  after  a  few  months 
there  removed  to  Pl.ainfleld,  Will  County,  111.  Es- 
tablishing a  smithy,  he  there  engaged  in  business 
for  three  years,  after  which  he  purchased  a  farm, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  daj-s.  He 
died  January  20,  1887,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Plainfield  Cemetery.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Demo- 
crat.    His  wife  departed  this  life  in  1854. 

"With  his  parents  our  subject  came  to  America 
and  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  began  life  for  himself. 
Renting  land,  he  lived  in  Kendall  County  until 
1871,  when  he  came  to  Ford  Count}'  and  settled  in 
Mona  Township,  purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land 
on  section   1,  where  he  lias  since  made  his  home. 

March  20,  1866,  Mr.  Essingtoii  was  joined  in 
wedlock  with  Miss  Amelia  Bryant,  daughter  of 
James  Bryant.  B^'  their  union  were  born  four  chil- 
dren: William,  Sarah;  Herbert  and  Laura,  twins. 
Laura  is  the  wife  of  A.  T.  Crane,  a  farmer  residing 
in  Mona  Township.  Mrs.  Essington  died  Decem- 
ber 1,  1874  and  our  subject  was  again  married,  in 
1876,  this  time  to  Miss  Bertha  Thorson.  Unto 
them  have  been  born  four  children :  Cora,  Ida, 
Hugh  and  Vernon. 

Mr.  Essington  afHliates  with  the  Republican 
party  and  for  five  years  has  held  the  office  of 
Highway  Commissioner.  He  is  a  believer  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  New  Jerusalem  Church,  and  is 
one  of  the  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity, as  well  as  a  representative  and  enterpris- 
ing farmer.  He  has  made  his  own  wa}'  in  the 
world  and  whatever  success  he  has  achieved  is  the 
result  of  his  own  efforts. 


-^]. 


!^+^l 


^^fBNER  McLaughlin,  a  retired  fanner 
{m/u\\  residing  in  Piper  City,  was  born  in  AVest 
Beaver,  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1828,  and  is  of  Scotch  descent. 
His  grandfather,  John  McLaughlin,  a  native  of 
Scotland,  came  to  America  before  the  Revolution- 
ary AVar,  and  served  in  Washington's  army  at  the 
battle  of  Valley  Forge.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
shoulder  at  White  Plains,  and  his  death  resulted 


from  his  army  experience.  He  was  an  extensive 
farmer,  owning  large  tracts  of  land,  of  which  he 
gave  to  each  of  his  children  one  hundred  acres. 

Joseph  McLaughlin,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Dtcember  4,  1801, 
and  when  quite  young  went  with  his  p.irents  to 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  the  family  settling  near 
Wellsville,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm. 
There  were  no  free  schools  in  the  locality  at  that 
time,  and  his  educational  privileges  were  quite 
limited.  He  married  Alicia  Morgan,  a  lady  of 
Welsh  descent,  whose  father  settled  in  Maryland 
under  Lord  Baltimore.  They  began  their  domes- 
tic life  upon  a  farm  in  Ohio,  where  Mr.  McLaugh- 
lin spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his  death 
occurring  ui  1854.  His  wife  came  to  the  West  with 
her  sons  in  1853,  and  died  near  Piper  City.  Their 
family  numbered  five  children,  as  follows:  Mrs. 
Grafton,  now  a  resident  of  (Jliio;  Abner,  of  this 
sketch;  James  H.  and  Robert  M.,  who  died  in  Ohio 
when  young  men;  and  Mrs.  McKnight,  of  Warren 
County,  111. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  boyhood 
days  upon  the  farm  in  Ohio  and  in  a  flouring  mill, 
which  he  operated  after  his  father's  death.  In  the 
winter  season  he  conned  his  lessons  in  a  log  school- 
house  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  left  school. 
After  attaining  his  majority,  he  attended  a  higher 
school  for  five  months,  which  completed  his  edu- 
cation. The  year  1858  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Illinois.  He  located  in  Galesburg.  Knox  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  teaching  until  1861,  after 
which  he  came  to  Ford  County,  where  he  taught 
for  three  winters.  His  home  was  located  about  a 
mile  west  of  where  Piper  City  now  stands.  There 
was  no  house  between  this  place  and  Gilman,  for 
Ford  County  was  then  in  its  infancy.  He  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  unimproved 
land  and  for  sixteen  years  successfuU}'  engaged  in 
farming,  after  which  he  came  to  Piper  Citj',  wheie 
for  the  past  seven  years  he  has  lived  a  retired  life. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1865,  in  Ford  County,  Mr. 
McLaughlin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet McKinnej',  a  sister  of  John  McKinney,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  They  have 
no  children  of  their  own,  but  have  reared  Jessie 
and  Jennie  McKinney,  twin  daughters  of  William 


706 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


McKinney,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  McLaughlin.  The 
wife  of  our  subject  is  a  native  of  Ireland.  She 
was  born  near  Cookstown,  and  when  about  four 
years  old  was  brought  to  America.  She  attended 
sciiool  in  Philadelphia  until  fourteen  j'ears  old, 
when  she  came  to  Illinois.  Our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  been  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
since  its  organization,  and  have  taken  an  active 
interest  in   its  upbuilding. 

Mr.  McLaughlin  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Franklin  Piei'ce.  He  first  voted  in  Illinois  for 
.Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  supported  Lincoln  for  his 
second  term,  but  has  generally  affiliated  with  the 
Democratic  partj'  and  has  served  as  a  delegate  to 
a  number  of  its  conventions.  For  the  long  period 
of  eighteen  years  he  held  the  office  of  School  Treas- 
urer and  for  five  years  was  President  of  the  Vil- 
lage Board,  faithfully  discharging  his  duties.  He 
has  ever  been  a  warm  friend  to  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation and  mf)ralitv,  and  does  all  in  his  power  for 
the  promotion  of  those  interests  calculated  to  up- 
build and  benefit  the  communit\'.  Himself  and 
wife  have  a  comfortable  home  in  Pi[(er  City  and 
are  clas.sed  among  its  best  people. 


*^-ME 


H' 


im 


11*^^ 


'OIIN  EDMOND  HAGIN,  who  resides  on 
section  13,  Dix  Township,  is  a  worthy 
representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families 
of  Ford  County,  his  father,  J.  B.  Hagin, 
having  located  here  in  a  very  early  day.  He  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  and  was  of  German  extrac- 
tion. On  attaining  to  man's  estate,  he  wedded 
Mary  Nickerson,  who  vvas  also  a  native  of  New 
Jersey  and  was  of  P^nglish  descent.  Mr.  Hagin 
came  AVest  with  his  family  in  1836,  locating  first 
in  Ohio,  where  he  spent  about  eighteen  months. 
The  trip  was  made  by  water  and  stage.  A  year 
and  a  half  later,  he  removed  with  teams  to  Tippe- 
canoe County,  Ind.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
until  1845.  In  that  year,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Judge  Patton,  and  the  two  gentlemen  pur- 
chased a  part  of  land  of  four  hundred  acres  in 
what  was  then  Vermilion  County,  but  is  now  a 
part  of  Patton   Township,    Ford    Count}-.     The}- 


each  built  a  log  cabin  upon  the  land  and  contin- 
ued to  operate  it  conjointly  for  five  3'ears, 
when  Mr.  Hagin  sold  his  interest  to  the  Judge  and 
purchased  t^o  hundred  acres  of  land  on  sections 
9  and  10,  where  Henderson  Station  now  stands. 
His  nearest  trading  post  was  La  Fayette,  Ind.  He 
was  a  pioneer  of  this  section  of  the  State,  and  him- 
self and  family  experienced  all  the  hardships  and 
privations  of  frontier  life.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
Democrat,  and  in  religious  belief  was  a  Methodist, 
as  was  also  his  wife.  His  death  occurred  on  his 
farm  on  section  9,  December  13,  1858,  and  was 
mourned  by  many  friends.  His  wife  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  September  14,  1879. 

Unto  this  worthy  couple  were  born  seven 
children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the  eldest; 
Stephen  died  in  childhood;  Rosanna  became  the 
wife  of  Jesse  Todd,  a  farmer  residing  in  Dix 
Township,  and  died  in  1888;  Eliza  J.,  died  in 
infancy;  Laura  E.  is  the  wife  of  A.  D.  P.  Fer- 
guson, who  IS  living  in  Clay  County,  Kan.; 
Oliver  P.,  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Dix  Township; 
and  Albert  is  a  farmer  in  the  State  of  Washington. 

J.  E.  Hagin,  whose  name  heads  this  sketcii,  was 
born  in  Cape  May  County,  N.  J.,  June  7,  1836, 
and  vvas  only  about  a  year  old  when  his  parents 
left  his  native  State.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  and  his 
educational  advantages  were  necessarily  limited,  as 
the  schools  in  a  new  country  are  not  of  pronounced 
excellence.  By  his  own  efforts,  however,  he  has 
made  himself  a  well-informed  man.  Soon  after 
his  father's  death,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
and  has  since  engaged  in  farming. 

Mr.  Hagin  was  married,  March  26,  1858,  to 
Miss  Barbara  E.  Crutcher,  and  unto  them  was  born 
one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  died 
in  1863,  and  our  subject  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Ellen  Myers, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Theresa  Myers,  a  native  of 
Baden, Germany,  who,  when  about  eighteen  months 
old,  came  with  her  parents  to  America.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hagin  have  no  children  of  their  own.  but 
raised  an  orphan  who  came  to  them  when  three  years 
old.  She  took  the  name  of  Alvina  Hagin,  and,  on 
reaching  womanhood,  married  A.  P.  Smith,  a  farmer 
of  Drummer  Township.     Our  subject  removed  to 


^       "'fig^    ^?®->v 


''1 


^^.^     g4.^ 


'A 


diY^ 


GvC^.i%^cS^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


711 


his  present  farm  in  1874,  which  was  his  first  pur- 
chase of  land.  He  became  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  13,  and  has  since  engaged 
in  its  cultivation  and  development,  his  labors  hav- 
ing made  it  one  of  the  desirable  places  of  the  town- 
ship. He  has  given  some  attention  to  public  duties, 
having  served  his  township  as  Palhmaster,  School 
Director  and  Township  Trustee,  and  two  years  as 
a  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors.  In 
|)olitics,  he  is  independent,  voting  for  the  man 
whom  he  thinks  best  qualified  for  the  office,  re- 
gardless of  party  affllintions.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  fraternity.  Mr. 
Il.agin  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  the  community.  He  is  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  its 
u|ibuilding.  He  has  long  been  a  resident  of  Ford 
Couut3',  and  has  been  an  eye-witness  of  its  entire 
growth. 


ULLIAM  J.  WILSON,  President  of  the 
\/i\/li  Pi'ivate  banking  house  of  Mattinson,  Wil- 
'^'  son  it  Co.,  of  Gibson  City,  III.,  is  a  jia- 
tivc  of  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  and  was  born  on  the 
2'.itli  of  June,  1838.  His  parents,  Washington 
and  Mary  A.  (Forman)  Wilson,  were  from  Ohio. 
His  father's  birth  occurred  on  the  18th  of  Octo- 
ber, 18 11,  near  F'airfield,  Greene  County,  and  the 
mother  was  born  in  Clarke  Count}'.  They  were 
married  May  22,  1836,  and  lived  together  as  hus- 
band and  wife  for  nearly  half  a  century,  when 
called  to  their  final  rest.  Washington  Wilson 
died  at  his  home  in  Springfield,  Ohio,  on  Sunday, 
April  26,  1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years 
and  seven  months.  His  wife  passed  away  on  the 
5th  of  Ma_v  following,  surviving  her  husband  only 
nine  d.ays.  They  had  joined  the  Christian  Church 
together  in  1839,  and  remained  worthy  and  con- 
sistent members  of  that  soeietj'  to  the  close  of 
their  lives.  It  is  said  of  them  that  the}'  were  re- 
markably adapted  to  each  other  and  were  pos- 
sessed of  noble  traits  of  character. 

Michael  AVilson,  the  father  of  Washington  Wil- 
29 


son,  was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812,  and  died 
soon  after  his  return  from  the  war  from  the  effects 
of  exposure  while  in  the  service.  His  widow  re- 
moved to  Harmony  Township,  and  later  made  her 
home  with  her  son  Washington  in  Springfield, 
where  she  died  in  1880,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-two  years. 

Washington  and  Mary  A.  Wilson  were  the  [)ar- 
ents  of  eleven  children:  ISIichael,  AVilliani  .J., 
George  W.,  Harrison,  John,  Addison;  Luther,  de- 
ceased: Nancy  T.,  Harriet;  Mary  A.,  deceased, 
was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Strain;  Flora  is  now  Mrs.  Dr. 
Clarence  Kay.  Michael  and  Addison  reside  in 
Springfield,  Ohio;  George  W.,  who  was  State  Sen- 
ator, makes  his  home  in  London,  Ohio;  Harriet  is 
a  resident  of  London,  Ohio;  Nancy  T.  is  the  wife 
of  John  J.  Goodfellow;  Harrison  is  a  farmer  of 
Madison  County,  Ohio,  and  .lohn  resides  in  Gib- 
son City. 

Wiishington  Wilson  made  his  home  in  Spring- 
field at  an  early  day.  He  was  industrious  and 
frugal,  and  accumulated  a  large  landed  estate,  hav- 
ing nearly  two  thousand  acres  of  land  near  Spring- 
field at  the  time  of  his  death.  lie  was  one  of  the 
prime  movers  in  the  organization  of  the  Christian 
Church  in  Springfield,  and  was  one  of  its  officers  and 
most  earnest  supporters.  As  a  Christian,  he  was 
Biblically  orthodox,  and  practically  evangelical, 
with  charity  for  all.  He  was  active  as  a  speaker 
and  worker  in  church,  prayer  meetings  and  Sun- 
day-school, and  his  hospitality  to  the  ministers 
was  liberal  and  much  partaken  of.  He  was  noted 
for  steadfastness  of  purpose,  a  broad  Christian 
spirit  and  for  his  efforts  to  do  good  in  his  commu- 
nity and  to  encourage  and  develop  a  true  Chris- 
tian spirit  in  those  who  came  within  the  range 
of  his  influence.  The  sterling  qualities  of  this 
worthy  man  and  his  estimable  wife,  which  gave 
them  such  high  standing  in  their  community, 
have  had  their  intluence  in  forming  the  character 
of  their  children,  who  have  become  useful  and 
worthy  members  of  society. 

William  J.  Wilson  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Springfield,  Ohio.  On  the  17th  of  September, 
1863,  he  was  married,  in  his  native  county,  to 
Miss  Lydia  Goodfellow,  a  daughter  of   John  and 


712 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Lucy  (Bennett)  Goodfellow.  autl  a  native  of  Clarke 
County,  Ohio. 

On  attaining  man's  estate,  Mr.  Wilson  engaged 
in  farming  near  bis  old  home,  and  continued  in 
that  vocation  until  1875,  when  he  embarked  in 
the  grocery  business  at  London,  Ohio.  In  1876, 
he  sold  out  and  removed  to  Gibson  City,  111.,  and 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade,  which  he  conducted 
successfully  until  the  burning  of  his  elevator.  On 
coming  to  Gibson  Citj^,  Mr.  Wilson  invested  in 
farming  lands  in  Ford  County,  and  has  increased 
his  acreage  until  he  now  owns  fifteen  hundred 
acres  of  agricultural  lands,  which  are  situated 
partly  in  the  following  counties:  Ford,  Vermilion 
and  Lee.  Two  years  after  he  settled  in  Gibson 
City,  Mr.  Wilson  became  a  partner  in  the  bank- 
ing house  now  carried  on  under  the  firm  title  of 
Mattinson,  Wilson  &  Co.,  the  oldest  bank  in  the 
city,  and  has  maintained  partnership  relations  with 
that  institution  continuouslj'  since.  In  addition  to 
the  business  interests  already  mentioned,  Mr.  Wil- 
son has  done  an  extensive  business  in  growing, 
bujing,  feeding  and  shipping  live  stock.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Gibson  Canning  Company, 
of  which  he  is  Vice-President. 

Ten  children  were  born  to  Jlr.  and  Mrs.  AVil- 
son,  three  sons  and  six  daughters  now  living: 
Minnie  B.  is  the  wife  of  Evan  Mattinson.  of 
the  banking  house  of  Mattinson,  Wilson  tk  Co.; 
Luther  B.  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in 
Dixon,  111.;  Cora  May  resides  with  her  parents; 
Lucy  F.  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Browning,  a  farmer 
of  Drummer  Township;  William  J.,  Jr.;  Mar}' 
Maud,  Grace,  Mabel  and  Arthur  Glenn.  One 
died  in  infancy. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Wilso)i  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  public  office.  In  their 
religious  views,  Mr.  AVilson,  his  wife  and  older 
children  are  Presbyterians,  and  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  of  that  church.  The  chil- 
dren older  than  Mary  Maud  were  born  in  Clarke 
County,  Ohio,  while  she  and  those  younger  are 
natives  of  Gibson  City. 

Since  his  residence  at  Gibson  City,  Mr.  Wilson 
has  been  actively  and  prominently  identified  with 
its  commercial  and  financial  interests,  and  it  is  no 
flattery  to  sa}-  of  him  that  his  record  has  been  that 


of  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  enterprise  and  abil- 
itJ^  In  his  business  career  he  has  been  eminently 
successful,  and  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a 
large  and  valuable  property,  while  his  uniformly 
upright  course  iu  life  and  just  regard  for  the 
rights  of  others  have  entitled  him  to  a  place  in  the 
foremost  ranks  of  the  most  respected  and  worthy 
citizens  of  Ford  County. 


=^. 


"N— =«-•••  ^ 


E  WITT  C.  WOODRUM,  who  owns  and 
operates  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
valuable  land  on  section  20,  Dix  Township, 
is  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  commu- 
nity, and  a  well-known  and  prominent  citizen. 
His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  Shasta 
County,  Cal.,  October  5,  1855,  and  is  one  of  two 
children  born  unto  Clinton  and  Nancj'  H.  (Bfass- 
field)  Woodrum.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois and  the  mother  of  Indiana,  and  both  were  of 
English  descent.  They  had  two  children,  but  the 
other  is  now  deceased.  After  Mr.  Woodrum 's 
death,  his  widow  was  married,  in  1865,  to  AVilliam 
D.  Lowden,  who  was  a  native  of  Ilarrisburg,  Pa., 
and  of  German  descent.  Two  children  were  born 
of  that  union.  Mr.  Lowden  died  in  1874.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  is  now  the  wife  of  H.  J.' 
Adams,  a  retired  farmer  residing  in  Marshall 
County,  HI. 

Mr.  AVoodrum  whose  name  heads  this  i-ecord 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  boyhood  da^'s  in  tliis 
State.  He  acquired  a  good  classical  education  in 
the  schools  of  Marshall  County,  and,  at  an  early 
age,  began  to  earn  his  own  livelihood.  He  may 
truly  be  called  a  self-made  man,  for  he  began  for 
himself  without  means.  For  a  time,  he  worked  as 
a  farm  hand  by  the  month,  and  from  his  meagre 
earnings  saved  enough  to  purchase  property.  Stej) 
by  step  he  has  worked  his  way  upward,  overcom- 
ing all  difficulties  and  obstacles  in  his  path,  until 
he  now  has  a  comfortable  competence.  His  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  is  a  highly-culti- 
vated tract  of  land  and  well  improved  with  good 
buildings  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model    farm. 

On    the    1st    of   December,  1876,  Mr.  AVoodrum 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


713 


was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Adeline  Wood,  a 
native  of  Illinois  and  a  daughter  of  Girard  and 
Hannah  (Williams)  Wood.  Iler  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Indiana  and  were  of  English  extraction. 
By  this  union  were  born  two  children,  daughters, 
but  Nina  is  now  deceased.  Edna  is  still  with  her 
parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodrum  rank  high  in  so- 
cial circles.  Their  home  is  the  abode  of  hospitality 
and  tlieir  friends  throughout  the  community  are 
many.  In  his  political  affiliations,  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and  has  held  the  office  of  School  Director  and 
Road  Commissioner. 


(«1  I»ILL1AM  MILLER,  M.  IX,  a  prominent 
\/\/f  phj'sician  and  druggist  of  Cabery,  is  a  na- 
^^^  tive  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  in 
Faj-ette  County,  October  28,  1859,  and  is  a  son  of 
Dr.  G.  M.  Miller,  llis  father  was  born  in  West- 
moreland County,  Pa.,  and  after  attaining  to  ma- 
ture years  married  Miss  Rebecca  J.  Shroyer,  a  na- 
tive of  Fa3'ette  County.  Ilewasamanof  superior 
education  and  a  prominent  ph3'sician  iu  Fayette 
County  for  a  number  of  years.  He  removed  to 
the  West  in  1871,  locating  in  La  Salle  County,  111., 
upon  a  farm  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  .Tune,  1871).  Ho  took 
quite  a  prominent  part  in  political  affairs,  support- 
M;.  ing  the  Republican  part^^  but  was  never  an  aspirant 
^  for  office.  His  wife  survives  him  and  resides  on 
the  old  homestead  in  La  Salle  Count}'. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of  four  sons  and 
five  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years 
and  are  yet  living.  The  Doctor  received  a  good 
.  education  at  the  public  and  High  Schools,  and  wish- 
ing to  enter  the  medical  profession,  he  began  study- 
ing with  his  father.  He  was  afterwards  in  the 
oHiee  of  Dr.  R.  F.  Dyer  of  Ottawa,  and  subscquonll}' 
took  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Chicago,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1884.  He  then  located  in  Cabery  in  April  of  that 
year  and  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profes- 
sion, which  he  has  since  followed  with  excellent 
success. 

On  the  30th  of   October,  1886,  the  Doctor    was 


joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Alice  Clayton,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Clayton,  now  deceased.  The  lady 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Ford  County.  Two 
children  grace  their  union:  Hazel  and  young  Doc. 
The  parents,  who  are  most  estimable  people,  rank 
high  in  social  circles  and  have  the  respect  of  all 
who  know  them. 

In  1885,  Dr.  Miller  embarked  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness and  now  carries  a  large  stock  of  drugs,  medi- 
cines, paints,  oils,  wall  paper,  notions,  etc.  By  fair 
treatment  and  courteous  dealing  he  has  secured  a 
liljeral  patronage,  of  which  he  is  well  deserving. 
He  stands  in  the  front  rank  among  his  professional 
brethren,  his  skill  and  ability  being  widely  ac- 
knowledged. In  his  political  affiliations,  the  Doc- 
tor is  a  Republican,  having  been  identified  with 
that  party  since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Gen.  Garfield.  He  has  taken  quite  an  active 
part  in  local  political  affairs  and  has  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Town  Board,  and  of  the  Central 
Committee  for  four  years.  He  is  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen,  who  gives  his  hearty  sup- 
port to  any  enterprise  calculated  to  promote  the 
general  welfare,  and  the  cause  of  education  finds 
in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  is  a  man  of  upright,  ster- 
ling character,  who  well  deserves  representation 
in  this  volume. 


'jl7  EWIS  ALD,  an  enterprising  and  highly  re- 
I  (^  spected  farmer  residing  on  section  19,  Dix 
/I'— ^Vi  Township,  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native 
of  Illinois.  His  birth  occurred  in  Woodford 
County,  on  the  22d  of  September,  1846.  His  par- 
ents, Henry  J.  and  Minnie  (Ristine)  Aid,  were  both 
natives  of  Germany.  They  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  five  sons  and  two  daughters:  Minnie, 
William,  llenrj-,  Charles,  Lev/is,  Kate  and  Christ. 
No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  childhood  of  our  subject.  He  was  reared  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  aiding  in  the 
labors  of  the  farm  during  the  summer  months, 
while  in  the  winter  season  he  attended  the  district 
schools,  where  he  acquired  a  good  English  educa- 


714 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


tion.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until  he  ar- 
rived at  man's  estate  and  tlien  started  out  in  life 
for  himself,  working  as  a  farm  liand  by  the  month 
for  a  short  time.  He  then  rented  land  and  con- 
tinued to  malve  his  home  in  the  county  of  his  na- 
tivity until  1874,  with  the  exception  of  one  year, 
when  he  made  his  liome  in  Champaign  County, 
111.  He  came  to  Ford  County  in  1874,  and  lo- 
cated in  Dix  Township,  renting  land  until  1882, 
when  he  purchased  his  |)resent  home — a,  good  farm 
of  eighty  acres  situated  on  section  19.  The  land 
is  now  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  tlie 
place  is  well  improved.  The  well-tilled  fields  in- 
dicate the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner,  and 
the  neat  appearance  of  the  farm  gives  evidence  of 
the  supervision  of  a  careful  manager. 

In  1874,  Mr.  Aid  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Emma  Thomas,  a  daughter  of  Joim  and  Eliza 
Thomas  and  a  most  estimable  lad}'.  Three  children 
have  been  born  of  their  union,  one  sou  and  two 
daughters,  and  tlie  family-  circle  j'et  remains  un- 
broken. In  order  of  birth,  they  are  as  follows: 
Ida,  Minnie  and  Clarence.  The  Aid  household  is 
a  hospitable  one  and  the  members  of  the  family 
hold  a  high  rank  in  the  social  circles  in  which 
they  move. 

In  his  political  atliliations,  Mr.  Aid  is  a  Repub- 
lican, having  supported  that  party  since  attaining 
his  majority.  lie  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
liowever,  preferring  to  devote  his  attention  ex- 
clusively to  his  business  interests.  His  entire  life 
has  been  passed  in  Illinois  and  he  is  a  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen   of  Ford  County. 


^  ESSE  G.  BARKER  is  the  owner  of  one  of 
the  fine  farms  of  Dix  Township,  located  on 
section  31.  He  was  born  in  Newport,  R.  I., 
!^W  on  the  12th  of  April,  1837,  and  is  the  eldest 
child  of  Abraham  and  Sophronia  (Gould)  Barker. 
They  had  five  children,  the  other  members  of  the 
family  being  Mar3^  who  became  the  wife  of  George 
Manchester,  and  died  in  1873;  Victoria  L.,  wife  of 
Abraham  Reed,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  residing  in 
Massachusetts;  Frank, an  insurance  and  land  agent 


living  in  Washington,  D.  C;  Ellen,  who  makes  her 
home  in  Fall  River,  Mass.  Tlie  father  of  this  fam- 
ily died  in  1877,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  in 
Fall  River,  Mass. 

Our  subject  is  a  self-made  man,  whose  life  in 
many  respects  is  well  worthy  of  emulation.  At 
the  early  age  of  nine  years,  he  began  to  earn  his 
own  liveliliood,  working  upon  a  farm.  He  received 
only  $3  for  his  first  montli's  work.  He  afterward 
worked  at  the  blacksmith's  trade  for  two  years. 
The  year  1857  witnessed  his  emigration  to  Illinois. 
In  the  autumn  of  that  year,  he  located  in  Dix 
Township,  Ford  County,  where  he  resumed  farm 
work  by  the  month  and  was  tlius  employed  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war. 

Mr.  Barker  had  watched  with  interest  the  pro- 
gress of  events  in  the  South.  It  was  soon  seen 
that  the  war  was  to  be  an  affair  of  more  import- 
ance than  was  at  first  thought,  and  on  the  15th  of 
August,  1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company 
(i,  Tliirty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry.  The  regi- 
ment was  mustered  into  service  at  Chicago,  and 
thence  went  to  the  front.  Mr.  Barker  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  was  afterward  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  participated  in  many  other 
engagements  and  skirmishes.  After  serving  faith- 
fully for  three  j^ears,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
on  the  4th  of  October,  18G4,  and  went  to  Cham- 
paign County,  111.,  but  on  the  4th  of  February 
following,  he  again  entered  the  service  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  received  his  final  discharge 
.lanuary  30,  1866.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier,  ever 
found  at  his  post  of  dut}-,  loyal  to  the  cause  un- 
der whose  banner  he  fought. 

On  his  return  to  the  North,  Mr.  Barker  located 
in  Champaign  County,  but  soon  afterward  came  to 
Ford  County,  and  began  the  improvement  of  his 
eighty-acre  tract  of  land  on  section  31,  Dix  Town- 
ship. He  had  purchased  this  property  in  1861,  and 
it  has  since  been  his  home,  but  the  boundaries  of 
his  farm  have  been  greatlj'  extended  as  his  finan- 
cial resources  have  increased.  He  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  sixty-two  acres,  a  part  of  which  lies 
in  Champaign  Count}'.  The  entire  farm  is  under 
cultivation  and  the  well-tilled  fields  and  manj'  im- 
provements upon  the  place  indicate  the  thrift  and 


y^^.<^Uw 


POETRATT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


717 


enterprise  of  the  owner  who  is  one  of  the  substan- 
tial citizens  of  tlie  community. 

On  the  1st  of  ISIarch,  1867,  Mr.  Barker  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Miss  Rachel  A.  AVood,  born 
in  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  April  14,  1816,  a  daughter  of 
Noah  and  Rachel  (Oliver)  Wood.  They  aie  the 
])arenls  of  ten  children,  as  follows:  F'rances  L., 
(4oorge  A.,  Charles  W.,  Anna,  Nellie,  Mary  Alta; 
William  and  Winnie,  twins;  Lula  J.,  and  Elsie  R. 
In  bis  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Barker  is  a  Repub- 
lican; in  religions  belief,  is  a  Methodist,  as  is  also 
his  wife,  and  in  his  social  relations  he  is  an  Odd  Fel- 
low, and  a  member  of  Lott  Post  No.  70,  G.  A.  R., 
of  Gibson.  His  success  in  life  has  all  been  due  to 
his  own  efforts.  Since  his  tenth  3ear  he  has  made 
his  own  way  in  the  world  and  b.y  his  enterprise 
and  perseverance  has  worked  his  way  upward  to 
success. 


—J 


^-^^,1 


Mi>^^<m 


-- 5— 


y^lLLlABI  B.  FLORA  has  done  much  for 
the  upbuilding  and  development  of  Ford 
^)^/  County,  and  Lis  name  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  its  history.  This  work,  therefore, 
would  be  incomplete  without  a  record  of  his  life. 
He  was  born  near  Carthage,  Campbell  County,  Kj'., 
in  the  famous  Blue  Grass  region,  August  5,  1844. 
Mis  parents,  John  W.  and  1.  .J.  (Ilerndon)  Flora, 
are  also  natives  of  that  State,  the  former  Ijorn  in 
.June,  1821,  and  the  latter  in  iNlarch,  182r).  Mr. 
Flora  was  an  old-line  Whig  in  polities,  but  since 
the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  has 
been  one  of  its  stanch  supporters,  and  has  served 
for  twent3'-live  j-ears  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Himself  and  wife  arc  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  are  classed  among  the  highly  respected 
and  representative  people  in  that  portion  of  Ken- 
tucky in  which  they  make  their  home.  Of  their 
seven  sons  and  five  daughters,  eight  are  yet  living, 
of  whom  William  is  the  eldest;  Emil}'  i.s  the  wife 
of  H.  F.  Tarvin,  an  agriculturist  of  Charleston, 
111.;  Samuel,  who  married  Sarah  Hardy,  is  a  farmer 
of  Carthage,  Ky.;  Augustus  wedded  Miss  Hester 
White,  and  is  a  mechanic  and  farmer;  Mollie  is  the 
wife  of  Arthur  Kinzel,  a  farmer  of  Lovington,  111.; 


James  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  work;  John 
married  Mattie  Dawson,  and  resides  near  California, 
K}-.;  and  Luella  is  the  wife  of  John  Newkirk,who 
is  employed  on  the  electric  street  railroad  of  Cov- 
ington, Ky. 

Our  subject  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  his  native 
State,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  enlisted  for 
the  late  war  as  a  memlier  of  Companj'  II,  Thirty- 
seventh  Kentucky  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  in 
at  Covington,  in  July,  1863.  The  troops  were 
ordered  to  Louisville,  and  then  to  Glasgow  to 
guard  Cumberland  River.  They  did  guard  duty 
for  some  time,  and  at  Mt.  Sterling  were  organized 
for  a  raid,  mounted  and  equipped  with  carbines 
and  revolvers.  Every  step  of  the  way  was  vigor- 
ously contested,  but  they  at  length  arrived  at  Salt- 
ville,  Va.,  with  a  force  of  four  thousand.  An 
engagement  was  coinmenced  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  and  continued  until  ten  at  night,  when 
our  men  retreated  to  Big  Sandy  River  and  returned 
to  Lexington,  Ky.  ISIr.  Flora  rode  one  horse 
during  this  raid  fifteen  hundred  miles.  He  left 
the  animal  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  in 
the  evening,  seeing  a  mounted  negro  approach, 
his  lieutenant  told  him  to  secure  that  horse.  It 
was  then  dark.  j\Ir.  Flora,  on  approaching  the 
fellow,  commanded  him  to  halt  and  give  up  his 
horse,  which  was  done,  and,  Itehold,  it  proved  to  be 
]\lr.  Flora's  own  property.  He  was  honoral)ly  dis- 
charged at  Louisville,  Dccemlier  28,  1864,  and  re- 
turned to  his  Kentucky  home. 

In  1865,  our  subject  went  to  IMarysville,  Kan., 
and  engaged  in  teaming  between  Atchison,  St.  Jo 
and  Marvsville.  He  afterwards  clerked  in  Marys- 
ville  until  the  succeeding  November,  when  he 
returned  to  Kentucky, and  for  three  years  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  brick, shipping  his  products 
to  Cincinnati.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  he  removed 
to  Buckley,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  brick  for  Ed  Gill,  of  Paxton.  He  afterward 
engaged  in  carpentering,  and  also  followed  farm- 
ing. In  the  winter  season, he  engaged  in  teaching 
in  Charleston,  and,  in  1871,  bought  the  second 
business  lot  ever  sold  in  the  village  of  Roberts. 
He  commenced  building  upon  it  in  December  of 
that  year,  and  then  embarked  in  business  as  a  mem- 


718 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ber  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Flora  &  Newman, 
who  continued  operations  for  sixteen  years.  They 
first  carried  only  a  grocery  stoclv,  but  afterward 
engaged  in  general  merchandising,  and  worked  up 
an  excellent  trade.  In  1883,  their  volume  of  busi- 
ness amounted  to  $40,000. 

Mr.  Floi-a  was  married,  February  2,  1873,  to  Miss 
Mary  .1.,  daughter  of  W.  I.  and  Ruth  C.  (Parisli) 
Newman,  who  are  mentioned  in  the  sltetcli  of 
Joseph  V.  King,  on  anotlier  page  of  this  work. 
Unto  them  have  been  born  four  sons  and  two 
daughters:  Bessie,  A'inccnt,  Harry.  Claude,  Grover 
and  JIabel.  The  motlier  and  eldest  daughter  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  Miss  Bessie 
belongs  to  the  Epworth  Le.ague,  the  Ladies' 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  the  Temperance 
Society. 

Mr.  Flora  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen. 
Grant,  and  has  since  been  an  inflexible  adherent  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  takes  quite  an  active 
interest  in  political  affairs,  has  served  as  Town 
Clerk,  and  has  filled  the  otlice  of  Supervisor  for 
many  terms.  He  has  several  times  been  tendered 
the  chairmanship  of  the  Board,  and  has  served  on 
the  most  important  committees.  Since  1876,  he 
has  been  olHcially  connected  with  the  educational 
interests  of  the  communit3',  and  for  many  years 
has  served  as  School  Treasurer  of  Lyman  Town- 
ship. Socially,  lie  is  a  charter  member  of  Buck- 
ley Lodge  No.  634,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Lyman  Lodge 
No.  293,  K.  P.;  and  of  Melvin  Post  No.  500, 
G.  A.  R.  Mr.  Flora  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
throughout  this  community  .as  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen,  well  deserving  of  a  re])re- 
sentation  in  this  volume.  He  is  spoken  of  in  the 
highest  terms  by  his  fellow-townsmen,  .and  is  de- 
serving of  their  warm  regard. 


"f/OHN  A.  IIATTEBERG,  a  self-made  m.an 
and  one  of  the  enterprising  fanners  resid- 
ing on  section  24,  Dix  Township,  is  a  n.a- 
tive  of  Norwa3^  He  w.as  born  on  the  5th 
of  October,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  and 
Johanna  (Johnson)  Hatteberg.    Their  familj'  num- 


bered five  children:  James;  Thore,  deceased; 
John  A.,  of  this  sketch;  Thore,  the  second  of  that 
name;  and  Mary,  deceased. 

Our  subject  w.as  reared  to  manhood  upon  his 
father's  farm,  and  the  educational  adv.antages 
which  he  received  were  those  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  twenty-one  ye.ars  of  age,  when  he  bade 
good-bye  to  home  and  native  land  and  emigrated 
to  America.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  a  sailing- 
vessel  in  1860,  which,  after  a  voyage  of  four  weeks, 
dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Queliec.  Mr.  Hat- 
teberg came  on  at  once  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Lis- 
bon, Kendall  County,  .and  beg.an  working  upon  a 
farm  by  the  montii.  The  succeeding  three  years 
of  his  life  were  thus  passed,  after  which  he  rented 
land  in  Kendall  Count3-  until  1868.  He,  in  eom- 
panj'  with  his  brotlier  and  stepfather,  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres  in  (Truiidy  County, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1875,  wlien  he 
came  to  P'ord  County,  locating  in  Dix  Township. 
His  first  purchase  of  land  here  consisted  of  a  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acre  tract  on  section  24,  but 
as  liis  financial  resources  have  increased,  lie  has 
bought  other  land  and  now  has  one  hundred  and 
ninety-seven  and  one-half  acres,  all  in  Dix  Town- 
ship. He  is  a  practical,  progressive  .and  successful 
farmer  and  his  well-tilled  fields  yield  to  liim  a 
golden  tribute  for  the  care  and  cultivation  lie  lias 
bestowed  upon  them. 

In  1868,  ]\Ir.  Ilattelierg  led  to  the  niarri.age  altar 
Miss  Margaret  Anderson,  who  w.as  liorn  in  Nor- 
way, May  19,  1841  and  in  1864  came  to  America, 
and  unto  them  have  been  born  ten  children,  eight 
of  whom  are  \et  living,  as  follows:  Mary,  Olie  A., 
John,  Johanna,  Andrew,  Blartha,  Lars  and  Annie. 
Those  deceased  arc  Allie  and  Lars.  The  family 
have  a  pleasant  home  in  Dix  Township  and  are 
well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the  commu- 
nity. 

Mr.  Hatteberg  and  all  the  family  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and,  in  polities,  is  inde- 
pendent, voting  for  the  man  whom  he  thinks  best 
qualified  to  till  the  ottice,  regardless  of  part\'  affil- 
iations. He  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  for- 
tune and  has  builded  wisely  and  well.  His  posses- 
sions have  all  been  .accumulated  by    his  own  hard 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


719 


labor  and  his  life  shows  what  can  be  accomplished 
b}'  enei-o;}-.  industry  and  determination.  Like 
many  of  his  fellow  countrymen,  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica emi>ty-handedbut  is  now  numbered  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  Dix  Township. 

V ♦^*^*  / 


ILLIAM  T.  DURHAM,  a  member  of  the 
Ijl  firm  of  Durham  l'>rothers,  bankers  of  Piper 
City,  and  a  prominent  young  business  man, 
was  born  in  Parke  County,!  nd.,  on  the  2(lth  of  May, 
18.58,  and  is  a  son  of  David  Durliam.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Daniel  Durham,  removed  from  Ken- 
tuck3'  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  in  an  early  day.  David 
Durham  was  born  in  Kentuck}'  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  Indiana  as  a  farmer.  lie  afterwards 
removed  to  Kankakee,  111.,  wliere  his  death  occur- 
red, after  which  his  wife  went  with  lier  family  to 
Iroquois  County,  in  1868,  in  order  to  educate  her 
children  in  the  Grand  Prairie  Seminary.  William's 
motlier's  maiden  name  was  Lucy  A.  Harris,  a 
daugliter  of  one  of  the  most  prominent  physicians 
of  Richmond,  Va.,  Dr.  Thomas  Harris.  , 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Durham  wore  married  in 
Indiana.  In  politics,  he  was  an  earnest  Republican 
and  was  a  very  successful  business  man.  There  are 
seven  children  in  the  family,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters.  The  three  brothers  have  two  banks, 
one  at  Onarga  and  one  at  Piper  City.  Benjamin 
H.  and  P^zra  D.  reside  at  Onarga  and  William  T. 
at  Piper  City.  Our  subject  was  quite  young  when 
his  p.arents  left  Indiana  and  removed  to  Illinois. 
He  there  spent  live  j-ears  upon  a  farm  near  Kanka- 
kee, before  the  family  removed  to  Onarga.  He 
attended  the  pulilic  school  and  seminary  at  Onarga 
and  graduated  at  Commercial  College.  When  his 
education  was  finished,  he  entered  upon  his  life 
work,  becoming  connected  witti  the  bank  of  Onarga, 
where  he  remained  until  April,  1888,  when  lie  and 
his  brothers  purchased  the  bank  of  George  Camp- 
l)ell  in  Piper  City,  and  since  tliat  time  Mr.  Durliam 
h.as  had  charge  of  the  bank  at  this  place,  wliile  liis 
brothers  conduct  the  one  at  Onarga. 

On  the  ■i.'UI  of  August,  188(!,   INIr.    Durliam    was 


united  in  marriage  with  Miss  .Josie  Ward,  their 
union  being  celebrated  in  Onarga.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  the  same  school  as  her  husband  and  her 
family  are  old  residents  of  Onarga.  Her  father  and 
niotlier,  lioth  formerly  from  West  Virginia,  are  now 
residing  in  California.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Durham  are 
prominent  young  people  of  this  community,  being 
widely  and  favoralily  known,  .and  are  held  in  high 
regard  by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Mrs.  Durham 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  is  promi- 
nent in  both  musical  and  church  circles.  Mr.  Dur- 
ham was  reared  as  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Garfield  and  has  never  been  an  office-seeker. 
He  is  a  careful  business  man,  enterprising  and 
sagacious,  and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  bank- 
ing business. 


1^+^ 


[^_ 


[=~ 


ellARLES  CURD  resides  on  section  20^ 
Rogers  Township.  To  the  record  of  tlie 
old  settlers  of  Ford  County  we  wish  to  add 
the  sketch  of  Mr.  Curd,  who  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  substantial  farmers  and  honored  citizens  of 
the  community'.  He  was  born  in  Kent,  England, 
in  1833.  His  father,  John  Curd,  was  also  born  in 
Kent  and  there  wedded  ISIary  Town.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  spent  his  entire  life  in 
his  native  land. 

Our  subject  passed  his  boyhood  d.ays  upon  his 
father's  farm,  and  when  a  j-oung  m.an  emigrated 
to  the  New  World,  crossing  tlie  Atlantic  about 
18.50.  He  spent  about  four  years  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  working  upon  a  farm.  He  came  to  Illinois 
in  the  spring  of  1860,  making  his  first  location  in 
Lisbon,  where  he  worked  by  the  month  for  alxiut 
three  years.  He  then  determined  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness for  himself  and  rented  land  in  Kendall  County, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  about  four  years. 

Mr.  Curd  was  married  in  Kendall  Count)-  to  Miss 
Lucy  Scott,  a  native  of  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.  Re- 
moving to  Iroquois  County,  he  rented  a  farm  near 
Chebanse,  and  eng.aged  in  its  cultivation  for  seven 
years.  On  coming  to  Ford  County,  he  bought  land 
in  Rogers  Township — an  improved    farm    of    two 


720 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


hundred  acres.  Since  tliat  time  lie  has  sold  forty 
acres,  still  owning  a  valuable  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  which  is  pleasantly  situated  within 
two  miles  of  Cabery.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Curd  has  been  blessed  with  four  children:  Lucy, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Smith,  a  farmer  of 
Rogers  Township;  Libbie  D.  at  homo;  William  A., 
who  aids  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the  homo 
farm;  .and  Mary,  who  died  in  1883,  at  .about  the 
age  of  tiiree  jears. 

Mr.  Curd  began  life  for  himself  empty-handed, 
but  he  determined  to  win  success,  and  overcoming 
the  v.arious  obstacles  in  his  path,  he  has  worked  his 
w.a3'  upward  until  he  is  now  numbered  among  the 
substanti.al  .agriculturists  of  the  community.  In 
politics,  he  is  identified  with  the  Republican  party 
but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
interests,  in  wliich  he  h.as  met  with  signal  success. 
He  is  a  man  of  unblemished  character  and  sterling 
worth  and  he  and  his  estimable  wife  have  the  high 
regard  of  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


<SpsRASTUS  IIARKNESS  HARRY,  the  founder 
l^  of  the  Gibson  Iron  Works,  was  born  in  Ur- 
/|l — ^  btina,  Champaign  County,  111.,  March  27, 
18.59,  and  is  a  son  of  .loseph  M.  .and  Lucinda  (Rug- 
gles)  Harry.  The  father  was  born  in  Mason 
County,  Ky.,  and  the  mother  in  Lewis  Count}'  of 
the  same  State,  where  their  marriage  w.as  celebrated. 
By  trade,  Joseph  Harry  was  a  chair-maker  and 
wood-turner,  and,  about  1850,  he  moved  to  Rush- 
ville,  Ind.,  but  tlie  same  year  came  to  Urbana, 
where  he  followed  carpentering  and  wood-turning. 
In  politics,  he  w.as  a  Democrat,  and  for  nearly 
half  a  century  he  w.as  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  whicli  his  wife  w.as 
also  a  member  for  the  s.ame  longtii  of  time.  Mr. 
Harry  died  on  the  27th  of  March,  181)0,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-two  years,  but  his  wife  is  still  living  in 
Urbana  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  and  is  still  well 
preserved.  She  is  tlie  eleventh  child  in  a  family 
of  sixteen  children,  and  she  became  the  mother  of 


fifteen  children,  seven    of  whom   are  still  living, 
five  sons  and  two  daughters. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Erastus  Harry,  is  the 
eleventh  in  order  of  birtii,  and  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Url)ana.  111.,  whore  he  received  his  literarj' 
education  in  the  common  schools.  When  eighteen 
years  of  age,  he  and  his  brother  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  in  that  city,  but  after  two  jears 
he  sold  out  to  his  partner  and  began  to  learn  the 
iron  molder's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  live 
j'e.nrs  prior  to  coming  to  Gibson  City,  two  years  of 
that  time  being  foreman  of  a  shop  in  Monticello,  111. 
In  1885,  he  became  a  resident  of  Gibson  City, 
where  he  proi)osed  to  start  a  m.achine  shop  and 
foundry,  Initonly  having  a  small  amount  of  money, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  L.  A.  Vaughn,  who 
had  an  old  engine  and  a  few  tools.  Tlicy  jiur- 
chased  the  two  lots  where  the  foundry  now  stands 
for  $50,  and  began  erecting  a  Ituiiding.  Ere  they 
had  their  shop  re.ady,  they  ran  out  of  money,  but 
Mr.  Harry  had  a  friend  in  Kentucky,  F.  M.  Car- 
ter, whom  he  induced  to  take  an  interest  in  the 
business.  The  first  job  done  after  they  got  things 
ready  w.as  to  furnii^h  a  piece  of  gas  pipe  for  a  well. 
They  charged  fifteen  cents  for  their  work,  for  whicli 
they  received  a  promise  to  p.a}'.  Before  long,  how- 
ever, they  had  all  tlie  work  they  could  do,  and  in 
1886  added  a  foundry  to  their  machine  sliop.  In 
1889,  Mr.  Carter  sold  out  to  J.  W.  Ilainos,  and  tlie 
following  year  Mr.  Vaughn  disposed  of  liis  inter- 
est to  the  other  two  partners.  Tiiey  do  a  good 
business  .and  are  numbered  among  the  substantial 
and  enterprising  business  men  of  Giljson  City, 
where  the}'  have  one  of  the  important  industries 
of  the  place.  Since  starting,  tliey  liave  never  had 
a  bill   presented   that  they  were  not  ready  to  pa}-. 

At  Tolono,  Champaign  County,  111.,  on  the  28th 
of  July,  1881,  Mr.  Harry  w.as  united  in  inarri.age 
with  Miss  Gussie  Polage,  a  native  of  (iermany, 
and  unto  them  have  lieen  horn  four  cliildren:  El- 
mer, Lnia,  Orris  and  Owen.  INIrs.  Harry  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  is  an  estimable 
lady. 

Mr.  Harry  is  a  Democrat  in  liis  political  senti- 
ment and  takes  an  active  part  in  promoting  the 
interests  of  the  part}'.  At  the  present  time  he  is  a 
member  of  the   Village   Board,  and,  socially,  is  a 


cyi^i^4 


// 


/ 


0-"^--'>z^         C^^^y^^^^^yu^ 


^/^^^^cA^ 


'A 


'     L^C^C'CCC^^^i^-tyO' -O 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


725 


member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity.  Mr. 
Harry  deserves  not  a  little  credit  for  the  industry, 
perseverance  and  business  (Hialities  he  has  dis- 
played. 


'ill  AMES  H.  ANDREWS  is  a  prominent  agri- 
culturist of  Ford  County,  residing  on  sec- 
tion 33,  and  is  the  owner  of  a  model  farm 
J  in  Wall  Township.  He  has  the  honor  of 
being  a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Marshall  County,  on  the  25111  of  September, 
1857.  In  the  family  of  eight  children,  he  was  the 
seventh.  His  parents,  Capt.  Harmoud  and  Eliza 
(Peterson)  Andrews,  are  mentioned  in  the  sketch 
of  15.  C.  Andrews,  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  there  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
success  which  cliaracterized  his  after  life.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen,  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
and  has  since  made  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
had  a  small  capital,  which  he  increased  by  his  in- 
dustry, economy  and  perseverance,  until  he  is  now 
numbered  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
community.  He  is  a  sagacious  and  far-sighted 
business  man,  of  good  executive  ability,  and  well 
deserves  the  success  which  has  crowned  his  efforts^ 

Mr.  Andrews  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss 
Phcebe  Agnes  Darby,  daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Emily  (Ueed)  Darby.  Her  father,  a  native  of 
Ohio,  w.as  born  Octolier  4,  1827,  and  is  still  living. 
Througlunit  his  entire  life,  he  has  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming.  In  politics,  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  Democratic  princiijles.  Mrs.  Darby,  who 
was  born  November  23,  182!),  died  on  the  IGth  of 
February,  1880.  Mrs.  Andrews  was  born  on  the 
18th  of  April,  1857,  in  Peoria  County,  111.,  but  the 
days  of  her  maidenhood  were  si)eut  in  Marshall 
County,  where  she  acquired  her  education  in  the 
common  schools. 

The  marriage  of  our  siilijcct  and  his  wife  was 
celebrated  January  10,  187s,  and  has  been  blessed 
with  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
three  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Harry  N.,  aged 
twelve  years,  is  attending   the   public  schools  and 


is  a  bright  lad  in  his  studies;  James  F.  is  now  seven 
years  of  age;  Jennie,  who  was  a  bright  little  girl 
and  the  light  of  the  household,  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years,  one  month  and  twenty-eight  daj^s;  and 
Edna  M.,  aged  nineteen  months,  is  the  pet  of  the 
family. 

Mr.  Andrews  has  been  a  resident  of  Wall  Town- 
shipsmce  1881, and  is  now  the  ownerof  a  valuable 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  .acres,  including 
some  of  the  (inest  land  in  that  township.  The 
home  is  a  beautiful  frame  residence  and  the  well- 
trimmed  hedges,  the  rich  and  fertile  fields,  and 
other  improvements,  make  it  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful estates  in  this  locality.  In  politics,  Mr.  An- 
drews is  a  stanch  supporter  of  Republican  princi- 
ples, having  alHliated  with  that  party  since  he  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  James  A.  Gar- 
field. For  two  years,  he  has  held  the  oflice  of 
Highway  Commissioner  and  has  also  served  as 
School  Director,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
preferring  to  devote  his  whole  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with 
signal  success.  He  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  acquainiances  throughout  this  community  and 
this  sketch  of  his  life  will  lie  received  with  interest 
by  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Ford  County, 
where  he  is  so  favorably  known. 


4^ 


— ^ 


"^  OHN  P.  GRANGER,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  25,  Dix  Township, 
where  he  h.as  made  his  home  for  twenty- 
one  years,  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State. 
He  W.1S  born  in  Saratoga,  November  29,  1H22,  and 
traces  his  ancestry  back  to  the  Pilgrim  forefathers, 
who  came  over  to  this  country  in  the  "Mayflower." 
His  parents  were  Rosel  and  Sarah  (Bussing) 
Granger.  They  had  a  family  of  five  children: 
Harmon,  now  residing  in  Hillsdale,  Mich.;  Sidney, 
a  carpenter,  who  makes  his  home  in  Howard  City, 
Mich.;  John  P.  of  this  sketch;  .losiali,  a  wagon 
maker,  who  follows  his  trader  in  Hacine,  Wis.;  and 
Francis,  deceased.  The  father  of  this  family  died 
in  1832,  at  an  earl}'  age.  His  wife  long  survived 
him,  i)assing  away  in  188;>. 


726 


i'OETRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mrs.  Granger  after  the  death  of  ]ier  husband  re- 
moved to  the  home  of  her  father  in  ISIontgomery 
County,  N.  Y.,  where  our  subject  spent  his  boy- 
hood days.  He  attended  the  common  schools  un- 
til about  eigliteen  years  of  age,  and  then  started 
out  in  life  for  himself,  since  which  time  lie  has 
made  his  own  way  in  tlie  world.  For  about  five 
years,  he  was  employed  in  a  tannery  and  tlien 
worked  at  carpentering  and  in  a  cliair  factory.  In 
1869,  he  liecame  a  resident  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  employed  in  a  chair  factor3-  for  two  years. 
He  then  resumed  his  Westward  journey  and  in  1871 
located  in  Ford  County,  111.,  purchasing  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  25,  Dix  Township,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has  added  forty 
acres  I)y  purchase. 

Mr.  Granger  was  married,  vVpril  20,  1848,  to  Miss 
Julia  A.  Ilawes,  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  and 
Phffibe  Hawes.  One  child  has  been  born  unto 
them,  a  daughter,  Kittie  jVI.,  wife  of  Wallace  J. 
Woods,  a  farmer  wlio  now  resides  in  Dix  Town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Granger  are  well-known  people 
of  this  community  and  tlieir  sterling  wortli  and 
many  excellencies  of  character  liave  won  them  higii 
regard. 

In  politics,  Mr.  (iranger  is  a  Republican,  liaving 
supported  that  party  for  many  years.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  arc  I'.aptists  in  religious  faith.  lie  is 
a  gof)d  farmer,  industrious  and  energetic,  and  all 
of  his  possessions  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift 
and  enterprise,  for  they  have  been  .acquired  through 
his  own  etforts,  .as  he  had  to  begin  life  empty- 
handed. 


-■u->to,     -III      ,  i 


"^  OSEPII  RICHMOND,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  in  Elliott,  was  born  in  Dar- 
lington, Durham  County,  England,  Novem- 
ber 8,  1828,  and  is  one  of  nine  children, 
wht)se  parents  were  William  and  Ilaiiiiah  (Tees- 
dale)  Richmond.  Both  were  natives  of  the  same 
locality-  as  our  subject,  and  both  are  now  deceased. 
The  father  died  in  1850,  and  the  mother,  who  sur- 
vived him  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  [lassed  away 
in  1876.     They  had  a    family    of    nine    children: 


Elizabeth,  widow  of  .John  Copley,  a  printer  and 
book-seller,  residing  in  Thompsonville,  Conn.; 
John,  who  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  died  in  IS'.ll; 
William  died  after  reaching  manhood;  Thomas  is 
living  a  retired  life  in  Thompsonville,  Conn.;  Anna 
is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Mulligan,  a  resident  of  Penn- 
sylvania; Joseph  is  the  next  younger;  David  died 
in  1852;  Jane  A.  is  the  widow  of  Tiiomas  Parkes,  an 
engineer  living  in  New  York  City;  and  Harry 
makes  his  home  in  Elliott. 

The  educational  advantages  afforded  our  suliject 
were  very  limited.  He  began  to  earn  his  own  live- 
liiiood  at  the  age  of  eleven,  securing  employment 
in  a  brick  and  tile  factoiy,  where  he  worked  for 
five  years.  He  then  went  to  Halifax,  Yorkshire, 
England.  Entering  a  printing  office,  he  spent  two 
years  in  that  cit}\  Not  content  with  the  educa- 
tion he  had  acquired,  he  then  attended  the  Normal 
School,  located  in  Darlington,  England,  for  one 
year,  after  which  he  accepted  the  position  offered 
him  by  the  Joseph  Pease  Company  as  land  sur- 
veyor and  clerk  in  a  drug  store.  Thus  he  gained 
his  first  knowledge  of  drugs.  He  remained  with 
tiiat  firm  until  1852,  when  he  determined  to  seek  a 
home  in  America  and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic. 
He  first  located  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Lake  P^rie  A  Western 
Railroad  Com|)aiiy  in  the  freight  department.  In 
18G1,  he  left  that  employ  and  engaged  with  the 
Adams  Express  Company  as  a  clerk,  which  posi- 
tion he  filled  until  1875,  That  year  witnessed  his 
removal  to  Illinois.  He  first  settled  in  Rantoul, 
Champaign  County,  but  after  a  few  months  came 
to  Elliott,  Ford  County,  and  embarked  in  the  drug 
business,  which  he  has  since  carried  on  with  good 
success. 

Mr.  Richmond  has  been  twice  married.  On  the 
17th  of  May,  1860,  he  wedded  Miss  Ellen  Pritch- 
ard,  daughter  of  Owen  and  Alice  Pritchard.  She 
died  Ma}'  14,  1882,  and  her  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Rantoul  Cemetery.  Our  subject  was  .again 
married,  December  27,  1883,  his  second  unicm  be- 
ing with  Miss  Louise  Lewis.  They  have  aple.as.ant 
home  in  Elliott.  Mr.  Richmond  is  a  s.agacious  and 
enterprising  business  man  and  has  built  up  an  ex- 
cellent trade.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
served  .as  Postmaster  during  President  Cleveland's 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


727 


administration,  but  has  never  been  a  politician 
in  the  sense  of  ottice-seeking.  Sociallj',  lie  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


^  AMIiS  DYSERT,  who  is  eng.igerl  in  general 
farming  on  section  19,  Drummer  Township. 
is   numliered    among    the   early  settlers  of 

Ford    County    of    18.57.      The  count\'  was 

then  a  part  of  Vermilion  County.  lie  was  horn  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  on  the  23r(l  of  May,  182fi, 
and  is  a  son  of  .John  and  Elizabeth  (ISIcFillen) 
Dysert,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Westmore- 
land County,  Pa.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated 
in  1822,  and  unto  them  were  born  six  children: 
r.enjamin,  born  .lune  22, 1824,  died  Aiiril  17,  180.3; 
Mary  .J.,  born  March  27,  1827,  resides  in  Cham- 
paign County,  111.;  the  next  child  died  in  infanc3-; 
Margaret,  born  .Jul}'  20,  1833,  is  the  wife  of  .John 
Nicewander,  of  Champaign  County;  Elizabeth, 
born  .January-  Ifi,  1836,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Davis,  of  La  Fayette,  Ind. 

The  parents  of  this  family  were  pioneer  settlers 
of  Wajne  County,  Ohio,  where  tlicy  resided  for 
more  than  fort}'  years.  In  18.t9,  they  came  to  Ford 
County,  III.,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  The  mother  died  October  17,  1861, 
but  the  father  long  survived,  passing  away  in  West 
Point,  Ind.,  September  5,  1887,  at  an  advanced 
age. 

Mr.  Dysert  whose  name  heads  this  record  ac- 
quired a  common-school  education  in  his  nali\o 
county,  and  began  life  for  himself  on  attaining  his 
majority.  Renting  a  farm  in  Logan  County,  Ohio, 
he  there  engaged  in  farming.  On  the  31st  of  Au- 
gust, 1855,  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Maiy 
E.  McFarland,  a  native  of  Champaign  County, 
Ohio,  born  March  27, 1837.  Her  parents  were  Jesse 
B.  and  Elizabeth  (Yeazel)  McFarland,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  tiie  latter  of  Kentucky. 
Mrs.  Dj-sert  had  three  brothers:  'Robert  is  married, 
and  resides  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  where  he  is  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and 
surgery;  .Jesse  B.  is  married  and   follows  farming 


in  Oklahoma;  William  was  a  physician,  but  is  now 
deceased. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dysert  have  been  born  five 
children,  three  of  whom  are  yet  living.  The  eld- 
est, Annie,  born  March  11,  1857.  is  the  wife  of  Al- 
fred Woodruff,  a  resident  farmer  of  Union  County, 
Iowa;  Cora,  born  February  21,  1860,  became  the 
wife  of  Joseph  Stevenson,  and  died  March  16, 
1886;  Love  J.,  born  September  22,  1862,  gave  her 
hand  in  marriage  to  J.  Jennings,  a  resident  of  Da- 
kota; Alice,  born  December  10,  1864,  became  the 
wife  of  Isaac  N.  Hilem.an,  and  died  October  29, 
1891;  and  .Jesse  W.,  born  November  6,  1867,  com- 
pletes the  family. 

Upon  their  marriage,  Mr.  Dysert  removed  with 
his  bride  to  McLean  County,  111.,  in  the  fall  of 
1855,  where  he  spent  two  years  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  then  in  1857  came  to  Ford  County,  locat- 
ing upon  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home.  He  here 
owns  a  neat  and  comfortable  home  .and  well-tilled 
farm,  and  the  rich  and  fertile  fields  yield  to  him  a 
golden  tribute  for  his  care  .and  cultivation.  His 
land  is  highly  iminoved,  and  he  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  representative  agriculturists  of  this  commu- 
nity. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  and  Mr.  Dysert  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party.  He  manifested  his  loyalty  to  the 
Government  during  the  late  war  by  enlisting,  on 
the  26th  of  Septemlier,  1864,  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany B,  Eighth  minois  Infantry,  for  one  year's 
service,  and  was  honoralil}-  discharged  on  the  6th 
of  October,  1865.  In  the  army  he  contracted  a 
disease  from  which  he  has  never  yet  recovered,  and 
now  receives  a  pension,  lie  is  a  valued  citizen  of 
the  community,  and  takes  a  dee^i  interest  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  general  welfare  or  the  advance- 
ment of  the  count}-. 


<«  MLLIAM  II.  BO  WEN,  a  dealer  in  grocer- 
\^//  '^^'  <l"eensware,  etc.,  in  Gibson  City, 
V^  !^nd  a  son  of  Peter  C.  and  Mar}-  (Camp) 
Bowen,  was  born  December  12,  1852.  He  was 
reared  to  manhood  on  a  farm  and  received  his  lit- 
erary education  at  the  common  schools  of  his  dis- 


728 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


trict.  In  McLean  County,  III.,  on  the  17th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1877,  Mr.  Bowen  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Irena  Johnson,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  they  have 
become  the  parents  of  one  child,  Charles  L. 

In  1878.  Mr.  Bowen  came  to  tliis  county  and 
purchased  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  in 
Dix  Township,  at  $li  per  acre,  which  he  sold  in 
1891  at  §62.50,  thus  receiving  quite  a  ])roflt.  Mr. 
Bowen  removed  to  Gibson  City  in  the  ^ear  1881, 
and  clerked  for  Lewis  ife  Oliver  for  a  short  time. 
He  then  served  in  the  .^ame  capacit3' for  N.  B.  Tay- 
lor and  for  A.  Crabbs.  In  1885,  he  began  his 
present  business  on  his  own  account,  which  he  has 
carried  on  ever  since,  having  built  up  an  excellent 
trade.  He  has  become  a  successful  business  man, 
and  has  made  all  that  he  possesses  by  industry  and 
good  management. 

Mr.  Bowen  is  a  Republican  in  political  sentiment 
and  takes  quite  an  active  part  in  the  promotion  of 
tiiat  part}'.  Socially,  he  is  a  memlier  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  order.  ]\[r.  Bowen  is  well  de- 
serving mention  among  tlie  young  business  men 
of  (iihson. 


"it^OIIN  SIIILTS,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  the  county,  residing  on  section 
24,  Dix  Township,  is  a  native  of  Germany. 
He  was  born  in  Wittenlnirg,  Jlay  22,  1847, 
and  is  a  son  of  iNIichael  and  Agatha  (Shoemaker) 
Siiilts.  The  father  was  a  baker  by  trade.  In  1852, 
he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  America,  crossing 
the  Atlantic  in  a  sailing-vessel,  which,  after  a  voy- 
age of  forty-eight  days,  dropped  anchor  in  the 
harbor  of  New  York.  Mr.  Sliilts  cf)iitinued  his 
journey  overland  to  Chicago,  and  finally  located 
in  Kane  County,  111.,  where  he  worked  as  a  da.y 
laborer  until  1857.  He  afterward  resided  in  Mont- 
gomery and  Bureau  Counties.  In  the  year  1867, 
he  came  to  Ford  County  and  purchased  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Dix  Township. 
This  he  afterward  sold  and  bougiit  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  13,  Peach  Or- 
chard Township,  then  known  as  Dix  Township, 
wiiere  he  made  his   home  until  his  death  in  1885. 


In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  in  religious  be- 
lief was  a  Catholic.  His  wife,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  same  church,  had  been  called  to  her  final 
rest  in  1876. 

The  Shilts  family  numbered  eight  children: 
.lohn,  whose  name  heads  this  record;  .loseph,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Dix  Township;  Reulien,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Bureau  County,  111.;  Mary, 
wife  of  Robert  Underwood,  who  is  engaged  in 
agricultural  ]nirsnits  in  Dix  Township;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Thomas  I'nderwood.  a  resident  farmer  of 
Peach  Orchard  Township;  and  Kate,  wife  of 
George  Morris,  of  Tacoma,  Wash.,  who  is  the 
3'ounge.st  of  the  family;  Matthew,  who  makes 
his  home  with  John  Shiltz;  and  Prank,  who  lives 
with  Robert  Underwood. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools,  which  he  attended  at 
intervals  until  twenty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  lad 
of  only  five  summers  when  he  came  with  tlie  fam- 
ily to  America.  He  remained  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-three  jears  of  age  and  then  began  farm- 
ing for  himself  on  rented  land.  In  1871,  he  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Hannah  McGee, 
daughter  of  (ieorgeand  Minerva  McGee,  and  unto 
them  have  been  born  seven  children:  Minerva 
and  Sybil,  V)oth  decea.sed;  Nancy  J.;  Calvert  R., 
deceased;  Ida  May,  Stella  and  Elsie.  The  family 
have  a  pleasant  Jiome  in  Dix  Township. 

In  1873,  Mr.  Shilts  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  24,  Dix  Township.  That  tract  of 
land  is  still  in  his  possession  and  he  made  it  his 
home  until  1891,  when  he  removed  to  his  present 
place  of  residence.  His  landed  possessions  now- 
aggregate  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  of  which  are  in  Dix  Township  and 
a  fifty-acre  tract  in  Wall  Township.  He  carries 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising  and  lias  met 
with  excellent  success  in  his  business  dealings. 
His  land  is  well  cultivated  and  the  well-tilled  fields 
yield  to  him  a  golden  Iriliute  in  return  for  his 
care  and  cultivation.  He  is  now  numbered  among 
the  sulistantial  citizens  of  the  community.  In  his 
political  alliliations,  he  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held 
the  oftices  of  School  Director  and  Road  Supervisor. 
He  is  a  meml)er  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Mrs.  Shilts  had  one  brother  and  one  sister.    The 


J 


s^ 


1 


\ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


731 


eldest  of  the  family,  Mrs.  Shilts,  was  born  October 
12,  1852,  near  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  she  was  a  girl  of 
five  summers  when  her  parents  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois. She  was  educated  in  tiie  common  schools. 
The  next  in  order  of  ))irth  w.as  Margaret,  wife  of 
Jolin  Crawford,  a  resident  near  Aberdeen,  >S. 
Dak.  lie  is  a  farmer,  (leorge  is  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Kansas,  and  is  m;irre(l  to  Miss  Mary  Lacke}'. 
Both  of  Mrs.  Shilts'  parents  are  dead.  She  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  IJreUiren  Churcli,  of  Elliott,  HI., 
and  is  a  kind  and  genial  lady,  who  has  been  a  valu- 
able helpmate  to  her  husband.  She  graiihically 
tells  that  she  has  driven  her  cows,  when  a  girl  of 
fifteen,  over  the  site  of  Melvin,  when  not  a  house 
was  to  be  seen.  Elliott,  Gibson,  Melvin,  Sible}' 
and  Roberts  were  not  known  when  Mrs.  Shilts  first 
removed  to  Ford  County. 

Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Shilts  arc  truly  pioneer  citizens  of 
Ford  County,  and  their  excellent  life  sketch 
will  be  read  by  many  hundreds  of  the  present  citi- 
zens of  Ford  County  who  well  know  them  for  their 
sterling  worth  and  integrity'. 


d****^ 
'****'^ 


^  OIIN  D.  BELL,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  section  30,  Dix  Township,  is 
numbered  among  the  honored  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  the  county',  having  been  identified 
with  its  liistor>' since  1857.  He  was  born  in  West- 
moreland, England,  November  22,  181'.),  and  is  a 
son  of  S.amuel  and  Elizabeth  Bell.  Our  subject  is 
the  eldest  of  their  children;  William  died  in  Law- 
rence, Mass.;  Elizabeth  is  also  deceased;  Thomas 
died  on  reaching  manhood;  Sarah  is  the  wife  of 
David  Metcalf,  a  resident  farmer  of  Dix  Township; 
Samuel  isengaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Wall 
Township;  Emma  is  the  wife  of  James  iMills,  a 
resident  of  Mass.achusetts;  and  one  child  died  in 
infancy. 

John  Bell,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  ac- 
quired a  common-school  education  in  his  native 
land  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  was  apprenticed 
for  seven  years  to  learn  the  trade  of  tailoring  and 
upholstering.  He  served  the  entire  term  and  be- 
came an  excellent  workman  in  that  line.     When  a 


j'oung  man  of  twenty-four  years,  he  determined  to 
try  his  fortune  in  America,  of  whose  advantages 
and  privileges  he  had  heard  such  favorable  re- 
ports. In  1841,  he  sailed  from  Liverpool,  the 
vessel  dropping  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York 
after  a  voyage  of  thirty  d;iys.  His  first  location 
was  made  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  secured 
a  position  in  a  calico- |)rinting  factory.  After 
five  years  spent  in  that  line,  he  removed  to  Globe 
Village,  Tiverton,  R.  I.,  where  he  was  engaged  as 
clerk  and  time-keeper  until  1857.  Emigrating  to 
the  West,  he  then  became  a  resident  of  what  was 
then  Vermilion,  but  is  now  Ford,  County.  Pur- 
chasing seventy  acres  of  railroad  land,  he  began 
the  development  of  a  farm,  u|)on  which  he  has 
since  resided.  His  nearest  trading  point  in  those 
days  was  Prospect  City,  or  Paxton,  as  it  is  now 
called.  His  land  was  still  in  its  primitive  condi- 
tion, but  his  energy  and  industry  have  transformed 
it  into  a  rich  and  fertile  farm. 

On  the  Uth  of  May,  1846,  Mr.  Bell  wedded 
Miss  Alice  Sunderland,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Nanc^-  (Slocum)  Sunderland.  Six  children  have 
been  born  unto  them:  Samuel,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Lewis;  James, 
who  died  in  1878;  William  A.  D.,  a  resident  of 
Idaho;  George,  who  follows  farming  .and  resides 
with  his  parents  on  the  old  homestead;  and  one 
child  who  died  in  infancy. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Bell  responded  to  the 
country's  call  for  troops,  enlisting  on  the  30th  of 
December,  18G3,  as  a  private  in  the  Chicago  Mer- 
cantile IJattery.  His  first  active  eng.agement  was 
at  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  after  which  he  participated 
in  many  other  battles  and  skirmishes.  On  the 
clo.se  of  the  war,  he  received  his  discharge,  July  9, 
18G5,  and  returned  to  his  home,  since  which  time 
he  h.as  been  engaged  in  carrying  on  general  farming. 
As  a  result  of  the  exposure  and  hardships  of  army 
life,  he  lost  the  sight  of  one  eye.  He  has  led  a  busy, 
useful  life,  yet  has  found  time  to  devote  to  public 
interests.  He  served  as  the  first  Clerk  of  Dix  Town- 
ship, and  held  the  office  for  sixteen  years.  He 
was  also  Highway  Commissioner,  Constable,  Col- 
lector, Assessor,  and  was  one  of  the  first  School 
Trustees.  The  duties  of  these  various  offices 
were  ever  discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 


732 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  he  is  always  true  to  every  trust  reposed  in 
bim.  In  politics,  lie  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  Repub- 
lican principles,  and,  sociall^^  he  is  a  member  of 
Lott  Post  No.  70,  G.  A.  R,,  of  Gibson.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  Christian  people  and  attend  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


/  *^-5^ 


jEORGE  INI.  WOODBURN,  who  owns  and 
-,  operates  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
>i|j  land  on  section  28,  I)ix  Township,  where 
he  has  made  his  home  for  thirteen  years,  was  born 
in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  near  Mansfield,  on  the 
24th  of  May,  1838.  His  parents  were  William  S. 
and  Sarah  (Maxwell)  Woodburn,  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  emigrated  from  the  Keystone 
.State  to  Illinois  in  1857,  making  tiie  journe}'  by 
team,  and  located  in  Woodford  Countj',  where  Mr. 
\\^0(jdliurii  resided  until  his  death.  He  passed 
away  February  18,  1877,  and  his  wife  died  July 
27,  1874.  They  had  a  family  of  eight  children: 
Agnes,  wife  of  Henr>-  l^edgewood;  Charles,  a  farmer 
residing  near  Forest,  111.;  IMar}-,  deceased,  wife  of 
Marion  Acres;  George  M.  of  this  sketch;  .James  E. 
deceased;  Jennie,  deceased,  wife  of  Henry  Wilson; 
Matthew,  a  farmer  residing  in  Kansas;  and  Maggie, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

AVe  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Mr. 
Woodburn  of  tiiis  sketch,  who  is  a  representative 
citizen  of  the  community-.  His  education  was  ac- 
(juired  in  the  district  schools  of  Ohio  and  he  was 
reared  upon  his  father's  farm,  but  wishing  to  fol- 
low some  other  pursuit,  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade.  He  was  still  under  the  parental  roof,  how- 
ever, at  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war.  About 
August  14,  1862,  he  donned  the  Ijlue  and  marched 
to  the  front  as  a  private  of  Company  C,  Seventy- 
seventh  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Peoria,  and  with  his  regiment  went  South, 
participating  in  tlie  battle  of  Yazoo  Swamps,  first 
attack  on  Yicksburg,  siege  and  capture  of  Vicks- 
burg  and  Milliken  Bend;  he  was  on  the  Red  River 
campaign;  was  on  the  campaign  through  Alabama, 
and  on  the  expedition  to  Schreveport,  during  which 


he  was  in  the  battle  of  Sabine  Cross  Roads.  He 
also  participated  in  many  other  engagements  and 
skirmishes  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  honora- 
bly discharged,  August,  18G5. 

AVhen  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
Mr.  Woodburn  returned  to  the  North  and  resumed 
work  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Woodford 
County,  where  he  remained  until  his  marriage.  On 
the  mtli  of  November,  1871,  he  was  joined  in 
wedlock  with  INliss  Martha  AUender,  a  daughter  of 
William  B.  and  Mary  J.  Allender.  Their  uuion 
has  been  blessed  with  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  Godfrey  F.,  Allender,  Alta  and 
Mabel;  M^'rtle,  the  second  child,  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Woodburn  continued  to  reside  in  Woodford 
County  until  1877,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County. 
He  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
in  Dix  Township,  upon  wliich  he  has  made  his 
home  since  187!>,and  the  boundaries  of  which  he  has 
extended  until  now  two  iiundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  arable  land  p.ay  tribute  to  his  care  and  cultiva- 
tion. The  entire  farm  is  well  improved  and  is  one 
of  the  desirable  country  places  of  the  township. 
Its  neat  appearance  is  an  index  to  the  character  of 
the  owner,  who  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  enterpris- 
ing, progressive  and  representative  agriculturists 
of  the  communit}'.  In  politics,  he  votes  with  the 
Republican  party.  His  army  record  is  one  of 
which  he  may  well  be  proud  and  his  entire  life  has 
been  well  and  worthily  spent. 


e-^-f^i 


^^\  APT.  LEMUEL  NEWTON  BISHOP,  one 
(l(  „  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Forfl  Countj-,  was 
^^^/  born  in  Clarke  County,  Ohio,  January  14, 
1825,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Welsh) 
Bishop.  The  father  was  born  in  Loudoun  County, 
Va.,  on  his  father's  plantation,  where  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run  was  afterward  fought,  and  his  people  all 
belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends.  The  mother 
was  a  native  of  Fauquier  Count}',  the  same  State, 
where  thej^  were  married,  and  then  emigrated  to 
Ohio,  about  the  3'ear  1807,  settling  in  Clarke 
County,  where  was  then  an  almost  unbroken 
wilderness.      In    1830,    the    parents   removed    to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


r33 


Chainpaigu  County,  Ohio,  where  they  passed  their 
last  days,  respected  by  all  who  knew  them.  Their 
home  was  tiie  abode  of  hospitality  and  there  the 
pioneer  preachers  alwa3-s  enjoyed  a  iiearty  welcome, 
and  the  use  of  the  house  as  a  place  of  worship. 
Mr.  Bishop,  who  was  an  ardent  Democrat  in  politi- 
cal sentiment,  died  in  1842,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two 
years.  The  mother  survived  her  husband  about 
ten  years,  passing  away  in  1852,  when  sixty-six 
years  of  age.  In  their  family  were  twelve  children, 
of  whom  only  three  are  now  living. 

Our  subject  is  the  eleventh  child  in  order  of 
birth  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  boys  and  attended  the  old-time 
log  schoolhouse,  where  he  received  his  primary 
education.  This  was  supplemented  by  a  course  at 
a  select  school,  and,  being  an  apt  pupil,  he  acquired 
a  good  practical  education.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
j'ears,  he  began  learning  the  carpenter's  trade, 
serving  an  apprenticeshii)  of  three  j'ears,  receiving 
as  a  compensation  for  his  laliors  $6  per  month  and 
board.  Having  completed  his  trade,  he  turned  his 
attention  to  farming,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Mexican  AVar  prepared  to  leave  for  the  front, 
but,  learning  that  Ohio's  quota  was  full,  he  again 
resumed  business. 

On  the  8th  of  July,  1847,  Capt.  Bisliop  was  un- 
ited in  marriage  with  Elsie  A.,  daughter  of  Isaac 
B.  and  Sarah  (Steere)  Bradford.  The  former,  a  na- 
tive of  Rhode  Island,  was  a  grandson  of  Gov. 
William  Bradford,  of  Massachusetts.  The  mother 
of  Mrs.  Bishop  was  also  born  in  Rhode  Island,  and 
was  descended  from  Quaker  stock.  In  18,31,  Mr. 
Bradfoi'd  moved  to  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  and 
twenty  years  later  went  to  Van  Buren  C'ounty, 
Iowa,  where  he  was  called  from  this  life  when 
about  the  age  of  seventh-five  3'ears,  but  his  wife 
was  some  seven  tj'-eight  years  of  age  at  the  time  of 
her  death.  They  were  among  the  highly  respected 
citizens  of  the  community  where  they  resided,  and 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom 
are  still  living  at  the  present  writing.  Mrs.  Bishop 
is  the  youngest  of  their  family  and  was  born  in 
Rhode  Island,  on  the  21st  of  February,  1826. 

Mr.  Bishop  went  with  a  company  to  California 
in  1850,  going  by  water  as  far  as  Kansas  City,  and 
then  proceeding  by   wagons.      Having  continued 


to  the  sink  of  the  Humboldt  River,  their  teams  be- 
ing greatly  reduced,  they  threw  aside  their  w.agons 
and  everything  not  absolutely  necessary.  Pack- 
ing their  goods  on  their  animals,  lliey  went  on  to 
Nevada  City,  where  they  ai'rived  after  one  hun- 
dred and  four  days  of  travel  over  the  plains.  At 
one  time,  the\'  lived  three  days  on  rice  and  dried 
ai)ples.  After  mining  for  a  time,  Mr.  Bishop  was 
taken  with  rheumatism  and  so  returned  home  by  the 
Panama  route,  having  been  absent  fointcen  months. 
The  same  year,  1851,  he  came  to  McLean  County, 
111.,  and  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Leroy  for 
some  five  3'ears,  after  wiiich  lie  carried  on  a  farm 
for  two  3'eais  and  again  sold  goods  in  Saybrook 
for  about  the  same  lengtli  of  time.  Having  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  l'ort3-eiglit  acres 
near  the  latter  place,  he  moved  thereon  in  1860. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Bishop  enlisted 
as  a  private  for  the  late  war.  The  comiiaii3'  to 
which  he  belonged  was  to  join  the  Ninety-fourth 
Illinois  Infantry,  l)Ut  it  had  a  full  quota  of  captains 
and  the  members  refused  to  join  an\'  regiment  un- 
less Mr.  Bishop  could  be  their  captain.  The3-  tiieii 
proposed  to  join  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Regiment,  but  it  too  had  a  full  corps  of  oMicers.  Tiie 
company  lacked  twenty  men  of  having  enough  to 
form,  so  Mr.  Bishop  went  over  the  State  recruiting. 
Several  of  his  company  vvere  taken  from  jails,  but 
made  good  soldiers.  On  the  30th  of  September, 
1862,  liis  company  was  mustered  into  the  service 
as  Comi»an3'  F,  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Illinois 
Infantry  and  he  was  chosen  captain.  They  joined 
the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  at  Mem[)liis,  Tenn.,  and 
he  led  his  coini)any  in  tiie  battle  of  Haines  Bluff 
and  in  the  capture  of  Arkansas  Post,  but  resigned, 
April  12,  1863,  on  account  of  disability.  AVhile 
tearing  up  a  railroad  west  of  Vicksburg,  he  re- 
ceived injuries  from  which  he  has  never  recovered. 

Returning  to  McLean  County,  he  engaged  in 
farming  for  a  short  time,  then  moved  to  Lerov, 
where  he  lived  until  1870.  Returning  to  iiis  ol<l 
home  in  Ohio,  he  ran  a  dairy  for  the  five  succeed- 
ing 3'ears.  Capt.  Bishop  came  to  De  Witt  County, 
111.,  in  1875  and  engaged  in  farming  for  a  year, 
and  then  removed  to  Champaign  Connt3'  and  en- 
gaged in  the  same  occupation.  In  1890,  he  came 
to  Gibson  Cit3',  where  he   still   resides,  being  en- 


734 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


gaged  in  fruit-growing.  In  politics,  he  is  independ- 
ent and  is  one  of  tlie  enterprising  and  progressive 
citizens  of  tlie  place. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  IJisliop  have  been  born  eleven 
children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  seven  of 
wliom  are  still  living:  Sarah  Z.,  wife  of  G.  W.  B. 
Johnson,  of  (4ibson  City;  Steplien  A.  D.  resides  in 
Fairfield,  Iowa;  La  Delle  B.,  wife  of  .7.  W.  Ander- 
son, resides  near  Mattoon,  111.;  Albert  N.  resides  in 
Bonaparte,  Iowa;  Nannie  E.,  a  teaclier  of  I)e  Witt 
County,  III.;  Lillie  M.,  wife  of  .1.  Cornelius,  resides 
in  Champaign  County,  111.;  and  Minnie,  a  teacher 
of  Paxton,  now  of  Gil)son,  111. 


AMES  McBRIDE,  a  retired  farmer  and 
Itrominent  citizen  of  Brenton  Township, 
now  living  in  Piper  City,  is  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  He  was  born  in  County  An- 
trim, .Tanuary  12,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert  and 
Ruth  (Kirker)  McBride,  who  were  natives  of  the 
same  locality.  In  1843,  the  parents  sailed  from 
Belfast  to  New  York,  and  made  a  location  in  Bel- 
mont Countj',  Ohio,  wiiere  they  spent  the  remain- 
der of  their  lives  upon  a  farm.  The  mother  died 
July  3,  1857,  and  the  death  of  the  fatlier  occurred 
March  5,  1861.  He  was  a  good  business  man,  and 
won  a  comfortable  competence.  In  politics,  he  was 
a  stanch  Democrat,  and  liis  wife  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  They  had  a  family  of 
seven  children:  Gilbert,  who  resides  in  Belmont 
County,  Ohio;  Mrs.  Sarah  Finney,  who  is  living  in 
the  Buckeye  State;  John,  a  resident  of  Paw  Paw, 
Lee  County,  111.;  Robert  A.,  who  is  living  near 
Mendota;  Alex,  a  prominent  attorney  at  law,  and 
a  wealthy  citizen  of  New  YorkCit^-;  James,  of  this 
sketch;  and  Rebecca  J.,  who  died  in  Ohio,  in  1871. 
She  was  born  after  her  parents  came  to  this  coun- 
try. 

Our  subject  spent  tlie  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  the  Buckeye  State,  where  he  worked  upon 
the  farm  during  the  summer  months,  and  in  the 
winter  season  attended  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  In  August,  1862,  he  responded  to 
the  call  for  troops,  and  enlisted  in  Company-  B, 


Ninety-eighth  Ohio  Infantry-,  which  was  organized 
at  Steubenville,  on  the  6th  of  the  month,  and  went 
into  camp  on  the  12th.  The  troops  participated 
in  an  engagement  near  Lexington,  Ky.,  afterward 
helped  fortify  Louisville,  and  were  in  the  hottest 
of  the  fight  at  Perryville.  By  boat  they  went  to 
Nashville,  participated  in  the  second  battle  of  Ft. 
Donelson,  Cliickamauga  and  Chattanooga.  They 
also  went  to  Atlanta,  fought  at  Resaca,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Peach  Orchard  and  at  Marietta,  Ga., 
and  went  w^th  Sherman  on  the  celebrated  march 
to  the  sea.  After  Lee's  surrender,  Mr.  McBride 
marched  in  the  Grand  Review  in  Washington,  and 
wiis  mustered  out  in  that  city  on  the  25th  of  June, 
1865.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier,  ever  true  to  the 
cause  under  whose  banner  he  had  enlisted. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  McBride  worked 
on  a  farm  near  the  old  homestead  until  November, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  located  in  Mendota, 
and  in  Septemlier,  1868,  came  to  Ford  County, 
where  he  purchased  eightj-  acres  of  land  in  Brenton 
Township.  He  is  now  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  the  county,  his  possessions  .aggregating 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-two  acres,  four  hundred 
and  eighty  of  which  are  in  one  body.  Upon  the 
home  farm  he  resided  for  fourteen  years,  and  made 
it  one  of  the  valuable  places  of  the  community,  its 
many  improvements  standing  as  monuments  to  his 
thrift  and  enterjjrise.  In  connection  with  general 
farming,  he  engaged  quite  extensively  in  stock- 
raising,  and  was  very  successful  in  that  line. 

Mr.  McBride  was  married  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1869,  in  Medina  Count}%  Ohio,  to  Miss  Clarilda 
Strank,  a  native  of  that  county.  They  have  four 
children:  Celestia  May,  wife  of  Hugh  Hawthorne, 
who  resides  near  Thawville;  Sarah,  Jessie  W.,  and 
Orville  F.,  deceased.  The  children  w'ere  born  and 
reared  in  Ford  Count}-,  and  acrpiired  their  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  The  mother  departed 
this  life  on  the  12th  of  April,  1890,  and  was  buried 
in  Brenton  Cemeteiy.  Her  death  was  deeply 
mourned,  for  she  had  many  friends  throughout  the 
communit}'. 

Mr.  McBride  has  made  his  home  in  Piper  City 
since  March,  1892.  He  voted  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln while  in  the  army,  but  has  since  been  a  Demo- 
crat, often  serving  as  an  influential  delegate  to  his 


»^*^  crcee^^f-i^-i^ct^A^C^ 


^^^  J^e^^^t^^/^^fi^  J^^i^^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


739 


party  conventions.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  I'ost.  He  has  never  sought  or 
desired  public  olJiue,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests  which 
he  has  followed  with  signal  success.  lie  has  worked 
his  way  upward  from  a  humble  position  to  one  of 
affluence,  and  his  example  in  many  respects  is  well 
worthy  of  emulation. 


Vt^slDWARD  VAN  STEENBERGII,  one  of  tlic 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Lyman  Town- 
ship, who,  since  1871,  has  been  identified 
with  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of  Ford  County, 
was  born  in  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson,  November  25,  1814,  and  is  the  ninth 
in  a  famil3'of  twelve  children,  nine  sons  and  three 
daughters,  but  he  has  only  two  sisters  now  living: 
Sally  C,  widow  of  Christopher  Crumb,  an  agri- 
culturist of  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.;  and  Matilda, 
widow  of  Walter  Cook,  residing  in  Ulster  County. 
The  parents  were  Cornelius  and  Alida  (Wreight- 
meyer)  Van  Steenbergh.  The  father  was  born  on 
the  Hudson,  in  Ulster  County,  INIarch  25,  1774,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  scjthe  making  when  a  young 
man  liut  was  reared  as  a  farmer.  His  father  and 
uncles  were  Revolutionary  heroes.  He  was  an  old- 
line  Whig  in  politics  and  a  stanch  advocate  of 
temperance  principles.  He  died  June  29,  1846. 
His  wife  was  born  in  Ulster  County,  March  17, 
1778,  and  departed  this  life  February  4, 1859.  The 
parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church 
and  were  highly  resiiected   peojjle. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  liis  boyhood  and 
youth  in  the  county  (jf  his  nativity  and  in  early 
life  learned  the  binestone-eutting  trade  but  has 
made  farming  his  principal  pursuit.  He  was  mar- 
ried, June  4,  1840,  to  Miss  Maria  F.  Davis,  a  native 
of  Ulster  Count}',  and  unto  them  were  born  seven 
sons  and  a  daughter,  and,  with  the  exception  of 
one  son,  all  are  yet  living:  Isaac,  who  is  married 
and  resides  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  is  a  custom-house 
oHicer,  having  been  appointed  by  President  Hayes. 
He  served  his  country  faithfully  throughout  the 
30 


late  war,  enlisting  as  a  private  but  was  mustered 
out  as  Captain.  He  was  Color-bearer  at  the  battles 
of  Antietam  and  Gettysburg  and  participated  in 
the  engagements  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary 
Ridge,  the  Wilderness,  Ringgold,  Ga.,  Atlanta, 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Rome,  and  the  celeln'ated  march 
to  the  sea.  He  was  also  present  at  the  Grand  Re- 
view in  Washington,  one  of  the  most  magnificent 
military  pageants  on  record.  He  is  a  stalwart 
Republican  and  has  served  as  a  Supervisor  in 
Ulster  County,  N.  Y.  Himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church.  William,  the  next 
child,  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen  months.  Samuel 
is  married  and  is  a  prominent  grain  and  coal-dealer 
and  farmer  at  Oriska,  Barnes  County,  N.  Dak. 
Wesley,  a  successful  farmer,  is  married  and  resides 
in  Barnes  County.  Nathan  Rice  is  a  stone-cutter 
of  Ulster,  N.  Y.,  and  was  employed  on  the  State 
Capitol  in  Albany.  He  is  also  married.  Janie  is 
the  wife  of  Ira  S.  Angevine,  an  architectural  de- 
signer of  New  York  City.  Thomas  is  married  and 
is  a  successful  farmer  of  Barnes  County,  N.  Dak. 
Benson  is  a  farmer  residing  with  his  family  near 
Jackson,  Madison  Count}',  Tenn.  The  mother  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  died 
March  21,  1870. 

Mr.  Van  Steenbergh  was  again  married,  March  7, 
1871,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Emily  M. 
Smith,  a  native  of  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  born  in 
October,  1829.  She  was  a  most  estimable  lady,  and, 
prior  to  her  marriage,  was  a  successful  school 
teacher.  She  died  October  20,  1889,  and  her  re- 
mains are  interred  at  Willwick  Cemetery,  Kingston, 
N.  Y.,  where  a  beautiful  monument  marks  her  last 
resting-place.  Jlr.  Vslw  Steenbergh  now  resides  at 
his  beautiful  home  near  Roberts,  and  is  one  of  the 
honored  citizens  of  Ford  Count}-.  When  he  first 
came  to  this  ct)unty  in  1867,  he  purchased  a  half 
section  of  raw  prairie  land,  all  unimproved,  and 
in  1870  he  bought  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  the 
present  site  of  his  home.  Upon  it  was  a  small 
house,  which  has  been  replaced  by  a  commodious 
and  beautiful  residence,  while  good  barns  and 
other  outbuildings  have  been  erected,  such  as  are 
found  on  a  model  farm.  He  is  now  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  .acres  of  valuable  land,  which  }ields 
to  him  a  handsome  income.     For  some  years  he  has 


740 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


been  activel}'  engaged  in  sbip))ing  liay  to  New  Or- 
leans, New  York,  Chicago,  Springfield  and  Cairo, 
and  the  volume  of  his  business  is  great.  When 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  he  worked  at  812 
per  month,  and  to  the  high  position  he  now  occu- 
pies, he  has  climbed  unaided. 

Mr.  Van  Steenbergh  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  and  supported 
tlie  Whig  party  until  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  of  which  he  lias  since  been  a  stal- 
wart advocate.  He  has  served  for  years  as  a 
Director  of  the  public  schools  and  has  done  all  in 
his  power  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion. He  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  temperance  prin- 
ciples, and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  p]piscopal 
Church,  in  which  he  served  .as  Trustee.  He  has 
given  liberally  of  his  means  to  its  support  and  also 
to  charitable  and  benevolent  interests,  and  liis  aid 
is  never  withheld  from  any  enterprise  calculated  to 
benefit  the  community  or  promote  the  general 
welfare.  Mr.  Van  Steenbergh  is  now  over  seventy- 
five  j-ears  of  age,  but  is  as  hale  and  hearty  as  a  man 
in  middle  life.  He  can  read  without  glasses,  his 
memory  is  excellent  and  he  is  an  entertaining  con- 
versationalist. He  has  a  station  i-ight  within  three 
huudied  feet  of  his  barn,  where  he  does  his  ship- 
ping. 


eHRIST  RIERSON,  a  leading  and  influential 
farmer  of  Dix  Township,  who  owns  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section 
28,  is  a  native  of  Norway,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred on  the  2d  of  July,  1832.  His  parents, 
Richard  and  Annie  (Larson)  Rierson,  were  both 
born  in  the  same  province,  where  they  spent  their 
entire  lives.  The  father  died  in  1875  and  the 
mother  passed  away  the  same  year.  They  were 
both  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Their 
family  numbered  nine  children:  Lewis,  a  sailor 
residing  in  Norway;  Oscar,  who  operates  the  old 
home  farm  in  his  native  land;  Peter,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Story  County,  Iowa;  Olie,  a  farmer  resid- 
ing in  Fillmore  Count}',  Minn.;  Christ  of  this 
sketch;  Thomas  E.,  a  resident  farmer  of  Livingtou 


Count}',  111.;  Amos,  a  blacksmith  wlio  follows  his 
trade  in  La  Salle  County;  and  Belle,  wife  of  Henry 
Henderson,  of  Norway. 

Our  subject  attended  school  in  his  native  land 
until  about  fourteen  j'ears  of  age,  when  he  was 
bound  out  as  an  apprentice  to  a  shoemaker  and 
followed  that  trade  until  he  came  to  America.  In 
1857,  he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  on  a  sailing- 
vessel.  His  first  location  was  made  in  Otter  Creek, 
La  Salle  County,  111.,  and  for  three  years  he  earned 
his  livelihood  by  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the 
month.  He  then  engaged  in  operating  rented  land 
from  1860  until  1867.  In  the  spring  of  1868,  he 
came  to  Ford  County  and  settled  in  Dix  Town- 
ship, on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  He  first 
purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
on  section  28,  to  which  he  has  since  added  a  forty- 
acre  tract.  The  rich  and  fertile  fields  are  well 
tilled  and  the  many  improvements  upon  tiie  place 
indicate  the  owner  to  be  one  of  the  progressive 
and  substantial  citizens  of  the  community.  For 
almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  here  carried 
on  general  farming  and  in  his  business  dealings 
has  met  with  good  success. 

In  the  autumn  of  1860,  Mr.  Rierson  wedded 
Miss  Isabella  Knudson,  daughter  of  Knud  and 
Annie  (.Johnson)  Knudson.  They  have  become 
the  parents  of  a  family  of  ten  children:  Annie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Michael  Peterson,  a  merchant 
residing  in  Elliott;  Richard,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Carrie,  deceased;  Josie,  wife  of  jMichael  Yeager,  a 
resident  farmer  of  Dix  Township;  Christina,  Celia, 
Sarah,  Richard,  Lena,  and  Carrie.  Miss  Sarah 
Rierson  is  one  of  the  successful  teachers  of  Ford 
County;  Miss  Carrie  is  taking  instrumental  music. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Rierson  is  a  Republican,  and,  in 
religious  belief,  he  and  his  wife  are  Lutherans.  He 
is  a  worthy  citizen  of  the  community  and  well  de- 
serves representation  in  this  volume. 

Mrs.  Rierson 's  parents  are  both  deceased.  The 
father  died  in  Norway  and  the  mother  in  America. 
Her  father  was  a  boot  and  shoe  maker  by  trade  and 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  Her  girlhood  days  were  S 
spent  in  her  native  land  and  she  was  educated  in  • 
her  native  tongue.  She  was  a  young  lady  when 
she  came  to  America.  She  has  been  a  faithful  and 
valuable  helpmate  to  her  husband  during  thirty- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


741 


two  years  of  married  life,  sharing  the  joj's  and 
sorrows  of  life.  She  had  three  brothers  and  six 
sisters,  of  wliom  four  are  living,  including  Mrs. 
Riersou.  Julia  i-esides  in  Norw.ay  and  was  married 
to  John  Uderson,  who  is  now  deceased;  Knud  is 
married,  resides  in  Livingston  County  and  is  a 
farmer;  Ole  resides  in  Norway  and  is  married; 
Mrs.  Rierson  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 


^  OIIN  JOGS,  a  veteran  of  the  late  war,  and 
one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Dix  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  28,  claims  Germany 

_^ ,      as  the    land    of    his    birth.     lie    was   born 

August  12,  1812,  in  Wurtemberg,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Regina  (Schueler)  Joos,  both  natives  of 
Germany.  Thay  were  married  in  1840,  and  shortly 
after  the  birth  of  our  subject,  crossed  the  broad 
Atlantic  to  America.  They  landed  in  New  York 
City,  from  whence  they  went  to  Milwaukee,  Wis., 
where  the  father  engaged  in  general  labor  for  a 
few  3'ears.  lie  then  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing, which  business  he  followed  for  fifteen  years. 
At  the  expiration  of  that  period,  he  again  located 
in  Milwaukee,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death  in  March,  1886.  His  wife  is  still  living  and 
is  a  resident  of  Kankakee,  111.  Unto  them  was 
born  a  family  of  Ave  children,  the  eldest  of  whom, 
Mary,  is  deceased;  John  comes  next;  Matthew  and 
Andrew,  who  live  in  Kankakee,  111.;  and  Annie, 
who  is  deceased. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  but  his  advantages  were  very  limited. 
He  started  out  in  life  for  liimself  when  only  nine 
and  a  half  years  of  age.  By  working  on  a  farm 
by  the  month,  he  earned  his  livelihood  until  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  but  he  laid  aside  all  business 
considerations  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war 
and  enlisted  as  a  private  for  three  years'  service.' 
Joining  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  C,  Twenty- 
seventh  Wisconsin  Volunteers,  he  participated  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  the  battles  of  Mobile 
and  .lackson,  Ala.,  and  many  other  engagements  of 
lesser  importance.  He  was  once  wounded  by  a 
minie  ball  in  the  right  arm  just  below  the  elliovv. 


After  his  term  of  service  had  expired,  Mr.  Joos 
was  honorably  discharged,  August  29,  1865,  and 
returned  to  the  North.  He  again  worked  upon  a 
farm  for  six  years.  AVith  the  money  saved  from 
his  earnings,  he  tlien  purchased,  in  1869,  the  farm 
upon  which  he  has  since  resided.  It  is  a  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acre  tract  of  valuable  land 
and  is  one  of  the  finest  farms  of  the  town- 
ship. Its  well-tilled  lields  and  many  improvements 
indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  ownoi', 
and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place  attests  the 
supervision  of  a  careful  manager. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  1870,  Mr.  Joos  was 
joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Abigail  Bracken,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Wright)  Bracken, 
natives  of  Kentucky.  Five  children  have  been 
born  of  their  union,  as  follows:  Flora,  now  the 
wife  of  J.  C.  Fitzpatrick,  a  resident  of  Guthrie,  111.; 
Minnie  E.,  John  W.  and  Harry  E.,  at  home,  and 
one  who  died  in  infanc}'.  The  members  of  the 
family  rank  high  in  social  circles  in  which  they 
move  and  the  hospitable  doors  of  the  Joos  home 
are  ever  open  for  the  many  friends  of  the  family. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Joos  is  a  Democrat,  and  he  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  for  the  Martyr  President, 
A.  Lincoln.  He  enlisted  during  the  Civil  AVar, 
and  the  first  engagement  in  which  he  took  part 
was  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  famous  Gen.  Bank's  expedition  up  the  Red 
River,  and  took  part  in  many  otiier  engagements. 
He  was  a  faithful  soldier  during  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment, and  endured  many  of  the  hardships  of  a 
soldier's  life.  He  was  placed  in  the  hospital  at 
Columbus,  Ky.,  for  rheumatism,  caused  by  ex- 
posure. He  was  confined  there  for  three  weeks. 
From  there  he  was  ready  for  the  famous  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  and  was  present  at  the  entire  siege. 
After  that  he  was  ordered  to  Helena,  Ark.,  and 
from  there  to  the  siege  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and 
then  was  in  the  expedition  up  the  Red  River.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  right  arm  by  a  minie  ball 
during  the  Bank's  expedition.  At  Mobile,  Ala., 
he  was  in  the  skirmish  line  in  front  of  the  rifle  pits 
by  the  rebel  forts  and  he  was  struck  a  glancing 
shot  on  the  left  cheek  by  a  bullet,  which  w.as  a  close 
call.  He  was  never  captured  during  his  enlistment 
nor  ever  was  in  the  guard  iiouse,  which  shows  his 


742 


f ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


faithful  service.  Ilis  army  life  took  him  in  the 
following  States:  Arkansas.  Kentucky,  Florida, 
Mississippi,  Texas,  Indian  Territory,  Missouri, 
Louisiana,  Alabama,  and  Tennessee.  He  was  at 
Brownsville,  Tex.,  when  he  was  honorably  mustered 
out  of  the  United  States  service. 

IMrs.  Joos'  girlhood  days  were  spent  in  Menard 
County,  where  she  was  born  May  27,  1852.  She 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  There  were 
eleven  in  the  family,  four  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  there  arc  nine  living.  Bettie  E., 
wife  of  John  Dudley,  a  resident  of  Missouri;  Jane, 
wife  of  William  Hutchison,  a  resident  of  Missouri; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Layton  Rice,  resides  in  Illinois; 
Emma,  wife  of  John  Phelps,  resides  in  Missouri; 
IMrs.  Joos  is  the  next  of  the  daughters;  Jacob  L., 
a  resi<lent  of  Missouri,  is  married;  William,  a  res- 
ident of  Menard  County;  Robert,  a  resident  of 
Kansas,  is  married;  George  R.  resides  in   Illinois. 

Mr.  Joos  is  a  man  in  whom  the  people  repose  the 
utmost  confidence.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joos  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  of  Gibson,  111. 
Mr.  Joos  is  a  member  of  the  Camp  L  O.  O.  F.,  of 
Guthrie,  111.,  No.  358.  He  is  Treasurer  of  the  lodge, 
and  is  a  charter  member  of  the  J.  B.  Lott  Post  No. 
70.,  G.  A.  R.  There  are  about  eighty  active  mem- 
bers in  this  post.  Mr.  Joos  has  been  a  faithful 
member  of  the  School  Board  for  eleven  years,  and 
he  is  at  present  an  incumbent  of  the  Board  and 
its  President. 


\f?  EWIS  SHEARER,  a  representative  farmer 
I  (f^i  of  Mona  Township,  residing  on  section  30, 
jlL^s  is  a  native  of  the  Ke\stone  State.  He  was 
born  in  F'ranklin  County,  April  20,  1844.  His 
parents,  Michael  and  Mary  (Stewart)  Shearer,  were 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were  of  German 
and  Scotch  descent,  respectively.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children:  Jacob  J.,  a  fanner  residing  in 
Livingston  County,  III.;  Elias  S.,  a  fruit-grower 
living  in  East  New  Market,  Md.;  Mary  A.,  who  died 
in  1886;  Frances,  wife  of  Joseph  Swope,  a  painter 
by  trade,  residing  in  Ohio;  Lewis,   of   this  sketch; 


and  Martha  J.,  wife  of  Enoch  Jliller,  a  resident 
farmer  of  the  Buckej'e  State. 

In  1850,  Michael  Shearer,  the  father  of  this 
family,  removed  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Fairfield 
County,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
He  was  a  well-known  and  prominent  citizen  and 
himself  and  wife  were  both  consistent  members  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church.  His  death  occurred 
in  1884,  he  having  survived  his  wife  one  year. 

Our  subject  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Ohio,  where  he  received  very  limited 
educational  advantages.  He  began  life  for  himself 
oil  attaining  his  majority,  but  continued  to  reside 
with  his  jiarents  on  the  old  homestead.  He  took 
charge  of  his  father's  farm,  which  he  0|)erated  un- 
til 1873,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  His  tirst  loca- 
tion in  this  State  w.as  made  in  Piatt  County,  where 
he  engaged  ui  the  cultivation  of  rented  land  for 
three  years.  From  the  spring  of  1876  until  1880, 
he  spent  his  time  between  Ohio  and  Illinois,  but 
in  the  latter  year  made  a  permanent  location  in 
Ford  County.  Purchasing  one  hundred  and  lifty- 
one  acres  of  land  on  section  30,  Mona  Township, 
he  has  since  made  his  home  upon  his  farm. 

Mr.  Shearer  was  married  October  11,  1870,  Miss 
Salena  K.  Mackliu  becoming  his  wife.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Sarah  (Rodenbaugh)  Mack- 
lin.  Unto  them  were  born  two  children :  Nettie 
and  Elmer.  The  mother  died  March  10,  1874, 
and  on  the  31st  of  ^larch,  1880,  Mr.  Shearer  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Mary  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  Hay.  She 
is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  having  gradu- 
ated from  the  Monticello  High  School,  and  for 
five  years  prior  to  her  marriage  succossfuU}^  en- 
oaaed  in  teachint;'.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  living: 
Arthur,  Lulu,  Guy  and  Ray.  Willie  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Shearer  is  a  Republican  and  has 
taken  quite  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs, 
doing  all  in  his  power  for  the  success  of  the  party. 
He  gave  evidence  of  his  loyalty  to  the  Government 
during  the  late  war  by  enlisting,  in  Maj-,  1864,  for 
one  hundred  d.iys'  service.  He  took  part  in  a 
number  of  skirmishes  and  was  discharged  in  Sep- 
tember.    Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 


.,^''.- 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL   RECORD. 


745 


order,  and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Church. 
A  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  he  has 
ever  manifostod  a  commendable  interest  in  every- 
thing pertaining  to  tiie  welfare  of  the  comnuinity. 


^(OIIN  BULGER,  deceased,  was  born  in  Ind- 
iana, May  8,  1844,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Dix  Township,  on  the  14th  of  March.  1892, 
resjiected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
one  of  a  family  of  six  children.  His  parents  died 
when  he  was  an  infant,  and  he  was  reared  in  the 
family  of  Mr.  Hill,  with  whom  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  1859.  They  located  in  Fulton  County,  and  Mr. 
Bulger  there  resided  until  1861,  when,  responding 
to  the  country's  (all  for  troops,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  of  Comp.any  D,  Fift\-fifth  Illinois  Infantr}', 
First  Divison  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  for  throe 
years'  service.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  and  all  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign and  many  other  engagements,  and  when  his 
term  of  enlistment  had  expired  was  lionorabl\'  dis- 
charged in  18G4. 

After  being  mustered  out  of  service,  Mr.  Bul- 
ger retuined  to  Fulton  Countj%  III.,  where  he  be- 
gan working  on  a  farm  by  the  month.  He 
continued  to  make  his  home  in  that  locality  until 
1871,  when  he  cnnie  to  Ford  Count}',  111.,  settling 
in  Dix  Tfiwnship.  He  purchased  forty  acres  of 
railroad  land  on  sectiiin  5,  and  lieg.an  its  develop- 
ment, carrying  on  general  farming  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  14th  of  March,  .as  before 
stated. 

On  the  28tli  of  .January,  1874,  Mr.  Bulger  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maggie  (ientle, 
daughter  of  .Tohn  and  Louisa  (Iligdon)  (Jentlc. 
Their  union  was  blessed  with  five  children,  but  two 
died  in  infancy:  Harry  and  Clarence.  Charlie, 
Louise  and  Bertha  are  still  with  their  niotiier. 

In  his  political  afliliations,  Mr.  Bulger  was  a 
Republican  and  took  an  active  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  that  party.  Sueially.  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  both  of  (iibson  City.  His  remains 
were  inlerred  in  (Jibson  Cemetery  and  many  friends 


mourned  the  death  of  this  worthy  citizen.  He  had 
the  high  regard  of  all  who  knew  him,  for  his  life 
was  well  and  worthily  spent.  His  widow  and  chil- 
dren still  reside  on  the  old  home  farm,  which  com- 
prises eight}'  acres  of  fine  tillable  land  in  Dix  Town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulger  were  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church  of  Gibson,  111. 


OIIN  KERCHANFAUT,  a  prominent  and 
well-known  citizen  of  Ford  County,  resid- 
ing on  section  32,  Dix  Township,  where  ho 
follows  general  farming,claims  Wurtembcrg, 
Germany,  as  the  land  of  his  lurth.  He  was  born  on 
the  27th  of  January,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Elizabeth  (House)  Kerchanfaut.  Their  family 
numliercd  four  children:  Fredericka,  now  deceased; 
.John  of  this  sketch;  Frederick,  who  is  living  in 
Germany  and  follows  the  trade  of  coopering;  and 
Joseph  G.,  a  resident  of  America. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  attended  school  until  fourteen  years  of 
.ago.  He  was  then  bound  out  to  serve  a  throe-years' 
apprenticesliii)  to  the  trade  of  rope  making,  and  he 
followed  that  occupation  until  his  emigration  to 
America  in  1855.  Having  attained  his  majority, 
he  determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the  New  World 
and  embarked  on  a  sailing-vessel  which  reached 
the  harbor  of  New  York  after  thirty-six  d.ays.  Mr. 
Kerchanfaut  made  his  first  location  near  Sellisville, 
Bucks  County,  Pa.,  and  beg.an  working  on  the 
railroad.  After  a  year  s|)ent  in  that  way  ho  came 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Ford  County,  whore  he 
worked  upon  a  farm  for  some  time.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  himself  and 
has  been  quite  successful  in  his  undertakings. 

Mr.  Kerchanfaut  w.as  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Myers,  March  20,  1860,  and  by  their  union 
have  been  born  Ihe  fdlhiwing  children:  William 
a  farmer  of  Dix  Township;  Elizabeth,  Jennie  and 
twins  are  deceased;  Charles,  a  farmer  of  Dix  Town- 
ship; James  farming  with  Charles;  Fannie;  Fred, 
deceased;  Calvin  and  Albert. 

In  his  political  alliliations,  Mr.  Kerchanfaut  is  a 
Democrat.     He  has  lu'ld  the  olHce  of    Pathmaster 


746 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


for  thirteen  years  and  was  School  Director  for 
twelve  _years,  his  long  continued  service  indicating 
his  faithful  ]ierf<)rmauce  of  duty.  Soeialh',  he  is 
a  menilier  of  tlie  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge,  and  also  be- 
longs to  the  United  Bretliren  Church,  as  does  also 
his  wife.  He  had  only  ^10  when  he  came  to 
America,  but  by  his  industr3-  and  enterprise,  he 
and  estimable  wife  have  accumulated  a  comfortable 
competence,  owning  four  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
land.  He  may  well  be  termed  a  self-made  man  and 
he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of 
the  community. 


RICHARD  CLIMPSON,  who  owns  and  oper- 
ates eighty  acres  of  good  land  on  section 
31,  Dix  Township,  and  eighty  acres  in 
Champaign  County,  was  born  in  Kent 
County,  England,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1826.  His 
parents  were  also  natives  of  that  locality.  The 
father  of  our  subject  died  when  Richard  was  about 
two  3'ears  of  age,  leaving  a  family  of  three  sons: 
John,  Thomas,  and  our  subject. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  subject  were 
ver}'  limited.  When  fifteen  years  of  age,  lie  be- 
gan to  earn  his  own  livelihood,  working  as  a  da}- 
laborer,  and  was  thus  employed  until  1850,  when 
he  emigrated  to  America,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in 
a  sailing-vessel.  He  made  his  first  location  in  Will 
County,  111.,  where  he  commenced  working  on  a 
farm  by  the  month.  After  three  years  spent  in 
this  country,  he  returned  to  England,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  a  year  and  a  half.  During  that 
time,  in  1854,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Maria  Smith.  Subsequentl3',  he  sailed  for  Mel- 
bourne, Australia,  and  after  a  voj'age  of  four 
months  arrived  at  his  destination.  He  spent  one 
year  in  that  country,  engaged  in  mining  most  of 
the  time,  and  then  returned  to  his  native  land. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  Mr.  Climpson 
again  came  to  the  United  States  and  once  more 
located  in  AVill  County,  III.  Purchasing  a  farm, 
he  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  its  cultivation 
until  1860,  when  he  came  to  Ford  Count}-  and 
bought  a    fortj'-acre    tract    of    land  on  section  31, 


Dix  Township.  Here  he  has  now  made  his  home 
for  almost  a  third  of  a  century.  He  has  been  suc- 
cessful in  Ills  business  dealings  and  as  his  financial 
resources  were  increased  he  extended  the  bound- 
aries of  his  farm  until  it  now  comprises  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land.  The  entire 
amount  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  is 
well  improved  with  good  buildings  and  all  the 
accessories  of  a  model  farm. 

In  1865,  INIr.  Climpson  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife  who  died  leaving  tive 
children:  Richard,  .Jane,  Thomas.  William  and  Ma- 
tilda. In  1866,  he  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  t)eing  with  Miss  Harriet  Groves,  who  died 
ten  years  later.  Four  children  were  born  of  this 
union,  all  sons:  Samuel,  Frank,  Lola  and  Charles. 
In  1877,  I\Ir.  Climpson  was  joined  in  wedlock  with 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Walker,  widow  of  John  T.  Walker, 
bj-  whom  she  has  five  living  children:  Sarah,  John, 
James,  Charles  and  Ann  Frances.  Both  Mr.  Walker 
and  Mrs.  Climpson  were  natives  of  England,  he  of 
Lincolnshire  and  she  of  Yorkshire.  Our  subject  has 
a  pleasant  home  in  Dix  Township,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  highl}-  respected  citizens  of  the  community 
in  which  they  have  so  long  made  their  home.  In 
his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Climpson  is  a  Repub- 
lican. His  wife  is  a  Methodist.  He  is  a  self-made 
man  wlio,  by  his  own  efforts,  has  worked  his  waj' 
upward  from  a  humble  position  to  one  of  affluence. 
For  his  success  in  life  he  certainly  deserves  much 
credit. 

y 


\«l  liJLLIAM  GILMORE  is  one  of  the  exten- 
'\/\l//  ^^^'^  land-owners  of  Ford  County,  and  a 
^^/^  jirominent  and  intluential  citizen  of  Dix 
Township,  resiiling  on  section  16.  As  he  is  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  this  community,  we  feel 
assured  that  this  record  of  his  life  will  prove  of 
interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  He  was  born  in 
Harrison  County,  Oiiio,  Januaiy  27,  1843,  .and  is 
one  of  twelve  children,  whose  parents  were  Na- 
thaniel and  Mary  (Craig)  Gilmore.  With  his  fam- 
il}-,  the  father  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1852,  and 
made    a  settlement  near  Le  Roy,  McLean  County. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


747 


Purchasing  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  he  there 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  death  which  occurred 
in  1855.  He  was  a  very  successful  business  man 
and  accumulated  quite  a  liundsome  property.  In 
politics,  he  was  a  Democrat.  His  wife  survived 
him  a  number  of  years  and  died  in  1884.  Of  their 
family,  Samuel  died  in  1851;  Elizfi  J.,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Alexander  M.  Shaver,  died  in  1867; 
Jolni  was  a  farmer  residing  near  Le  Roy,  McLean 
County,  111.;  Rachel  died  about  the  age  of  three 
years;  Craig  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Drummer  Township;  Sarah  died  in  1852;  Al- 
bert is  a  farmer  living  in  Drummer  Township. 
William  is  the  next  younger;  Mary  A.  died  in 
1857;  Joiinson  died  in  1861;  and  Ephraim  car- 
ries on  farming  in  Champaign  County. 

Mr.  Gilmore  whose  name  heads  this  record  ac- 
quired his  early  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood,  and  afterwards  pursued  a 
course  of  study  in  Bloomington,  111.,  at  the  Wes- 
leyan  University.  He  was  thus  well  fitted  foi  the 
practical  duties  of  life.  In  1870,  he  came  to  Ford 
Count}'  and  located  in  Drummer  Township,  where 
he  spent  seven  3'ears.  In  1877,  he  removed  to  Dix 
Township,  where  he  has  since  carried  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising.  His  home  farm  is  lo- 
cated on  section  16,  and  his  landed  possessions 
aggregate  six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  all  of 
which  are  in  Dix  Township;  also  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Osceola  County,  Iowa.  Nearlj'  the 
entire  amount  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  IS  well  improved.  There  are  good  buildings 
upon  the  home  farm  and  all  modern  accessories, 
and  the  well-tilled  fields  yield  a  golden  tribute  to 
the  care  and  cultivation  of  the  owner. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1879,  Mr.  Gilmore  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Julia  I.  Bunch,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  JL'iiy(Clarke)  Bunch,  born 
October  5,  1853.  The  family'  circle  numbers  four 
children,  as  follows:  Mary  Etta,  who  was  born  Oc- 
tober 3,  1883;  Walter  E.,  March  2,  1886;  and  Car- 
rie Harrison  and  Benjamin  Harrison,  twins,  who 
were  born  on  the  9th  of  April,  1889.  The  parents 
arc  prominent  people  in  this  community  and  have 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances  who 
esteem  them  highly  for  their  many  excellencies  of 
character. 


Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  Republi- 
can principles,  and  his  first  Presidential  vote  was 
cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  For  six  years  he  filled 
the  office  of  Township  Trustee,  and  for  nine  j-ears 
has  served  as  School  Director.  His  long  service  in 
these  positions  indicates  his  faithfulness  and  fidel- 
ity to  dut}'.  He  is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive 
citizen  who  takes  an  active  interest  in  everything 
pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and 
is  an  enterprising  and  progressive  farmer.  His 
own  industry,  perseverance  and  good  management 
have  been  important  factors  in  iiis  success. 

Mrs.  Gilmore 's  father,  William  Bunch,  died  in 
1853,  when  she  was  but  a  child.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  Her  mother,  Mary  (Clarke)  Bunch, 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  is  yet  living 
at  the  age  of  about  sixty.  She  resides  in  Edwards 
Count}-.  Mrs.  Gilmore's  girlhood  days  were  spent 
on  the  farm,  and  she  was  educated  in  a  limited  way. 
She  had  one  brother,  Joseph  H.,  who  resides  in 
Richland  County,  III.,  and  married  Miss  Jane  Gates. 
He  is  a  farmer.  ]Mrs.  Gilmore  has  been  a  valuable 
helpmate  to  her  husband  in  the  acquisition  of 
their  beautiful  and  valuable  home.  She  is  a  lov- 
ing mother,  and  this  excellent  life  sketch  of  father 
and  mother  will  ever  be  cherished  by  their  children 
when  they  have  passed  away. 


I^+^P 


'j|(OSEPH  N.  MARSHALL,  who  follows  gen- 
eral farming  on  sections  32  and  33,  Dix 
Township,  is  a  native  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tain State.  His  birth  occurred  in  Windsor 
County,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1827.  His  father. 
Nelson  Marshall,  was  also  a  native  of  Vermont 
and  was  of  Scotch  extraction.  After  attaining  to 
man's  estate,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Delia  Lewis  and  unto  them  were  born  six  children, 
the  eldest  of  whom  is  our  subject;  Abigail  is  now 
deceased;  Harvey  is  twin  brother;  Heniy,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Alvin  resides  in  Massachusetts; 
and  Minerva  is  a  resident  of  Giljson  City.  The  par- 
ents are  both  deceased.  The  death  of  the  mother 
occurred  in  1878  and  Mr.  Marshall  died  in  1883. 
We  now    take    up  the  personal    history  of    our 


748 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


subject,  who  is  one  of  the  most  widely-known  cit- 
izens of  Dix  Township.  He  acquired  a  good  busi- 
ness education  in  the  common  schools,  which  he 
attended  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  Under  the 
parental  roof  he  remained  until  lie  had  attained 
his  majority,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
as  a  farm  hand,  working  by  the  month.  He  was 
thus  cmploj'^ed  for  three  years,  after  which  he 
bade  good-bye  to  the  State  of  liis  nativity  and  em- 
igrated to  Illinois  in  1850.  He  made  his  first  set- 
tlement in  Peoria  County,  and  resided  in  Marshall, 
Knox,  Woodford  and  Peoria  Counties  until  his 
removal  to  Ford  Count}'  in   1875. 

On  tlie  6th  of  Februaiy,  1859,  Mr.  Marshall  was 
united  in  mnn-iage  to  Mrs.  Eliza  DeMottc,  widow 
of  Williain  l)e  Molte  and  a  daughter  of  Charles 
and  Elizabetii  (Hargraves)  Do  Bruler.  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall's great-gr.andfather  on  her  father's  side  came 
from  France,  accompanied  by  two  brothers.  Her 
mother  was  of  English  extraction.  Charles  De 
Bruler  and  wife  were  married  in  North  Carolina, 
in  1816,  and  emigrated  to  Pike  County,  Ind.,  not 
long  after.  He  was  drowned  while  crossing  Wiiite 
River  in  1835  and  his  wife  died  in  184.3. 

Mrs.  Marshall  is  one  of  eight  children,  though 
only  three  now  live.  On  October  11,  1848,  she 
married  William  H.  DeMotte  and  the  following 
year  the}-  moved  to  Woodford  County,  111.,  where 
Mr.  DeMottc  died  in  1851,  leaving  two  little  girls 
to  be  reared  and  educated  by  his  widow.  They 
are  Lizzie,  wife  of  J.  M.  Marshall,  a  fanner  of  Iro- 
quois County  and  Clara,  wife  of  M.  W.  Scott,  a 
resident  of  Cherry  Vale,  Kan. 

By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  have 
been  born  three  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  in- 
infancy;  Omah  Jay,  who  is  married  and  resides  on 
the  home  farm;  and  Elmer  M.,  who  died  May  22, 
1890,  in  his  twenty- fourth  year.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  Gibson  Cemetery.  He  was  a  bril- 
liant j'oung  man  and  one  of  noble  character. 
After  attending  the  Onarga  Seminary,  he  began  a 
medical  course  of  study  to  which  he  seemed  espe- 
cially suited.  His  whole  aim  in  life  was  to  become 
a  skillful  physician  that  he  might  thereb}-  relieve 
suffering  humanity  and  .accomplish  the  most  good 
in  the  world. 

On  coming  to  Ford  Count}-,  Mr.  Marshall  pur- 


chased two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  situ- 
ated on  sections  32  and  33,  Dix  Township,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  He  has  a  pleasant  home  and 
a  well-improved  farm  and  the  neat  ajipeaiance  of 
the  pl.ace  indicates  the  careful  supervision  of  a 
thrifty  manager.  He  is  a  practical  and  progressive 
farmer  and  a  successful  business  man,  who  is  now 
numbered  among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
community.  Himself  and  wife  are  both  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and,  in  his  political  aflili' 
ations,  Jlr.  Marshall  is  a  supporter  of  Republican 
principles.  He  started  out  in  life  empty-handed, 
with  no  capital  save  a  young  man's  bright  hope 
of  the  future  and  a  determination  to  succeed.  His 
life  is  an  example  of  what  may  be  accomi)lishod 
by  industry  and  perseverance  and  is  well  worthy 
of  emulation. 

i(_^  ARVEY  M.  DALLY,  M.  D.,  a  well-known 
and  leading  practitioner  of  Kempton,  was 
born  in  Putnam  County, III.,  near  Hennei)in, 
November  20,  1855.  His  father,  William 
Dally ,was  a  native  of  Penn.sylvania  and  was  of  Ger- 
man and  French  extraction.  He  married  Johanna 
Ncwburn,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State,  and  was  of  German  descent.  They  had  a  fam- 
ily of  eight  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Mary,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Ellis  Hughes,  a  farmer  and  rancher 
residing  in  Montana;  Lydiadied  in  1878;  Annie  is 
the  wife  of  Nelson  Russell,  a  real-estate  dealer 
making  his  home  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  George  is  a 
brick  and  tile  manufacturer  residing  in  Sauleniann, 
111.;  John  (lied  in  1863;  the  Doctor  is  the  next 
younger;  Williain  is  a  farmer  who  makes  his  home 
in  Jlona  Township,  and  Charles  died  in  1863.  The 
father  of  this  family  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1850, 
locating  in  I'utnam  County.  He  is  still  a  resident 
of  Pontiac.     His  wife  departed  this  life  in  1872. 

Dr.  Dally  was  born  and  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm  and  acquired  his  primary  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school.  He  completed  his  education  at  Valpa- 
raiso, Ind.,  attending  that  college  from  1875  until 
1879.  In  the  meantime,  be  also  engaged  in  teach- 
ing and  in  his  leisure  hours  studied  medicine.     In 


Oy 


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''i>c^^2.^^:n^,x^ 


I 


(17^1^^    0(/ .  ro^i£,n,i 


o^UL^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


753 


1879,  having  determined  to  make  that  profession 
his  life  work,  he  entered  tlie  medical  college  of 
Indiannpolis,  Ind.,  where  he  was  graduated  with 
honor  March  3,  1881.  He  soon  afterward  went  to 
Elmwood,  111.,  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine. 
After  spending  a  year  at  that  place,  he  came  to 
Kempton,  111.,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 

On  the  4th  of  October,  187(;,  Dr.  Dally  was 
united  in  marriage  to  JMiss  Rose  E.  Hannah,  daugh- 
ter of  William  R.  Hannah.  Two  children  have 
been  born  of  this  union,  a  son  and  daugliter,  Nora 
May  and  Homer  H. 

In  his  political  alliliations,  the  Doctor  is  a  Re- 
publican but  has  never  been  an  ofHce-seeker,  and 
socially  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order.  In  1884, 
he  established  a  drug  store  in  Kempton,  which  he 
carries  on  in  connection  with  his  practice  and  does 
a  good  business.  His  skill  and  .ability  have  won 
him  a  liberal  patronage,  and  he  ranks  liigh  among 
his  professional  brethren  of  the  community.  The 
Doctor  h.as  a  wide  acquaintance,  and  l\y  tliosc  who 
know  him  lie  is  held  in  warm  regard. 


^^Il  LRERT  GILMORE,  one   of  the  e.xlen.sive 
^/4jl|    land-owners    and    prominent   citizens    of 
IL    Drummer   Township,  residing  on   section 
1^  27,  was  born   in   Harrison   County,  Ohio, 

January  2(i,  1811,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Mar}'  (Craig)  Gilmore.  His  grand  fathers  both 
came  from  Ireland.  His  grandfathers  were  among 
the  first  settlers  of  Harrison  County,  moving  tiiere 
about  1803,  and  making  their  liome.s  in  Harrison 
County  until  their  death.  Graiidfalhcr  Gilmore 
was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his  hard 
service  so  undermined  his  health  that  he  died 
shortly  after  his  return.  In  his  family  were  seven 
childTen.  six  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years,  but 
none  are  now  living. 

The  father  of  our  subject  siieut  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  in  Harrison  County,  and  in 
1827  wedded  JNIiss  Craig,  daughter  of  .John  Craig. 
Twenty  years  later,  they  removed  to  Relmont 
County,  where  he  engaged   in  farming  and  stock- 


raising  for  five  years,  when  lie  took  up  his  resi- 
dence near  Le  Roy,  McLean  County,  III.,  in  1852. 
His  death  there  occurred  on  the  5th  of  November, 
1855,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  Gilmore 
Cemetery  on  the  old  homestead,  where  a  monu- 
ment marks  his  last  resting  place.  His  wife  long 
survived  him  and  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
December  21,  1884.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat and  in  his  business  affairs  was  quite  success- 
ful, leaving  a  handsome  properly.  The  family 
numbered  twelve  children:  Samuel  and  .lane  E., 
both  deceased;  .lohn,  a  farmer  of  Iowa;  Rachel, 
also  deceased;  Craig,  who  is  living  in  Drummer 
Township  and  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  Sarah,  deceased;  Albert,  of  this  sketch; 
William,  of  Dix  Township;  Mary  A.  and  .lohnson, 
who  have  also  passed  away;  one  who  died  in  in- 
fanc}',  and  Ephraim,  of  Champaign   County. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  childhood  of  our  subject.  His  early  education, 
•acquired  in  the  common  schools,  w'as  supplemented 
by  a  two-terms'  attendance  at  the  Wesleyan  V-m- 
versity  of  Bloomington,  111.  Throughout  life,  he 
has  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
remained  at  home  until  thirty  years  of  age,  and 
then  went  to  a  farm  of  his  own,  upon  which  he 
lived  alone  for  ten  years.  In  18(!4,  with  his  broth- 
ers, .lohn,  Craig  and  William,  he  came  to  this 
county  and  purchased  sixteen  hundred  acres  of 
wild  land  at  from  $4.25  to  *8  per  acre  and  began 
its  development  and  cultivation.  Rut  he  did  not 
in.ake  Ford  County  his  place  of  residence  until 
1870.  They  also  jiurchased  six  hundred  acres  in 
Chamiiaign  County  about  186G.  In  the  spring  of 
that  year,  four  hundred  acres  were  broken.  The 
lirothers  all  worked  together  until  1870,  when  the 
lan<l  W.1S  divided,  our  subject's  share  being  about 
five  hundred  and  fifty  .acres.  He  h.as  since  added 
to  it  until  in  this  county  alone  he  owns  sixteen 
hundred  and  forty-three  acres  of  improved  land, 
while  in  Noble  and  .lackson  Counties,  Minn.,  he 
owns  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres.  In  connec- 
tion with  general  farming,  he  engaged  in  stock- 
raising,  making  a  specialty  of  high-grade  cattle. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1880,  in  lliis  county, 
Mr.  (iilmore  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Elizabeth 
lloundy,  who    was    born    in    Peoria    County,   111., 


754 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


June'  19,  1858,  ancl  is  a  (laughter  of  William  and 
pjlizabetli  (Ilili)  Boundy,  who  were  of  English  de- 
scent. The  lady  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  By  her  marriage,  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  five  cliiidren,  four  yet  living;  Samuel, 
SImma  J.,  Lillie  M.  and  C^yntliia  M.  "Willie  A.  is 
now  deceased. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  Rei)ublican.  He 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  the  Martyr  Pres- 
ident, Abraham  Lincoln.  He  is  a  self-made  man, 
having  l)y  his  own  industrious  and  enterjirising 
efforts  worked  his  wa3'  upward  to  the  position  of 
afHuence  which  he  to-day  occupies. 


4^ 


fc'»'r^p= 


-^> 


\Jl  UDGE  HUGH  P.  BEACH,  a  lawyer  of  Piper 
City  and  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Pan  Handle  Adiinvatp,  was  born  in  a  log 
cabin  in  the  wilderness  about  thirty  miles 
south  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  more  than  fifty  years 
ago.  On  the  paternal  side  he  is  descended  from 
an  old  family-  of  New  .Terse}'.  His  grandfather, 
David  Bc.acli.  served  in  tlie  War  of  the  Revolution, 
and  his  grandmother  was  a  near  relative  of  Daniel 
D.  Tompkins,  who  was  prominent  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  this  country  and  at  one  time  was  Governor 
of  New  York,  and  afterward  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States. 

Moses  Tompkins  Be.ach,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1810,  ajid 
was  reared  to  agricultural  jiursuits  in  that  State. 
He  married  Maria  Wylie  Gillett,  also  a  native  of 
New  York,  but  directly  connected  with  the  Gil- 
letts,  Fullers,  Phelpses,  Pages,  and  other  leading 
families  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and  vicinity,  in  the 
early  history  of  that  State.  With  her  he  moved 
to  the  AVestern  Reserve  of  Ohio,  about  1830. 
Being  a  skillful  woodsman,  he  cleared  and  im- 
proved several  farms  in  that  heavily-wooded  sec- 
tion, but  later  in  life  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  until  his  death.  In  politics,  he  was  a 
Whig  and  afterward  a  Republican,  and  was  a  strong 
opponent  of  slavery. 

Tlie  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  he  was 
fourteen  years  of  age,  but  to  her  teachings  and  the 
remembiance  of  her  exemplary  character  he  owes 


much.  He  was  the  fourth  in  a  large  family.  He 
was  early  inured  to  hard  labor  on  the  farm  but 
acquired  a  good  education,  for  that  period,  for  the 
settlers  in  the  Western  Reserve  always  established 
good  schools,  no  matter  what  else  had  to  be  sac- 
rificed. When  his  mother  died,  he  left  school  and 
began  to  earn  his  own  livelihood,  with  no  resources 
but  his  intellect  and  a  strong  determination  to 
succeed.  He  had  read  accounts  of  the  struggles 
and  successes  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  a  desire 
was  created  thereby  to  become  a  printer.  In  the 
spring  of  1857,  the  opportunity  presented  itself  to 
gratify  the  ambition,  and  for  the  next  two  years 
he  was  constantly  employed  in  that  work,  succes- 
sively in  two  well-appointed  newspaper  offices,  in 
the  course  of  which  he  passed  through  all  gi'ades 
of  work,  from  "printer's  devil,"  to  assistant  in  the 
local  news  department.  Like  manj^  others,  he  is 
indebted  to  this  early  newspaper  work  for  much  of 
his  earlier  general  information  in  regard  to  public 
affairs.  Succeeding  this,  a  desire  was  aroused  to 
become  a  lawyer,  and  accordingly,  for  two  follow- 
ing years  he  was  found  under  the  able  tutelage  of 
two  of  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  State,  Hon. 
Henry  Grove  and  Hon.  J.  K.  Cooper  (both  now 
deceased),  perusing  tlie  "labyrinthine  intricacies" 
of  the  law,  as  embraced  in  Blackstone,  Kent,  and 
other  leadiaig  text-books  of  that  department  of 
learning.  At  tliat  time  he  was  a  member  of  a 
lioine  company  of  Zouaves,  and  when  the  coun- 
try was  startled  b}'  the  firing  upon  Ft.  Sumpter, 
the  services  of  his  company  were  immediately  ten- 
dered to  Gov.  Richard  Yates,  at  Springfield.  Not 
receiving  any  satisfaction  from  the  Governor,  they 
sent  one  of  tlieir  officers  to  Springfield  to  confer 
with  him,  but,  such  was  the  patriotic  rush  to  the 
defense  of  the  country.  Gov.  Yates  replied  to  the 
effect  that  the  applications  ahead  of  the  Zouaves 
were  sufficient  to  fill  the  Illinois  quota  several 
times  over.  Nothing  daunted,  these  determined 
patriots  met  in  their  armory  and  decided  to  tender 
their  services  direct  to  the  General  Government, 
and  thereupon  wired  the  then  Secretary  of  War, 
Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  to 
that  effect.  Imagine  their  disappointment  when 
his  re|)ly  came  back:  "Consult  your  Governor"! 
This  tended  to  abate  the  ardor  of  their  patriotism, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


755 


as  there  was  no  immediate  hope  of  their  services 
being  accepted.  A  good  part  of  the  compan.y  re- 
turned to  their  accustomed  pursuits,  but  others 
kept  up  the  organization,  and,  montlis  afterward, 
with  recruited  ranks,  went  to  St.  Louis,  and  joined 
the  Eighth  Missouri  Infantry.  Still  engaged  in 
the  study  of  the  law,  it  was  not  until  the  Govern- 
ment called  for  three  hundred  thousand  volunteers 
that  our  subject  went  into  actual  service.  Then 
for  more  than  four  years  and  a  half  continuously, 
in  both  Infantry  and  heavy  artillery,  he  served 
successively  in  about  all  i)ositions  from  private  to 
that  of  commander  of  his  company.  He  was  for 
a  time  Clerk  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department  at 
New  Orleans,  La.;  also  Clerk  of  a  Court  Martial, 
in  that  city,  and  after  his  commission  was  a  mem- 
ber of  a  Military  Commission  b}'  appointment  of 
Gen.  Sheridan,  Commander  of  the  Dci)artment  of 
the  Gulf.  He  campaigned  through  Kentucky, 
Missouri,  Tennessee,  Arkansas,  Mississippi,  Louisi- 
ana, and  across  Lake  Pontchartrain,  and  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  He  participated  in  some  of  the  most 
important  military  operations  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  under  Gens.  Grant,  Sherman,  Sheridan, 
Banks,  McClernand,  A.  J.  Smith,  Canby,  Hiirlbut, 
Ord,  and  others,  and  was  present  at  the  engage- 
ments at  Ilaine's  Bluff,  Chickasaw  B.ayou,  Arkansas 
Post,  Magnolia  Hills,  Grand  Gulf,  Port  (iibson. 
Champion  Hills,  Raymond,  Black  River  Bridge, 
and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  went  on  the  fa- 
mous campaign  of  Gen.  Banks  up  Red  River,  and 
the  march  of  Gen.  Gordon  Granger  through  East- 
ern Mississippi  in  the  combined  movement  .against 
Mobile,  being  then  in  command  of  his  companj-. 
During  the  latter  part  of  his  service,  he  was  sta- 
tioned successively  at  Ft.  St.  Philip,  and  P^t. 
Jackson,  commanding  the  defenses  of  New  Or- 
leans, on  the  Gulf  coast,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Through  all  his  long  and  perilous  service, 
he  received  only  two  slight  wounds,  but  he  has 
now  in  his  possession  his  army  carLridge-box  which 
undoubtedly  saved  his  life,  as  it  was  perforated  by 
a  ball  of  the  enemy  in  an  engagement,  while  it  was 
drawn  in  front  of  his  bodj'  for  convenience  in 
loading  his  gun,  as  was  the  practice  in  a  fight. 

While   in   the  service    and   in  command  of  his 
company,  he  raised  a  subscription  in  the  company 


to  the  National  Lincoln  Monument  at  Springfield 
of  1715.30,  and  received  a  personal  letter  from 
Gov.  Oglesby  in  acknowledgment  of  its  receipt, 
expressed  in  the  most  complimentary  terms. 

Just  about  the  close  of  his  military  career,  he 
w.as  brevetted  to  a  higher  rank  by  the  President 
of  the  United  Slates,  "for  faithful  and  meritorious 
services,"  as  the  parchment  commission  states.  A 
singular  incident  is  connected  with  this.  The 
commission  was  forwarded  at  the  proper  time  but 
to  the  wrong  post-offlce,  and,  i.ot  being  called  for, 
was  returned  to  the  War  Department,  at  Washing- 
ton. As  the  fact  of  being  brevetted  was  unknown 
to  the  recipient  of  the  honor,  no  call  was  made  for 
the  commission  until  about  eighteen  months  ago, 
when,  accidentally,  a  brother  otticer  in  the  p]ast, 
who  knew  about  it,  mentioned  the  fact  in  a  letter. 
This  gratifying  news  led  to  correspondence  with 
the  War  Department,  and  the  highly-[)rlzed  docu- 
ment was  forwarded  by  return  mail,  after  slumber- 
ing in  the  official  vaults  of  the  Government  for 
about  twenty-four  years!  However,  it  was  none 
the  less  gratefully  received. 

Another  matter  relating  to  his  military  service, 
which  also  has  a  most  grateful  side  to  it,  is  the  fact 
that  no  complete  settlement  was  ever  had  with  the 
Government  of  his  accounts  as  an  officer  until 
this  last  winter  (1892),  when  the  Government 
found  itself  indebted  to  the  .Judge  several  hundred 
dollars! 

While  in  the  military  service.  Judge  Beach 
wedded  Mary  Estelle  Smith,  of  Louisiana,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Henry  Lyon  Smith,  of  the  Engineer 
Corps  of  the  Regular  Army,  and  Mrs.  Armalie  II. 
Smith,  nee  Hebert.  Capt.  Smith  was  a  graduate  of 
the  West  Point  Military  Academy,  and  for  a  time 
professor  at  that  school.  Although  himself  a  na- 
tive of  Maine,  his  military  duties  took  him  to 
Louisiana,  where  he  married  Armalie  II.  Hebert,  a 
sister  of  his  class-mate  at  West  Point,  Gen.  Louis 
Hebert.  The  Hebcrts  were  a  very  prominent  family 
under  the  old  order  of  affairs  before  the  war.  Grand- 
father Vallery  Hebert  held  a  prominent  position  un- 
der Gen.  Jackson  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  in 
1815.  Paul  O.  Hebert  was  a  Governor,  another  rep- 
resentative was  a  Speaker  of  the  legislature,  still  an- 
other was  a  Superintendent  of  one  of  their  railways. 


756 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


while  another,  Mrs.  Ernestine  S.  .Stevens,  widow  of 
the  late  Gen.  Walter  Stevens,  was  first  librarian  of 
the  I'atent  Ottice,  at  Washington,  1).  C,  and  for 
many  years  since  has  been  Librarian  of  tlie  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  which  position  she  still  holds. 
She  is  rightfully  classed  among  the  great  women 
of  the  nation.     Slie  is  Mrs.  Leach's  aunt. 

The  sul)jeet  of  our  sketch  received  his  discharge 
from  the  army  February  22,  18(w,  and,  with  his 
young  wife,  inimediatelj'  came  North,  locating  at 
Piper  C'it\-  (then  called  New  Lrenton),  where  they 
ariived  April  111.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Wilber, 
now  deceased,  then  resided  here.  At  Piper  City 
he  resumed  the  study  of  tiie  law,  and,  in  187(1,  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
State,  and  has  since  practiced  th.at  profession.  In 
the  early  histor}'  of  Piper  City,  he  was  elected 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  it  was 
during  his  administration  that  many  important 
streets  were  graded,  the  town  park,  now  a  beauti- 
ful grove,  was  planted,  and  a  numlier  of  artesian 
fire  wells  sunk  in  different  localities,  wliich  latter 
have  since  saved  the  [ilace  at  least  two  very  disas- 
trous conflagrations.  During  said  term,  the  first 
flrc-engine  was  l)Ought,  which  eventually  led  up  to 
the  present  etticient  fire  department  service  of  the 
village.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  his  fcllow-town.s- 
mcn  elected  him  a  member  of  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors.  In  that  body  his  advocacy  of  re- 
trenchment, economy  and  reform  in  county  affairs 
called  public  attention  to  him,  and  he  was  the  same 
year  nominated  and  elected  County-  Judge,  and 
was  re-elected  for  two  successive  terms.  lie  served 
until  December,  1886,  a  year  having  been  added 
by  an  amendment  to  the  State  constitution,  and  it 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  had  the  good-will 
and  confidenee  of  the  people  as  a  just,  faithful 
and  upright  Judge. 

For  the  past  nine  years  he  has  been  editor,  pub- 
lisher and  proprietor  of  the  Pan  Handle  Admcale. 
It  is  sullicient  to  say  that  .as  a  journalist  he  h.as 
alw.iys  endeavored  to  advocate  that  which  w.as 
for  the  very  best  interests  of  the  people  among 
whom  the  j)aper  circulates,  and  he  is  always  able 
to  state  in  clear  and  forcible  language  just  what 
lie  me.ans.  His  success  in  this  department  is  highly 
deserved.     He  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  M.asonr3',  is 


a  Patriarch  in  Odd-Fellowship,  and  has  been  in 
attendance  ujmju  the  (irand  Lodges  of  both  bodies. 
He  is  Past  Commander  of  Piper  City  Post,  No. 
30 1,  Department  of  Illinois,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
while  commander  took  the  initiatory  steps  which 
resulted  in  organizing  Gresham  Camp  No.  187, 
Sons  of  Veterans,  of  which  the  Judge  is  an 
honorary  member.  Judge  Beach  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  at  Chicago, 
in  18(50,  and  has  always  been  a  believer  in  Repub- 
lican principles.  He  heard  Lincoln  .and  Dougl.as 
ill  the  great  joint  discussion  of  18r)8;  li.as  also 
listened  to  Lovejoy,  Lf)gan,  Trumbull,  Seward, 
Corwin,  Hale,  Ingcrsoll,  Blaine,  Oglesby,  Harrison, 
and  a  host  of  other  leading  orators  of  the  Last 
thirty  years;  h.as  heard  the  greatest  imlpit  orator, 
Beecher;  the  greatest  living  actor,  Booth;  and  the 
greatest  songstress.  Patti.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Pioneer  Wide  Awake  Club  of  Chicago,  in  18(i0, 
the  Captain  of  which  was  Ord.  Sergt.  J.  R.  Hayden, 
of  the  famous  Ellswortli  Zouave  cadets. 

Judge  Beach  has  not  accumulated  wealtii,  but 
his  l()ve  of  good  literature  has  brought  around  him 
one  of  the  finest  private  libraries  to  be  found 
anywhere.  The  field  covered  is  very  wide.  Be- 
sides his  law  library,  there  are  works  of  history, 
biograph\',  travel,  philosophy,  science,  mathema- 
tics, rhetoric,  poetry,  art,  music,  .also  medical,  theo- 
logical, political,  military,  .agricultural,  horticul- 
tural, poinological,  stock-raising,  and  various  other 
:  works,  the  .accumulations  of  a  third  of  a  century. 
These,  and  current  leading  journals  and  m.aga- 
zines  of  the  d.ay,  furnish  an  extensive  field  for 
intellectual  thought  and  culture  on  all  manner  of 
interesting  subjects.  Some  years  ago,  the  Judge 
found  that  his  long  and  arduous  military  service, 
and  too  close  confinement  to  sedentary  pursuits 
since,  had  made  inrfiads  upon  his  health,  to  coun- 
teract which  he  has  felt  compelled  to  seek  more 
.active  life  in  the  ojieii  air  than  formerly,  and  in 
this  connection  he  has  what  he  calls  his  "gymna- 
sium." It  consists  in  interesting  himself  in  the 
raising  of  blooded  roadster  horses,  and  Jersey  cat- 
tle, and  taking  care  of  them  himself!  It  is  too 
soon  to  s.ay  what  the  financial  outcome  may  be, 
but  one  thing  seems  already  assured,  and  that  is, 
greatlj'  benefited  health. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPHi'CAL   RECORD. 


H)l 


Judge  and  Mrs.  Beach  have  a  family  of  five 
living  children:  Henry  Lyon,  formerly  uf  the  Ad- 
vocate, now  employed  as  a  reporter  on  the  Chicago 
Dail}'  Tribune;  Carrie  Estelle,  who  is  assistant 
manager  and  chief  compositor  of  the  Advocate; 
Ernestine  Kellogg,  assistant  coni|)osilor  of  the 
Advocate;  Mettie  Armalio  and  Daisy  May,  not  yet 
in  tiieir  teens.  Lillian  Mar}',  tlic  second  daugh- 
ter, pronounced  a  very  interesting  child  by  all 
who  knew  her,  died  suddenly  of  membranous 
croup  in  the  fourtli  year  of  her  age. 

In  closing  tiiis  outline  of  the  biography  of  one 
of  Ford  Count3's  best  known  citizens,  let  us  sa}' 
that  Judge  Beach  is  an  unassuming,  (ilcasant  and 
companionable  gentleman,  and  stands  among  the 
first  for  integrity  of  purpose  and  general  high 
character  in  the  community  where  he  has  so  long 
resided. 


ft^v^b^^V**^ 


j^OBERT  WILSON,  a  well-known  and  en- 
terprising farmer  lesiding  on  section  32' 
Dix  Township,  is  a  native  of  Glasgow, 
Scotland.  He  was  born  on  the  13th  o^ 
March,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Riddel)  Wilson.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Ireland,  and  at  an  early  da}'  emigrated  to  Scot- 
land. In  the  family  were  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: John,  a  farmer  residing  in  Loda,  111.;  James 
and  Agnes,  who  are  living  in  Dix  Township  with 
our  subject;  and  the  other  three  are  now  deceased. 
The  mother  of  tliis  faniil}'  died  in  Logan  County, 
111.,  in  1849,  and  the  father  was  called  to  his  linal 
home  in   1843,  in  Glasgow,  Scotland. 

Mr.  Wilson  whose  name  heads  this  record  at- 
tended the  common  schools  until  twelve  years  of 
age,  since  which  time  he  has  made  his  own  wa}- 
in  the  world.  In  his  native  land  he  learneil  the 
spinner's  trade,  which  he  followed  until  his  emi- 
gration to  America.  Hearing  much  of  the  advan- 
tages and  opportunities  of  the  New  World,  he 
determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  this  country.  Cross- 
ing the  Atlantic  in  1848,  he  settled  in  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  where  he  resided  for  four  \ears.  He  then 
came  Westward  to   Illinois    in    18.")2.  locating    in 


Logan  County,  111.,  near  Lincoln.  With  his  fa- 
ther and  brothers,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  Goveinnient  land,  upon  which  he 
resided  until  1867. 

In  the  meantime,  .Mr.  Wilson  responded  to  the 
call  of  his  adopted  country  for  troops,  and  in 
1862  enlisted  as  a  private  of  Company  F,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixth  Illinois  Infantry.  The  tirst 
engagement  in  which  he  participated  was  at  Jack- 
son, Tenn.  He  was  afterward  in  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg  and  under  lire  at  the  battles  of  Little 
Rock,  Ark.,  Pine  Bluff,  and  many  others  of  minor 
importance.  He  w.as  alwa3s  found  at  his  post, 
faithfully  discharging  any  duty  which  devolved 
upon  him.  In  1865,  on  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  his 
home. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Wilson  resided  in  Logan 
County  until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Ford  County 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  si.Kt}'  acres  of 
railroad  land  on  section  32,  Dix  Township.  There, 
with  his  brother  James  and  sister  Agnes,  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  devotes  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  general  farming  and  has  a  highly- 
improved  quarter-section  of  land,  which  yields  to 
him  a  golden  tribute  in  leturn  for  the  care  and 
labor  he  bestows  upon  it.  Mr.  Wilson  exercises 
his  right  of  rranchise  in  support  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  lie  is  ahv;iys  ready  and  willing  to 
aid  in  the  advancement  of  public  enterprises,  and 
has  ever  borne  his  share  in  the  upbuilding  and 
development  of  the  coiiiiiiunity  where  he  has  now 
resided  fiir  a  (juaiter  of  a  eeiitiiry. 


1/  ILANI)  STIMPSON"  is  engaged  in  farming 
on  section  I'J,  Dix  Townshi|i.  .41though 
be  has  resided  in  Ford  County  a  com[)ara- 
^S>^  'ively  short  time,  he  has  formed  a  wide 
acquaintance  and  is  favoralily  known  A  native 
of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Summit  C(ninty,  on  the 
PJth  of  November,  1833.  His  grandfather,  Elliott 
Stimpson,  was  a  native  of  New  York  aii<l  served  in 
the  War  of   1812.     Hiland's  father,  Elliott  Stimp- 


758 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOCIJAPIIICAL   RECORD, 


son,  married  Cloy  Riley  and  unto  them  were  born 
the  following  children:  Byron,  who  now  resides  in 
Missouri;  George,  a  farmer,  who  makes  his  home  in 
Michigan;  Hiland,  of  this  sketch;  Joseph  E.,  a  ma- 
son by  trade,  living  in  San  Francisco.  Cal.;  Edgar, 
a  carpenter  residing  In  Michigan;  Harley,  also  a 
mason  of  San  Francisco;  Richard,  who  died  in  1875; 
Richard  L.,  a  farmer  living  in  Michigan,  and  Cyrus, 
who  died  in  1846. 

The  educational  advantages  which  our  subject 
received  were  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools,  but  by  reading  and  observation  in  subse- 
quent years,  he  has  become  a  well-informed  man. 
AVhen  eleven  years  old,  his  parents  emigrated  from 
Ohio  to  Calhoun  County,  Mich., and  though  it  was 
Februarj',  and  the  snow  about  two  feet  deep,  he 
drove  a  flock  of  sheep  all  the  vvay,  a  distance  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  a  task  that  would 
now  be  thought  hard  for  a  man.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen,  he  began  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the 
month  and  was  Lhus  employed  for  four  years.  De- 
ciding to  follow  some  other  pursuit, he  then  served 
a  three-years  apprenticeship  to  the  mason's  trade. 
In  1865,  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  La  Salle 
County,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  ten 
years,  when,  in  1875,  he  removed  to  De  Witt 
County.  On  coining  to  Ford  County  in  1880,  he 
resumed  the  occupation  of  farming  and  purchased 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  section  19,  Dix 
Township,  where  he  has  since  made  Ins  home. 

September  15,  185-1,  Mr.  Stimjjson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Bigelow,  daughter  of 
Amos  and  Nancy  Bigelow.  The  lady  was  born  in 
Redford,  Wayne  County,  Mich.,  July  25,  1838. 
Four  children  were  born  unto  them:  Richard  L., 
who  is  nowcarr3'iug  on  a  meat  market  in  Gibson; 
Susan  B.,  wife  of  W.  S  Proctor;  Maud,  who  died  in 
1889,  and  one  child  who  died  in  infancy.  They  also 
reared  an  adopted  son,  Frank  Fellen.  The  Stimp- 
son  household  is  tiie  abode  of  hospitality,  and  the 
members  of  the  family  have  many  warm  friends  in 
the  community. 

Mr.  Stimpson  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Sev- 
enth Day  Adventist  Church,  and,  in  politics  he  is  a 
supporter  of  Repulilican  principles.  He  is  a  citizen 
who  takes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to 
the  welfare  of  the  community  and  the  promotion 


of  those  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit.  Those  who  know  him  esteem  him  highly 
for  his  sterling  worth,  and  he  well  deserves  their 
warm  regard,  for  his  life  has  been  well  spent. 


z^^i^^r;;:?^ 


■oS- 


^||-^■^■|EV.  HENRY  DUERINGER,  who  is  now 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  on  section  21,  Dix  Town- 
^^  ship,  was  born  in  Kurhessen,  Germany, 
November  8,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Paulina  (Haberl)  Dueringer.  His  parents  were 
mariied  in  Kurhessen  in  the  3'ear  184(1,  and  by 
their  union  were  born  four  children:  Katherine, 
wife  of  Adam  Gehres,  of  Streator,  III.;  Ileniy,  of 
this  sketch;  Fredericka,  wife  of  a  Mr.  Smith,  a  lock- 
smith of  Newark,  N.  J.;  and  Minnie,  wife  of  Lewis 
Moniot,  a  farmer  of  Girard,  Kan.  The  father  of 
this  family  followed  the  occniiation  of  fanning  as 
a  means  of  livelihood  for  many  years.  In  1852, 
he  emigrated  with  his  wife  and  children  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  in  the  city  of  Newark.  N.  J.,  where 
he  spent  ten  months.  lie  then  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  La  Salle  County,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  1890.  Since  that  time,  he  and  his 
wife  have  lived  retired  in  the  city  of  Ottawa.  Both 
are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Chuich,  and 
in  politics.  Rev.  Dueringer  is  a  Democrat.  His 
life  has  been  an  industrious  one  anil  perseverance 
and  careful  management  have  gained  for  him  a 
handsome  competence. 

Our  subject  acquired  a  good  classical  education 
in  Newark,  N.  J.,  preparing  himself  for  the  minis- 
try, but  when  his  education  was  finished,  like  many 
other  brave  men,  he  abandoned  his  chosen  work 
for  his  country's  service.  Enlisting  in  November, 
1861,  he  became  a  mcmberof  the  First  Battalion  of 
Yates'  Sharpshooters,  Sixt3--fourth  Illinois.  He 
participated  in  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  was  under 
fire  nineteen  times.  He  was  not  wounded,  but  con- 
tracted lung  trouble,  which  has  totally  disabled 
him  for  his  chosen  profession,  and  after  eighteen 
months'  service,  he  vyas  discharged  on  account  of 
disabilitj'. 

The  following  letter  of  commendation  was 
given  him  on  his  discharge: 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


759 


Headquarters  Post  Glendale, 

Camp  of  Yates'  Sharpshooters. 
Glendale,  Mlss,  JMay   1,5,   18G3. 

To  wliom  it  may  concern: 

The  bearer  hereof,  IIenr\'  Duerinyer.  private  of 
Coiui)any  A,  Yates'  Sharpshooters,  .Sixty-fourth 
Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  was  enlisted  at  Ot- 
tawa, November  2,  1861,  and  from  that  time  to  the 
jjresent,  has,  under  all  circumstances,  done  his  duty 
as  a  good  soldier,  lie  has  never  comniitted  any 
breach  of  discipline,  nor  suffered  any  military  pun- 
ishment, but  has  at  all  times  conducted  himself 
so  as  to  win  the  approbation  of  his  regimental 
and  company  commander. 

C.  I.  CoNGEH,  First  Lieutenant, 
Commanding  Company  A,    Yates'  Sharpshooters. 

Approved:     Joiix   Mohuill,  Lieut.-Colonel, 
Commanding  Yates'  Sharpsiiooters. 

I  take  pleasure  in  aflirining  the  above  statement 
and  much  regret  the  necessity  of  his  discharge 
from  the  service.         J.  T.  Stewart, 

Surgeon  of  the  Regiment. 

On  the  21st  of  January,  1868,  Rev.  Dueringer 
married  JMiss  Minnie  Morsch,  who  was  born  in 
Baden,  Germany,  September  27,  1846,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Conrad  and  Ernestine  (Brandner) 
Morsch.  Thirteen  children  have  been  born  of 
their  union  as  follows:  Henry  W.,  George  E.,  Oscar 
J.,  Rose  P.,  Charles  F.,  Minnie  K.,  .Jennie  M.,  AVal- 
ter  A.;  Emma  L.,  deceased;  Herman  J.,  Lewis  T., 
Gilbert  H.  and  Clara  E. 

In  1873,  Rev.  Dueringer  was  called  to  take 
charge  of  the  German  Methodist  Churcliof  Frank- 
ford,  Will  County,  111.,  and  continued  to  serve  as 
its  i)astor  for  three  successive  years.  From  F'rank- 
ford  he  was  called  to  Arlington  Heights,  Cook 
County,  and  remained  there  for  one  year.  Thence 
he  went  to  Peru,  111.,  and  remained  there  two 
years;  from  there  to  Cedar  Lake,  Ind.,  remaining 
there  three  years,  and  thence  to  the  city  of  Chicago, 
to  Emanuel  Church,  on  the  "West  Side.  He  re- 
mained there  for  one  3"ear,  when  his  health  entirelj- 
failed  him  and  he  retired  to  his  present  home 
farm,  in  Dix  Township,  where  he  has  ever  re- 
mained since.  In  connection  with  the  raising  of 
cereals,  he  gives  considerable  attention  to  stock- 
raising,  making  a  specialty  of  thorouglibred  horses 
and  hogs.  His  home  lias  been  in  Ford  County 
since  1868,  and  he  is  widely  and  favorable  known 


throughout  the  community,  where  he  makes  his 
home.  He  has  tilled  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Notary  Public  for  six  years  and  was 
also  Assessor  for  one  year.  He  is  a  true  friend  to 
the  grand  system  of  public-school  instruction  in 
the  United  States.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
official  board  of  his  district  for  seven  years  and  is 
at  present  Clerk  of  the  board.  He  is  a  member  of 
Lott  Post,  G.  A.  R.  No.  70,  Department  of  Illi- 
nois.    He  is  ex-Chaplain. 

In  political  affiliations,  he  is  a  Republican,  and 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  the  Martyr  Presi- 
dent, Abraham  Lincoln.  He  still  holds  a  super- 
annuated relation  to  the  Chicago  German  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  receives  a  pen- 
sion in  recognition  of  his  faithful  services  during 
the  laie  war.  His  fidelity  to  duty  in  that  case  is  but 
characteristic  of  his  entire  life,  for  no  trust,  either 
public  or  private,  has  ever  suffered  at  his  hands. 

Mrs.  Dueringer,  the  wife  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Baden,  Germany,  but  her  girlhood  days  were 
spent  in  Illinois.  She  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Illinois  and  is  a  reader  of  German  and 
English.  She  is  a  kind  and  cordial  lady,  a  loving 
and  tender  mother,  an  affectionate  wife  and  a  valu- 
able helpmate  of  her  husband. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Dueringer  have  traveled  the  jour- 
ney of  life  together  hand  in  hand  for  one  quarter 
of  a  century,  sharing  tlie  joj'S  and  sorrows  of  life 
together,  and  this  beautiful  life  sketch  will  be 
read  by  many  of  the  excellent  people  of  Ford 
County,  who  well  know  him  for  his  sterling  worth 
and  integrit3'. 


AVID  ISIETCALF  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  section  30,  Dix  Township, 
where  he  owns  eighty  acres  which  he  pur- 
chased from  the  railroad  coinpan3'  thirty- 
five  years  ago.  This  county  was  then  a  part  of 
Vermilion  County,  so  that  Mr.  Metcalf  has  wit^ 
nessed  its  entire  growth.  He  was  born  in  West- 
moreland, England,  November  26,  1823,  and  is  a 
son    of   Leonard  and   Dorothy'  (McKay)  Metcalf. 


760 


PORTRAIT  A>'D  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


They  had  .1  family  of  tliree  children:  David,  of 
this  sketuli;  (ioori^e,  a  cooper  by  trade,  residing  in 
Ford  County,  and  Isaljella,  wlio  is  living  in  Eng- 
land. The  father  wa-s  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
died  in  1831.  His  wife  long  survived  him,  passing 
away  in  18G9.  The}'  were  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  r>i)lh  spent  their  entire  lives  in 
England. 

The  educational  advantages  of  our  sul)ject  were 
limited.  He  attended  the  common  schools  only 
until  twelve  years  of  age  and  was  then  bound  out 
foi  three  years  to  learn  the  cooper's  trade,  which 
he  followed  until  conung  to  America.  Taking 
passage  on  a  sailing-vessel,  he  crossed  the  broad 
Atlantic  from  Livci|>ool  to  New  York  City  in 
1852.  Ills  Inst  location  was  made  in  Fall  River, 
Mass.  He  Ijegan  working  in  the  print  works  of 
that  placL  and  was  there  employed  until  18.J7,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois.  He  purchased  sixty-nine  acres 
of  railroad  land  on  what  is  now  section  30,  Dix 
Township,  to  wliich  he  has  since  added  b}-  |)ur- 
chase  thirty  acres  and  has  here  since  made  his  home. 

.lust  before  sailing  for  America,  Mr.  JTetcalf  was 
married.  May  8, 1852,  to  Miss  Sarah  Bell,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Elizal)eth  (Dawson)  Bell.  She,  too, 
was  born  in  Westmorelaml,  England,  April  29, 
1827.  Four  children  were  born  of  their  union: 
Samuel  Leonard,  a  farmer  residing  in  Kansas;  Sa- 
rah I.,  wife  of  David  Speedie.  a  farmer  residing  in 
Dix  Township;  William  C,  who  is  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  m  Nebraska,  and  George  D., 
who  died  on  the  5th  of  July,  1875. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Jletcalf  enlisted,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1864, asa  private  in  Comiiany  B,  Eighth 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  participated  in  the  siege  and 
battle  of  Mobile  and  many  other  engagements  and 
at  the  close  of  the  war  was  honorabh"  discharged, 
October  5,  1865.  When  his  country  no  longer 
needed  his  services,  he  returned  to  liis  home  in 
Ford  County  and  resumed  farming.  He  has  met 
with  good  success  in  his  undertakings  and  has  be- 
come one  of  the  sulistantial  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity. AVhatever  success  he  has  achieved  in  life 
has  been  due  to  his  own  efforts  and  he  is  truly  a 
self-made  man.  In  i)olitical  opinion,  Mr.  Metcalf 
is  a  Republican,  and,  in  religious  belief,  is  a  Meth- 
odist, as  is  also  his  wife.     He  has  long  been  a  val- 


ued citizen  of  the  comin'unity  and  is  deserving  of 
mention  in  the  history  of  his  adopted  county.  He 
is  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance  principles. 


[♦♦♦-I*  t 


if,***-?-!- 


^t%,  AVID  KEIGIHN,  one  of  Mona's  oldest  set- 
tlers, was  born  in  Peel,  Isle  of  Man,  May  18, 
1825.  He  was  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Betsy 
(Garrette)  Keighin.  He  left  the  island,  and  after 
a  long  voyage  in  a  sailing-vessel  landed  in  New 
Orleans  in  Ajtril,  1849.  He  went  to  Peoria  in  May, 
1849,  wiiere  he  engaged  in  tlie  building  business 
until  October,  1862,  when  he  entered  the  army  as 
sutler  of  the  Seventy-seventh  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  May, 
1851,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Cowley,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Kate  (Teare)  Cowley.  Siie  was 
born  in  the  Isle  of  Man.  August  31,  1827,  landed 
in  New  Orleans,  JNIay  15,  1848,  and  settled  in  Mem- 
phis until  her  marriage. 

For  four  years  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr. 
Keighin  remained  in  the  .South  raising  cotton.  He 
then  returned  to  Peoria,  and  shortly  afterwards 
came  to  Ford  County,  locating  in  Mona  Township. 
He  purchased  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
land  on  section  11,  and  developed  therefrom  a  fine 
farm  upon  which  he  made  his  home  until  1883.  In 
that3ear  he  removed  to  Kempton,  111.,  where  he 
engaged  in  buying  grain  for  six  years.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  living  a  retired  life  in  Chicago. 
He  was  the  first  Sui)ervisor  of  Mona  Township  and 
was  honored  with  other  public  offices.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Republican  and  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  In  the  Keighin  family  were 
seven  children:  William  T.,  who  is  now  living  on 
the  old  homestead;  Lizzie  and  Isabell,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Charles  B".,  who  died  in  1889;  David  B.; 
;Margaret  A.,  who  married  S.  A.  Goodman,  Novem- 
ber 15.  1889;  and  Minnie  E.  who  is  living  with  her 
parents  in  Chicago.  Charles  F.  was  engaged  in  the 
grain  business  with  his  father  until  his  death  Au- 
gust 26,  1889;  his  wife,  Ella  J.,  died  nine  weeks  be- 
fore, leaving  one  child,  Harold  B..  three  years  old. 
William  T.  was  born  in  Peoria,  where  he  received 
his  education;  David  B.  .acquired  his  education  in 


(2^yi^l6^     Cl/p^-'Zi^^^/^ 


^^oICl-     (yi<^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


765 


,the  schools  of  Peoria  and  Paxton.  lie  was  reared 
to  nianhood  under  the  parental  roof  and  on  at- 
taining his  majority  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Alice  Benson,  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Han- 
nah (Keniji)  Benson.  Their  union  has  been  graced 
by  one  child,  a  sou,  Clarence  B.  Mr.  Keighin  and 
his  wife  are  well-known  young  people  of  this  com- 
munity and  are  highly  esteemed  by  a  wide  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

AVilliam  T.  and  David  B.  operate  the  old  home- 
stead farm,  comprising  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  In  ccmnection  with  general  farming  they 
engage  quite  extensively  in  stock-raising,  making 
a  specialty  of  thoroughbred  cattle.  They  are  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  are  recognized  as  among  the 
leading  agriculturists  of  the  community. 


_y 


«^MOS  S.  ARNOLD,  who  is  engagud  iu 
Cg//JI[  general  fai-ming  on  section  9,  Lyman 
ll)  Township,  is  a  native  of  Clinton  County, 
N.  Y.,  born  January  20,  1830.  His  par- 
ents were  Stukley  and  Lovicy  (Lobdell)  Arnold, 
the  former  a  native  of  Clinton  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
the  latter  of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  By  occu- 
pation, the  father  was  a  farmer  and  followed  that 
business  throughout  his  entire  life.  He  served  as 
a  member  of  the  old  State  militia,  and  in  his  polit- 
ical attiliations  was  a  AVhig.  He  died  in  his  native 
county  at  the  age  of  sevent3--six,  and  his  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  They  had  a  famil3' 
ot  four  children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living:  May 
L.,  who  resides  in  Clinton  County,  N.  Y.;  Saman- 
tha,  who  also  makes  her  home  in  that  county; 
Abigail,  wife  of  J.  B.  White,  Sheriff  of  Clinton 
Countj-,  elected  on  the  Reiiublican  ticket. 

Amvjs  S.  Arnold  is  the  eldest  child  and  onl^^son 
of  the  ."amily.  The  educational  [nivileges  which 
he  recei  'cd  were  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools,  and  when  he  began  earning  his  own  live- 
lihood, he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  at  *H  per  month. 
He  was  married,  Jul.y  23,  1858,  to  Miss  Lora  N. 
Johnson,  a  daughter  of  David  and  Ceba  (Ayers) 
Johnson,  a  native  of  Clinton  County,  N.  Y.  Her 
31 


father  was  a  farmer,  and  could  trace  his  lineage 
back  to  England.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  was  given  a  land  warrant  for 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Mr.  Johnson  was  a 
Whig  in  his  political  afliliations  until  the  rise  of 
the  Ke|)ul)lican  parly,  with  which  he  became  iden- 
tified. His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years,  but  his  wife  is  still  living  on  tlie  old  home- 
stead, at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  They  had  six 
children:  Flora,  Lora,  Elizabeth,  Amanda,  Martha, 
and  Iva;  all,  except  one,  are  living.  UrttoMr.  and 
Mrs.  Arnold  have  been  born  seven  children:  Hattie, 
who  was  born  in  the  Empire  State,  and  was  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Valparaiso  Normal,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Eli  McNeil,  a  farmer  of  Clinton  County,  N.  Y.,  by 
whom  he  has  one  daughter,  Pearl;  Johnson  D.,  a 
farmer  of  Lyman  Township,  married  Rebecca 
Swigg,  and  they  have  two  sons,  Clyde  and  Ralph; 
Elma  is  the  wife  of  Carvasso  Cook,  of  Ford 
County,  111.,  and  they  have  a  son  and  daughter, 
Ellis  and  Vina  L.;  Mary  E..  is  the  wife  of  Ervin 
Bunker,  a  farmer;  Ceba,  Silas  S.  and  Seward  M. 
are  at  home. 

In  18()8,  Mr.  Arnold  bade  good-bye  to  his  old 
home,  and,  with  his  family,  emigrated  to  Ford 
County,  which  was  then  a  sparsely  settled  region, 
the  land  being  mostly  iu  its  primitive  condition. 
It  -was  a  great  contrast  for  the  family,  who  had 
left  a  pleasant  home  iu  the  East  to  live  in  this  un- 
settled region  and  bear  all  the  hardships  and  pri- 
vations of  frontier  life.  Lyman  Township  was 
then  a  part  of  P>renton,  .and  Jlelvin  and  Rol)erts 
were  not  yet  laid  out.  With  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  county  since  that  time,  Mr.  Ar- 
nold has  been  prominently  identified,  and  has  ever 
borne  his  part  in  its  uiibuilding  and  advancement. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  extensive  land-owners  of  this 
community,  owning  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  rich  land  in  Ford  County,  boides  property  else- 
where. Their  beautiful  home,  with  its  mau\'  ins- 
provements,  gives  evidence  of  the  industrious  life 
and  indicates  the  euter[)rising  and  progressive 
spirit  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Arnold  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  AVin field  Scott,  and  is  now  a  stalwart  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  partly.  He  is  a  friend  to 
all  educational, social  and  moral  interests,  and  any 


766 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


enterprise  calculated  to  benefit  the  community. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Mr.  Arnold  is  classed  among  the  wealthy  and  influ- 
ential citizens  of  the  community,  and  is  held  in 
high  regard  by  all  who  know  him.  He  may  well 
be  termed  a  self-made  man,  for  to  liis  own  efforts 
alone  is  due  his  success  in  life. 


1^+^ 


l^r 


^AMES  MOLLOY,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  21,  Dix  Townships 
has  long  lieen  a  resident  of  Ford   County 

and  has  witnessed  almost  its  entire  growth 

and  development.  A  native  of  the  P^mcrald  Isle, 
he  was  born  in  County  Meade,  in  1832,  and  is  the 
youngest  in  a  family  of  five  children.  The  par- 
ents, Thomas  and  Mary  (Fox)  Moilo}',  were  also 
natives  of  Ireland.  Of  their  children,  Patrick,  the 
eldest,  and  Allen,  the  fourth,  are  both  deceased; 
Kate,  Elizabeth  and  James  are  still  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood upon  his  father's  farm,  no  event  of  impor- 
tance occurring  during  his  boyhood.  His  educa- 
tion was  acquired  in  the  common  schools.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen,  he  determined  to  try  his  fortune 
in  America,  and  in  1850  sailed  for  the  United 
States,  landing  in  New  York  City.  He  made  his 
first  location  in  Middleton,  Conn.,  where  he  began 
to  earn  his  livelihood  as  a  day  laborer.  Eight 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  that  State,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  locating  in 
Bucks  County,  where  he  spent  one  year.  He  then 
came  to  the  West,  locating  in  Henderson  County, 
111.,  where  he  resided  until  1869.  That  year  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  Ford  County,  and  he  has 
since  been  one  of  its  prominent  citizens.  He 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  21,  and 
has  since  made  his  home  there  and  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  now  has  a 
good  farm,  and  in  his  business  dealings  he  has 
been  quite  successful. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Molloy  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Julia  INIartin,  in  Bucks  Countj^  Pa.,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  five  children,  four 
sons  and  one  daughter,  of  whom  three  are  yet  liv- 


ing: Thomas,  who  now  makes  his  home  in  Liv-. 
ingston  County,  111.,  is  married  and  is  an  agricul- 
turist; James,  a  resident  of  Texas,  is  engaged  in 
railroading  on  the  Santa  Fe;  and  John  C,  who  re- 
sides in  Illinois,  is  engaged  in  traveling.  Frank 
and  Allen  are  both  deceased. 

In  his  political  attiliations,  Mr.  Molloy  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  been  an  otlice-seeker, 
preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  Religiously,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Church.  His  residence  in 
Ford  County  covers  the  long  period  of  twent_v- 
tlirec  years.  He  has  witnessed  its  growth  from 
the  da3's  of  its  early  infancy,  and  has  ever  borne 
his  share  in  the  work  of  upliuilding  and  advance- 
ment. He  has  taken  a  coinmendalile  interest  in 
all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community 
and  has  proved  himself  a  valuable  citizen  of  Dix 
Tow7iship. 


-^^l 


H.' 


'B 


f^T^RANK  S.  DRENDEL,  who  owns  and  oper- 
Mjgj)  ates  four  hundred  acres  of  land  on  section 
[[  21,  Mona  Township,  is  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  this  community  and 
we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life  will 
prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  He  was 
born  in  Germany  on  the  11th  of  November,  1839, 
and  is  one  of  five  children,  whose  parents  were 
Martin  and  Mary  (Smith)  Drendel.  In  order  of 
birth,  the  children  were  as  follows:  Francis,  Frank 
S.,  Barbara,  George  and  Lewis. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm,  no  event  of  special  importance  occurring 
during  his  boyhood  days.  He  was  educated  in  both 
French  and  German.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
hired  out  as  a  farm  hand  in  the  old  country,  work- 
ing by  the  year,  and  was  thus  employed  until  1865. 
when  he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  America. 
Crossing  the  broad  Atlantic,  he  landed  at  New 
Y'ork  City.  Coming  at  once  to  Illinois,  he  located 
in  Du  Page  County,  where  he  worked  upon  a  fai-m 
for  two  months.  He  then  went  to  J^t.  Louis,  Mo., 
and  subsequently  to  New  Orleans,  after  which  he 
returned   to  Illinois.     In   the  spring  of  1866,  we 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


767 


find  him  in  Joliet,  wliere  he  worked  as  a  laborer  for 
two  years,  and  in  1868  lie  came  to  Ford  County. 
Hero  he  first  rented  land  and  broke  prairie  for  five 
years.  Having  in  the  nieunlime  acquired  some 
capital  by  his  industry  and  perseverance,  he  then 
purchased  one  iiuudred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
section  21,  IMona  Township,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  The  boundaries  of  his  farm  have  since 
been  extended  until  he  now  owns  four  hundred 
acres  of  valuable  land  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  well  improved.  The  fields  are  well 
tilled  and  the  neat  appearance  of  the  place  indi- 
cates the  careful  supervision  of  a  thrifty  manager. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Drendel  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Mary  .Slater,  and  by  the  union  of  this  worthy 
couple  nine  children  have  been  born, live  sonsaud 
foui-  daughters, as  follows:  George,  Rebecca,  Susie, 
Henrj,  Frank,  Frederick,  Mary,  Annie  and  Jlartin. 
The  family  circle  remains  unbroken  and  all  are  yet 
under  the  parental  roof. 

In  ills  political  aOiliations,  Mr.  Drendel  is  a 
Democrat,  but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
|)referring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  He  holds  meml)ership 
with  the  Catholic  Cliurch  and  has  given  liberally 
to  its  support.  The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him 
a  warm  friend,  and  for  sixteen  years  he  has  served 
as  School  Director,  during  which  time  lie  has  done 
effective  service  for  its  interests.  He  is  numbered 
among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  community, 
is  highly  respected  and  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  this  volume. 


lEORGE  D.  WOOD,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  September  2,  1828, 
mj  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Brooks) 
Wood,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  Empire  State. 
Tiie  following  children  were  born  to  them:  Charles, 
who  is  now  deceased;  .lane,  Emily,  George  D., 
Lewis;  Ellen  .J.,  .Tolin  and  Lewis,  all  three  deceased; 
Mary,  Henderson;  Wallace,  deceased;  and  one  who 
died  in   infancy. 

The   subject   of  this  sketch    spent    his   boyhood 
days  upon  a  farm   and  ac(|uired   his   education   in 


the  common  schools  of  the  neighboriiood.  He 
remained  at  home  until  the  time  of  the  gold  excite- 
ment in  California,  when  he  made  a  trip  by  water 
to  that  State,  and  spent  three  years  on  the  Pacific 
slope,  (^n  the  expiration  of  that  period,  he  re- 
turned to  New  York,  where  he  lived  the  quiet  life 
of  a  farmer  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war. 
In  September,  1862,  he  responded  to  the  call  for 
troops,  enlisting  .as  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  of  Com- 
pany D,  One  Hundred  and  Fortieth  New  York 
Infantry.  He  served  under  Gen.  Grant  at  Gettys- 
burg, was  at  the  battles  of  Richmond,  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  and  many  other  engagements  of  less 
importance.  While  on  picket  duty,  he  was  taken 
prisoner  and  confined  in  Libby  and  Andcrsonville 
prisons  for  nearly  six  months,  after  which  he  was 
exchanged.  He  tjien  rejoined  his  regiment  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  honor- 
ably discharged  on  the  3d  of  .lune,  1865,  after 
more  than  two  years  and  a  half  of  faithful  service. 

Mr.  Wood  then  returned  to  his  home  in  New 
York  and  after  a  year  came  to  Illinois,  in  1866. 
He  settled  in  Livingston  Count}',  near  Chatsworth, 
and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1867,  he  sold  that 
farm  and  came  to  Ford  County,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  railroad 
land  on  section  9,  Dix  Township.  On  the  21tli  of 
December,  of  that  year,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  L. 
Gridley,  daughter  of  .ludah  and  Eunice  (Andrews) 
Gridley,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  New  York. 
Four  children  were  born  of  this  marriage:  AVill- 
iam,  who  wedded  Miss  Mattie  Colwell  and  has 
charge  of  tlie  old  home  farm;  Clayton,  who  died  in 
1874;  Una,  at  home;  and  Hudson,  who  died  in 
1876. 

Mr.  AVood  placed  his  land  all  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  upon  the  home  farm  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  26th 
of  October,  1876,  his  remains  being  inferred  in 
Gibson  Cemeterj'.  He  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
the  community  and  many  friends  mourn  his  loss. 
He  lived  an  upright  life  and  won  the  high  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  In  politics, 
he  was  a  Democrat.  Mrs.  AVood  is  still  living  on 
the  home  farm  with  her  children.  She  is  an  estim- 
able lady  and  is  held  in  high  regard  througiiout 
the  community. 


768 


POETEAIT  AND  BIOGRAI HICAL   RECORD. 


Mrs.  Wood's  father,  Judah  B.  Gridley,  was  a  na- 
tive of  New  York.  He  was  reared  in  his  native 
State,  and  he  made  agriculture  his  chosen  avoca- 
tion, but  was  a  dealer  in  vehicles.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  his  political  beliefs.  He  died  in 
1876,  in  New  York.  The  mother,  Eunice  Andrews, 
was  a  native  of  the  old  Bay  State,  and  was  reared 
in  New  York.  Both  parents  were  educated  in  the 
common  schools.     She  died  in   1858. 

Mrs.  Wood's  girlhood  da3'^s  were  spent  upon  the 
farm,  and  she  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  was  a  student  in  the  Riga  Academy,  in  Monroe 
County,  N.  Y.,  for  about  one  school  year,  and  at  a 
select  school  at  Bergen,  N.  Y.,  for  three  winters. 
Mrs.  Wood  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
at  Gibson,  111. 


■iTTOHN  PETERS  is  a  well-known  and  enter- 
prising agriculturist  of  Dix  Township.  He 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  situated  on  section  20.  It  has  been 
his  home  for  only  about  two  j-ears,  but  alread}' 
shows  the  effect  of  the  careful  management  of  the 
owner.  The  fields  are  well  tilled,  the  improvements 
well  kept  up,  and  the  stock  which  he  raises  is  of 
good  grades.  The  place  is  complete  in  all  its  ap- 
pointments and  is  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the 
neighborhood. 

Mr.  Peters  is  a  native  of  Holstein,  (jermany. 
He  was  born  on  the  12th  of  March,  1842,  and  is 
one  of  SIX  children  who  were  born  unto  Hans  and 
Margaret  (Heesch)  Peters.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  the  same  province  and  were  there  reared  and 
married.  The  father  served  as  a  soldier  in  his  na- 
tive land  for  many  years.  His  death  occurred  in 
1870,  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him  ten  years, 
passed  away  in  1880.  Of  their  family,  Henry  is 
now  living  in  America;  Catherine  has  never  left 
the  Fatherland;  John  is  the  next  j^ounger;  Peter 
is  a  resident  of  McLean  Count}',  111.;  Heinrich  is 
living  in  Germany;  and  William  is  also  yet  in  the 
Old  Country. 

In  the  schools  of  his  native  laud  our  subject  ac- 
quired a  good  classical  education,  which  has  fitted 


him  for  the  practical  duties  of  life.  After  attain- 
ing to  mature  years  he  was  united  in  marriage  on  the 
24th  of  December,  1865,  with  Miss  Catherine  Shoe- 
maker, who  was  l)orn  in  German}',  December  .30, 
1844,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Anna 
(Dethlefs)  Shoemaker.  By  their  union  iiave  been 
born  ten  children  and  three  are  living,  a  son  and 
two  daughters:  Adeline,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of 
Edgar  Thornton,  a  resident  farmer  of  this  county; 
John  and  Rosa  arc  still  at  home. 

It  was  in  1868  that  Mr.  Peters,  accompanied  by 
his  farail}',  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  New  York 
City,  from  whence  he  came  to  Illinois.  His  first 
location  was  made  at  Bloomington,  III.,  and  in  that 
locality  he  engaged  in  working  upon  a  farm  by  the 
month  for  three  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period,  he  began  farming  for  himself  in  that  count}-, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1880.  Coming  to 
Ford  County  in  the  spring  of  1880,  he  i)urchased 
his  beautiful  home.  In  his  political  affiliations, 
Mr.  Peters  is'a  supporter  of  tiie  Democratic  party, 
and  with  the  German  Lutheran  Church  he  holds 
membership.  It  was  an  important  day  for  him  when 
he  decided  to  come  to  America,  for  in  this  country 
he  has  prospered  and  won  for  himself  a  handsome 
competence. 

Mrs.  Peters'  girlhood  days  were  spent  in  the 
town  of  Hennstedt,  Province  of  Holstein,  Germany. 
She  was  educated  in  the  German  schools.  She  had 
five  sisters  and  one  brotiier.  There  are  five  living, 
as  follows:  Eda,wife  of  Dethlef  Tabberl,  who  resides 
in  Bioomington,  engaged  in  mercantile  life;  Anna, 
wife  of  John  Sieh,  an  agriculturist,  resides  in  Kan- 
sas; Mrs.  Peters  is  the  next  in  the  genealogy; 
Phcebe,  wife  of  Albert  Veniuo,  engaged  m  the 
manufacture  of  wax  flowers,  resides  in  New  Jersey; 
Mary,  wife  of  C.  J.  Heckens,  a  farmer,  resides  in 
Drummer  Township.  She  is  the  youngest  living. 
Both  of  Mrs.  Peters'  parents  are  deceased,  the  father 
dying  in  America.  For  over  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peters  have  traveled  the  pilgrimage 
of  life  hand  in  hand.  She  has  been  a  valuable 
helpmate  to  her  husband,  and  has  shared  alike  the 
joys  and  sorrows  of  life  together. 

Mr.  Peters  was  a  soldier  in  the  Prussian  army 
for  one  and  a-half  years.  He  was  faithful  to  the 
duties  entrusted  to  him  and  honorably  discharged. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


769 


Besides  liis  I)eantiful  home  in  Dix  Township,  he 
Ims  one  huiidied  and  sixt^'  acres  of  ijood  land  in 
Knox  C'ountv,  Nel).  He  and  wife  are  considered 
amonijst  tlie  best  citizens  of  l>ix  Townshi))  and  his 
word  as  good  as  iiis  bond. 


,j.^  w.  ^  .  >- 


ETER  nOLLEN  is  one  of  the  extensive 
land  owners  and  a  prosperons  farmer  of 
Dix  Township,  residing  on  section  3.  He 
was  born  in  Denmark,  August  20,  18.54,  and 
is  one  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  whose  parents 
were  Peter  and  Margaret  Ilollen.  Caroline,  the 
eldest  child,  "is  now  the  wife  of  (George  Madison,  a 
farmer  of  Denmark;  .John  died  on  the  13th  of 
October,  1891,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the 
cemeterj'  of  Gibson  Citj';  Sophia  is  the  wife  of  .John 
Peterson,  a  resident  of  Denmark;  Peter,  of  this 
sketch,  is  the  next  younger;  .laeob  is  an  agricul- 
tuiist  of  California;  Hannah  M.  is  the  wife  of  Eli 
Johnson,  who  resides  in  Minnesota. 

Mr.  HoUen  whose  name  lieads  this  record  sjient 
his  early  boyhood  u[ion  his  father's  farm  in  his 
native  land.  He  attended  the  common  schools 
until  fourteen  years  of  age,  and  the  following 
year  began  to  earn  his  own  livelihood  by  working 
as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month.  He  was  only  a  lad 
of  fifteen  when  he  cros.sed  the  Atlantic  to  America, 
landing  in  New  York  City  in  1867.  He  came  at 
once  to  Illinois,  locating  in  La  Salle  County,  where 
he  worked  on  a  farm  by  the  month  for  five  years. 
The  money  that  he  acquired  during  tiiat  time  bj' 
his  industry  and  economy,  he  invested  in  land 
in  Ford  County,  whithei'  he  came  in  1875.  In 
connection  with  his  brother  John,  he  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  3,  Dix  Township, 
and  began  the  development  of  a  farm.  He  lias 
there  since  made  his  home.  In  his  business  deal- 
ings, he  h.as  been  very  successful  and  as  his  finan- 
cial resources  have  increased,  he  lias  increased  his 
possessions  until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  good  land, all  in  Dix 
Townshii). 

Mr.  Ilollen  was  married  December  13,  1881,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Annie  Longmeyer,  a 


daughter  of  John  and  .Tulia  (Lackey)  Longmeyer. 
By  this  marri.age  have  lieen  born  two  children,  a 
daughter  and  sou:  Allie  May  and  John  Milton. 
The  parents  are  worthy  people  who  hold  an  envia- 
ble position  in  social  circles  and  are  highly  es- 
teemed by  their  many  warm  friends  throughout 
the  community. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Hollen  is  a  Dem- 
ocrat and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
that  party.  He  is  a  sagacious  Iiusiness  man,  enter- 
prising and  industrious,  and  his  fair  and  honest 
dealings  have  not  only  won  him  success  Init  have 
secured  him  the  confidence  and  well  wishes  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


^*^-^R,  ISAAC  P.  FARLEY,  a  retired  farmer  re- 
siding in  Rogers  Township,  is  one  of  the 
representative  and  substantial  citizens  of 
Ford  County,  widely  and  prominently  known 
throughout  the  community.  His  life  record  is  as 
follows:  He  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Pa., 
November  22,  1829.  and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  C. 
Farley,  who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1807.  The 
grandfather,  Kindall  Farley,  was  also  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State.  He  died  during  the  childhood 
of  Samuel,  who  removed  with  his  mother  to  Penn- 
sylvania. She  afterward  became  the  wife  of  Bar- 
tholomew Forbes,  a  native  of  the  Keystone  State, 
and  settled  in  Erie  County.  Samuel  Farley  was 
a  contractor  and  builder  and  did  a  good  business 
in  that  line.  In  1844,  he  emigrated  to  La  Salle 
County,  111.,  where  he  purchased  land  and  also 
followed  his  trade.  Subsequently,  he  resided  in 
Grundy  County,  and  later  in  Ford  County.  lie 
was  married,  in  Pennsylvania,  to  Jane  A.  Walker, 
an  own  cousin  of  President  James  Buchanan.  She 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  as  was  her  father, 
Walter  Walker.  Mr.  F'arley  died  in  Rogers  Town- 
ship in  1871.  His  wife  survived  him  about  two 
years  and  died  in  1873.  Both  lie  buried  in  I-Cld- 
ridgeville  Cemeterj',  where  a  niominienl  marks 
their  Last  resting  jilace. 

The  Farley   family  iiuiiiliered  five   sons  and  two 


770 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


daughters,  the  Doctor  being  the  second  in  order 
of  birth;  Kindall,  the  eldest,  died  in  early  man- 
hood; Hannah  is  the  wife  of  David  Bullock,  a 
farmer  of  Rogers  Township;  Joel  E.  resides  near 
Kempton;  James  D.,  now  deceased,  was  a  farmer 
of  Iroquois  County;  Benjamin  F.  is  a  prominent 
physician  of  York,  Neb.;  and  Sarah  M.  is  the  wife 
of  John  Bagg,  who  resides  near  York,  Neb. 

Dr.  Farley  was  only  about  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  completed  his  liter- 
ary education  in  the  Sandwich  High  School  and 
remained  with  his  father  until  after  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
ia  De  Kalb  County,  on  the  7th  of  January,  1850, 
with  M'lii  Bjlinda  Eunice  Eddy,  who  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Turin,  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.  Her  fa- 
ther, the  Rev.  William  H.  Eddy,  a  Methodist  min- 
ister, emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1838,  and  about  a  year 
later  came  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Joliet.  After 
a  year  spent  in  that  place,  he  settled  in  De  Kalb 
County. 

After  his  marriage,  the  Doctor  located  in  De 
Kalb  County,  having  a  large  and  one  of  the  best 
improved  farms  in  that  locality.  He  was  a  thrifty 
and  enterprising  agriculturist  and  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  undertakings.  He  afterwards  lo- 
cated upon  his  present  farm  in  Rogers  Township, 
where  he  then  spent  two  years.  The  ten  suc- 
ceeding years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  Chieago, 
during  which  time  he  pursued  four  courses  of  lec- 
tures in  the  Rush  Medical  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1885.  He  then  made  a  loca- 
tion in  Cabery.  This  was  in  1890.  He  built  a 
fine  residence,  and  after  engaging  in  practice  for 
about  two  years,  came  to  the  farm  in  the  spring  of 
1892,  and  is  now  boarding  with  his  son,  who 
operates  the  land.  He  expects  soon,  however,  to 
locate  in  Waterman,  De  Kalb  County,  where  he 
owns  a  fine  residence.  He  also  owns  a  pleasant 
dwelling  in  Chieago. 

Unto  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
three  children,  who  are  yet  living,  and  they  have 
lost  two:  William  Kindall  is  a  prominent  phy- 
sician of  Waterman.  111.,  having  graduated  from 
Rush  Medical  College  in  1886;  Deloss  P.  is  a  lead- 
ing farmer  of  this  county;  Eugene  V.,  a  commer- 
cial   traveler,  resides    in    Chicago;  Hurford  E.,  a 


m.an  of  superior  education  and  a  graduate  of  Rush 
Medical  College,  died  July  13,  1882,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  years;  Elnora  F.  became  the  wife  of 
George  R.  Sapp,  of  Indiana,  and  they  resided 
with  her  parents  until  her  death,  which  occurred 
May  15,  1888,  at  the  age  of  thirty  j-ears.  Dr. 
Farley  and  his  wife  also  had  an  adoiited  daugh- 
ter, Hattie,  a  lady  of  most  estimable  character. 
She  passed  away  January  17,  1879,  at  the  age  of 
thirty  years. 

The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  spent  almost  their 
entire  life  in  Illinois,  and  are  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  the  State.  Ho  has  lieen  an  ac- 
tive and  successful  business  man  all  his  life  and 
has  taken  quite  a  prominent  part  in  public  .affairs, 
doing  all  in  his  power  to  promote  those  interests 
calculated  to  advance  the  public  welfare.  In  poli- 
tics, he  was  formerly  a  Republican,  but  now  votes 
with  the  Prohibition  part}'  and  is  .an  active 
worker  in  the  temperance  cause.  He  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  are  numbered  among  Ford  County- "s 
best  citizens. 


'jf?  OSEPH  K.  JONES  is  a  practical  .and  pro- 
gressive farmer  of  Dix  Township,  residing 
on  section  33.  Throughout  this  coininunit\', 
f^fJ  he  is  widelj-  known,  and  we  feel  assured 
that  this  record  of  his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to 
many  of  our  readers.  He  was  born  in  Madison 
Count}',  Ind.,  October  11,  1849,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Susan  (Dunn)  Jones.  His  parents  were 
married  in  Madison  County,  and  reared  a  family 
of  eight  children,  as  follows:  Is.aac  P.,  now  de- 
ceased; John,  who  is  living  in  Indiana;  James,  a 
resident  fanner  of  Dix  Township;  AVilliam  H.  and 
Rachel,  both  deceased;  Emma,  wife  of  M.V.Davis, 
of  Paxton.  111.;  and  Joseph  K.,  who  completes  the 
family. 

In  1855,  Henry  Jones  came  with  his  family  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Vermilion  County,  where  he 
eng.aged  in  farming  for  five  years.  In  1860,  he 
came  to  Ford  County  and  settled  in  Button  Town- 
ship, where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  passed 
away    in    1868,  and  his  wife,  who  survived   him 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


771 


some  jears,  departed  this  life  on  tlie  lotli  of  July, 
1889.  Tlie^'  w(^re  l)otli  nioml)ers  of  tbe  Methodist 
Church  and  were  highly  resiieoted  people. 

We  now  take  u\}  the  personal  history  of  Joseph 
K.  Jones,  who  acquired  a  fair  business  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  was  thereby  fitted  for 
the  practical  duties  of  life.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his  major- 
ity and  then  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  In 
1875,  he  purchased  a  farm  on  which  he  now  resides. 
It  is  a  one  hundred  and  twenty  acre  tract  of  arable 
laud  on  section  33,  Dix  Township,  and  the  well- 
tilled  fields  and  many  improvemenis  to  be  seen 
upon  the  place  indicate  the  thrift  and  enterprise 
of  the  owner,  who  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  of  the  community.  lie  is  an  upright 
and  straightforward  business  man  and  is  one  of  the 
highly  respected  citizens  of  the  community. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1875,  Mr.  Jones  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie  P.arrow,  a  daughler  of 
J.  F.  Barrow,  and  their  union  lias  been  blessed  by 
a  family  of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  namel\  :  Delia,  Fred  !>..  Floy,  Raymond, 
Earl  an<l  Hazel.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  party  but  has  never  been  an  office- 
seeker,  lie  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Church  and 
also  holds  membership  with  the  Odd  Fellows' soci- 
ety, lie  is  a  well-informed  man  and  one  of  the 
leading  and  inlliiential  citizens  of  Dix  Township. 
For  almost  a  third  of  a  century,  he  has  made  his 
home  in  Ford  County  and  has  witnessed  its  entire 
growth  and  development  and  has  aided  in  its  up- 
building and  advancement.  He  ever  extends  his 
sympathy  and  hearty  co-ojieration  to  those  enter- 
prises whicli  are  calculated  to  i)romote  the  general 
welfare. 


ICHAEL  COLWELL,  one  of  the  honored 
pioneer  settlers  of  Ford  County,  now  en- 
lii  gaged   in  general   farming  on  section  17, 
''J  Dix  Township,  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye 

State.  He  was  born  on  the  22d  of  January,  1822, 
in  Ross  County,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Mitchell)  Colwell.     Both  were  of  German  extrac- 


tion, but  the  former  was  a  native  of  Kentuckj'  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  Throughout  his  life,  Mr.  Col- 
well followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  death 
occurred  in  1836,  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him 
some  eighteen  years,  passed  away  in  1854.  Eight 
children  were  born  unto  this  worth}' couple:  James, 
now  deceased;  Charles;  Robert,  also  deceased; 
Henry;  Thomas,  deceased;  Michael,  of  this  sketch; 
AVilliam  L.,  John  and  Thomas,  the  youngest. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  oursub- 
ject,  who  spent  his  childhood  days  under  the  p.a- 
rental  roof.  His  educational  privileges  were  quite 
limited.  In  the  winter  season  he  attended  school 
but  had  to  walk  three  miles  to  and  from  the  school- 
house.  His  training  in  farm  labor,  however,  was 
more  generous  and  he  was  early  inured  to  hard 
work.  He  remained  at  home  until  twenty-two 
3'ears  of  age,  when,  w-ith  his  l)rother  James,  he  en- 
gaged in  buying  and  selling  horses  and  mules  in 
Ohio.  These  he  drove  to  Virginia  and  North  and 
South  Carolina,  where  he  sold  them.  The  business 
connection  between  the  two  brothers  lasted  for 
five  years,  after  which  Michael  embarked  in  farm- 
ing for  himself. 

On  the  29tli  of  October,  1849,  Mr.  Colwell  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  A.,  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Catherine  Crutcher.  The  young 
couple  removed  U)  Chillicothc,  Ohio,  where  they 
spent  two  years  and  then  became  residents  of 
Pickaway  County,  Ohio.  Our  subject  was  there 
engaged  in  farming  until  1853,  when,  with  his  fam- 
ily, he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Ford  County. 
For  two  years  he  engaged  in  operating  a  rented 
farm  in  Patton  Township,  after  which  he  purchased 
a  farm  and  spent  two  years  in  Iroquois  County. 
He  then  sold  out  and  returned  to  Patton  Township, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1868.  The  succeed- 
ing four  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Drummer 
Township,  and  in  1872  he  purchased  his  present 
farm,  upon  which  he  has  since  resided.  It  is  a  two- 
hundred  and  forty-acre  tract  of  valuable  land  on 
section  17,  Dix  Township,  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 

The  following  children  have  been  born  unto 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colwell:  Richard,  now  deceased; 
Thomas;    James  and  Alvin,  lioth    deceased;    Ger- 


772 


iPORTRAlT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


trude;  Willard,  deceased;  Mattie;  Annie  B.;  Jlary 
May,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy.  The  family  is 
one  of  prominence  in  the  community,  its  members 
ranking  high  in  the  social  circles  in  which  they 
move. 

By  his  ballot,  Mr.  ColwoU  supports  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  lie  has  served  as  School  Director, 
but  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
interests,  wiiicli  he  has  followed  with  good  success. 
He  is  a  worthy  citizen  of  the  community  and 
highly  respected  by  all.  He  is  numbered  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Ford  County,  having  made 
his  home  within  its  borders  since  1853,  with  the 
exception  of  the  two  3'cars  spent  in  Iroquois 
County.  He  has  witnessed  its  entire  growth  and 
development,  and  has  seen  its  wild  lands  trans- 
formed into  rich  and  fertile  farms,  while  towns 
and  villages  have  sprung  up  where  the  land  was 
not  even  improved  at  the  time  of  his  arrival. 


— ■ "  I— I— .  •' ■ ^.^5=^ 

^ll'ARON  C.  BULLIN(TTON,a  prominent  and 
(@0  well- respected  citizen  who  is  engaged  in 
iti  general  farming  on  section  19,  Dix  Town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  Adams  Couuty,  111.. 
born  March  20,  1844.  His  father,  Robert  Bulling- 
ton,  was  born  in  Kentucky  and  was  of  Scotch 
descent,  l^y  occupation  he  was  a  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Mar}'  Long,  who  was  born  in  Indiana 
and  was  of  German  extraction.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1882,  and  Mr.  Bullingtou  passed  awa}'  in  1889. 
In  their  family  were  eleven  children,  as  follows 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Harper,  died  in  1858 
William  A.  died  in  185(5;  John  C.  died  in  infancy 
James  C.  is  a  practicing  physician  of  Attica,  Ind. 
Julia  A.  died  in  infancy-;  Martha  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Elijah  Pierce,  a  farmer  residing  in  Woodford 
County,  111.;  Aaron  is  the  next  younger;  Bernice 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Ashraore,  a  farmer  residing 
in  Piatt  County-;  Robert  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
Shelbj'  Count}',  111.;  Samuel  follows  agricultural 
pursuits  near  Sibley,  Iowa;  and  Mar}'  S.  is  the  wife 
of  William  H.  Patton,  a  farmer. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  Mr.  Bulling- 


ton  of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  hisboyliood  and 
youth.  He  was  attending  school  at  the  time  of  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  but  laid  aside  his 
books  to  enter  the  service  of  his  country.  On  the 
27th  of  June;  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  of 
Company  A,  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Peoria.  Tlie  first  im- 
portant engagement  in  which  he  partici|5ated  was 
the  battle  of  Perryvillc,  Ky.,  after  which  he  met 
the  enemy  in  the  battles  of  Mission  Ridge.  Chicka- 
mauga,  Resaca,  Rome,  Dalton,  Big  Shanty  and 
Kcnesaw  Mountain,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the 
right  knee  and  knocked  down  l\v  the  explosion  of 
a  shell.  He  afterward  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Peachtree  Creek,  Jon esboro,  Savannah  and  Ben- 
tonville.  He  had  Ijecn  promoted  to  be  Corporal, 
and  received  his  discliargein  Washington  in  June, 
1865,  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities. 

On  his  return  home,  Mr.  Bullington  resumed  his 
studies  in  Eureka  College,  where  he  remained  for 
two  years.  He  then  engaged  in  teaching  school 
and  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  two  yeai'S, 
after  whicli  he  followed  farming  and  teaching  for 
two  year.s.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Bullington  was 
married.  Marcli  19,  1868,  to  Miss  Mary  C  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  and  Catherine  Leonard.  Her  death 
occurred  on  the  4th  of  October,  1875.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  of  that  union:  Claude  J.  and  Will- 
iam O.,  who  died  when  two  years  of  age.  Our 
subject  was  again  married,  January  25,  1877,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Atlanta  Blake, 
daughter  of  A.  T.  and  Cynthia  Blake.  Five  cliil- 
dren  grace  their  union:  Frank  A.,  Ethel  C,  Edna 
L.,  Robert  A.  and  Harry  B. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Bullington  came  to  Ford  County, 
locating  in  Dix  Township,  where  he  operated  a 
rented  farm  for  three  years.  He  then  purchased  a 
farm  on  section  26,  where  he  made  his  home  for 
four  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  he 
removed  to  Elliott,  where  he  rented  a  farm  and 
engaged  as  a  dealer  in  farm  implements,  under  the 
firm  name  of  A.  C.  Bullington  lV  Co.  This  firm 
also  carried  on  a  lumber-yard  and  continued  busi- 
ness for  two  years.  Mr.  Bullington  then  sold  out 
and  removed  to  Champaign  County,  where  he 
spent  one  year,  after  which  he  purcliased  the  farm 
that  is  now  his  home.     It  is  a  one  hundred   and 


.**?<.•>. 


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yx^tH'lai^ 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sixty  acre  tract  of  arable  land  on  section  19,  Dix 
Township.  Almost  the  entire  amount  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  is  well  improved  with 
all  the  accessories  of  a  good  farm. 

In  politics,  Mr.  BuUington  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Republican  part}'.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  a  well-informed 
man,  botli  on  political  questions  and  otherwise,  and 
is  a  representative  citizen  of  the  community.  He 
and  his  wife  are  well  known  in  Dix  Township  and 
are  highly  respected  citizens  who  hold  an  envialile 
position  in  social  circles.  Socially,  he  is  a  mason 
and  a  member  of  Lott  Post  No.  70,  C  A.  K. 


^ILLIAJI  S.  HUSTON  is  numbered  among 
the  leading  farmers  of  Drummer  Town- 
ship. He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  on  the  1st  of  February,  1819,  in  Chester 
County,  on  the  same  farm  which  was  the  birth- 
place of  his  father  and  grandfather.  His  great- 
grandfather, John  Huston,  emigrated  from  Scot- 
land to  America  about  the  beginning  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  joined  the  Colonial  army 
and  was  one  of  the  heroes  who  spent  that  memor- 
able winter  with  Washington  at  Valley  Forge.  He 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Brandywine  and 
after  the  close  of  the  war  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  in  Chester  Count}-,  Pa.,  a  part  of  which  has 
been  in  possession  of  the  family  ever  since.  The 
family  name  was  formerly  spelled  Houston;  he 
dropped  the  o.  spelling  the  name  .as  at  present. 
For  a  wife  he  chose  a  lady  of  English  birth.  The 
grandfather  Huston,  who  also  bore  the  Christian 
name  of  John,  was  born,  lived  and  died  on  the 
old  homestead,  where  the  father  of  our  subject 
w.as  born.  The  father  was  a  well-to-do  farmer 
and  his  marriage  was  celebrated  in  Cecil  County, 
Md.,  of  which  county  his  wife  was  a  native.  Hotli 
are  consistent  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  are  now  well  advanced  in  life.  The\'  are  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  are  still  living:  p]inma  H.,  wife 
oi  Thomas    Smetiiey,  a  resident   of   Philadelphia, 


Pa.,  a  manufacturer;  Eliza  IT.,  wife  of  J.  S.  INIoore, 
a  resident  of  Philadelphia,  I'a.,  and  Roadinaster  of 
the  Market  Street  Railroad;  J.  Newton,  attorney 
at  law  at  West  Chester,  Pa.,  is  mariicd;  ]\[r.  Hus- 
ton is  next  in  the  genealogy;  J.  L.  M.  is  on  the  old 
homestead;  Walter  H.,  a  resident  of  New  Jersey; 
A.  J.,  wife  of  Mr.  MeCoe,  of  Philadeliiliia;  Pluebe, 
at  home;  Minnie,  at  Pliiladelpliia;  IMarshall,  a 
resident  of  Pliiladelpliia,  is  married. 

AVilliam  S.  Huston,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
spent  his  boyhood  under  the  parental  roof  and 
was  the  fifth  child  in  order  of  l)irth  in  the  family. 
His  educational  ailvantages  were  good  for  that 
day.  After  attending  the  public  schools,  he  spent 
some  time  in  the  New  London  Academy,  where  he 
completed  his  literary  studies.  About  lSfi8,  he 
came  to  Putnam  County,  111.,  but  soon  after  went 
to  Grundy  Count}',  where  he  acquired  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres.  Selling  that,  he  located  in  Drummer 
Township,  Ford  County,  in  1876,  purchasing  a 
quarter-section  of  land  at  135  per  acre.  So  rapid 
has  Iieen  the  advancement  of  property  in  this 
county  that  the  same  land  would  now  command 
$75.  By  industry  and  the  exercise  of  good  busi- 
ness ability,  Mr.  Huston  lias  increased  his  farm 
until  he  now  owns  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  good  arable  land,  which  yield  a  golden  trib- 
ute to  his  care  and  cultivation.  He  is  a  strong 
believer  in  tile  draining  and  has  a  number  of 
miles  of  it  on  his  farm.  He  has  the  reputation  of 
being  one  of  the  most  progressive  agriculturists 
of  his  township. 

In  Putnam  County,  III.,  on  the  26th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1874,  Mr.  Huston  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Foley,  who  died  October  19,  18H0.  She  was  a  de- 
voted member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to 
which  our  subject  also  belongs.  Two  children 
were  born  of  this  unicm,  namely,  J.  Walter  and 
Frederick.  Mrs.  Huston  had  living  four  brothers 
and  two  sisters:  J.  B.  Foley  is  the  eldest,  and 
is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Mar- 
tin is  a  resident  of  Nebraska,  and  a  farmer;  W.  C. 
Foley,  is  a  resident  of  Drummer  Township,  and  a 
farmer;  Mattie,  wife  of  Mr.  Fieipont,  of  (iibson; 
Anna,  wife  of  Frank  Ross,  of  Chicago;  Elmer  E. 
resides  in  Gibson,  and  is  married. 

In  political  sentiment,  Mr.  Huston    is  a   liepub- 


778 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


lican,  taking  an  active  interest  in  the  success  of 
Ills  party,  but  is  not  au  aspinint  for  official  dis- 
tinction. He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
the  Soldier  President,  U.  S.  Grant.  He  has  now 
lived  in  Ford  County  for  sixteen  years,  and  has 
witnessed  the  rapid  growth  and  development  of 
the  county,  in  whicii  he  has  also  taken  part.  He 
is  public-spirited  and  progressive,  and  is  highl}'  es- 
teemed for  liis  sterling  worth  and  integrity. 


'  OHN  HUGHS  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing on  section  24,  Rogers  Township,  where 
he  owns  and  operates  three  hundred  and 
twentj'  acres  of  land.  He  was  born  in 
Wales,  about  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Sarah  Hughs,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  that 
country.  In  his  younger  years  the  father  served 
in  the  British  army.  Knitting  was  his  trade,  and 
he  earned  his  livelihood  by  making  fancy  work. 
He  spent  his  entire  life  in  the  laud  of  his  birth. 

Our  subject  remained  in  Wales  until  thirty  ^ears 
of  age.  His  educational  privileges  were  verv  lim- 
ited. At  the  age  of  twelve,  he  began  farming  and 
followed  that  occupation  until  18.51,  wiiich  3'ear 
witnessed  his  emigration  to  America.  Going  to 
Liverpool,  he  there  embarked  on  a  sailing-vessel, 
and  after  six  weeks  spent  upon  the  bosom  of  the 
liroad  Atlantic,  he  arrived  in  New  York  in  June. 
He  began  work  on  a  farm  near  Utica,  N.  Y.,  resid- 
ing iu  that  locality  for  about  four  ^-ears. 

On  tlie  23d  f)f  November,  1854,  in  Oneida 
County,  Mr.  Hughs  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss 
Mary  Morris,  a  native  of  Wales.  AVith  her  father, 
GrifHn  Morris,  she  came  to  the  United  States,  and 
settled  in  New  York  in  April,  1853.  The  year 
succeeding  their  marriage,  Mr.  Hughs  removed  to 
Wisconsin,  locating  near  Mygats  Corners,  Racine 
Count3',  where  he  engaged  in  work  as  a  farm  hand. 
He  remained  in  that  locality  for  about  ten  years,  or 
until  after  the  war,  wlien  he  came  to  Illinois.  Set- 
tling in  Ford  County  in  1800,  he  bought  a  tract 
of  wild  land  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
which  he  develojied  into  a  good  farm.  As  his 
financial  resources  have  increased,  he  has  made  ad- 


ditional purchases,  until  now  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  divided  into  rich  and  fertile  fields, 
yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hughs  have  been  born  six 
children:  Mar}'  J.,  now  the  wife  of  Norman  C. 
Hill,  a  resident  of  Ford  Count\-;  Ann  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Daniel  Bouh,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
near  Cabei^y;  Katie  Sarah,  wife  of  Eugene  George, 
of  Livingston  County;  David,  who  is  married  and 
follows  agricultural  pursuits  in  Rogers  Township; 
John  M.,  and  Thomas  E.,  both  of  whom  are  mar- 
ried and  reside  on  the  old  homestead. 

IVIr.  Hughs  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  this  community,  having  re- 
sided in  Ford  County  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  He  is  well  known  in  this  community  and 
is  highly  esteemed  for  his  sterling  worth.  He  de- 
serves great  credit  for  his  success  in  life,  which  is 
the  result  of  his  own  unaided  efforts,  as  he  started 
out  to  earn  his  own  livelihood  emptj'-handed  and 
with  no  inlluential  friends  to  aid  him.  He  is  tlie 
founder  of  his  family  iu  America,  and  in  future 
years  his  descendants  may  point  with  pride  to  their 
ancestor. 


LBERT  E.  M0TTH:R  carries  on  general 
farming  on  section  5,  Dix  Township,  wiiere 
he  has  made  his  home  for  twelve  years. 
He  there  owns  and  operates  two  hundred 
and  forty-five  acres  of  valuable  land,  constituting 
one  of  the  finest  farms  of  this  locality.  The  land 
is  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  he  has 
made  many  good  improvements  which  stand  as 
monuments  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 

Mr.  Mottier  was  born  near  Cincinnati,  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  February  22,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  E.  Mottier.  His  father  w.as  born  in  Switzer- 
land in  1801,  and  was  of  French  descent.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  America,  and 
worked  three  years  to  pa}'  his  passage  across  the 
Atlantic.  His  first  location  was  made  in  Switzer- 
land Cc)untv,  Ind.,  and  when  his  labor  had  paid 
fo)'  his  passage,  he  began  working  as  a  farm   hand 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


■79 


bj'  the  month.  Three  years  he  spent  in  that  way, 
and  then  removed  to  Hamilton  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  engaged  in  cultivating  a  vineyard  until 
1865.  Tliat  year  witnessed  his  removal  to  Erie 
Count}',  Pa.,  where  he  followed  the  same  line  of 
business  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1888. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Universalist  Church,  and 
exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Republican  party.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Maria  Seibenthal.  died  in  1867.  They 
were  members  of  the  Universalist  Church. 

The  Mottier  family  numbered  twelve  children, 
as  follows:  John  E.,  who  died  in  infancy-;  Cecil; 
Eliza,  deceased;  Susan,  wife  of  P"rank  Murph}',  a 
farmer  and  fruit-grower,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Ze- 
lia,  wife  of  A.  Longley;  Albert  E.,  of  this  sketch; 
John  F.,  a  fruit-grower  residing  in  Erie,  Pa.;  Favor 
Z.,  who  died  in  1867,  was  a  veteran  of  the  late 
war,  and  for  six  months  was  held  a  prisoner  at  An- 
dersonvillo;  Charles  H.,  a  fruit-grower  of  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Fourth 
Ohio  Cavalry,  and  was  honorably  discliarged  at  the 
close  of  the  war;  George  L.  died  in  infancy;  Paul- 
ine is  the  wife  of  Jasper  Murphy,  a  horticulturist, 
residing  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  and  Lewis  G.,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Mottier  whose  name  heads  this  record  ac- 
quired a  good  English  education  in  the  common- 
schools,  and  spent  his  bo3hood  daj'S  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads.  He  remained  under  the  pa- 
rental roof  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  when 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  In  1859,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  where  he  spent  one  year  working 
on  a  farm,  and  then  returned  to  his  old  home. 
Soon  afterward  he  was  married  to  Miss  Phenie  Gen- 
tle, a  daughter  of  John  and  Louisa  (Iligdon)  Gen- 
tle. Their  union  was  celebrated  November  27i 
1860,  and  they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a 
fruit  farm  near  Cincinnati,  to  the  cultivation  of 
which  he  devoted  his  energies.  In  1880,  Mr.  Mot- 
tier removed  with  his  family  to  Ford  County,  111., 
and  located  upon  the  beautiful  farm  which  is  yet 
his  home.  Mrs.  Mottier  had  ten  brothers  and  sisters, 
of  whom  there  are  six  living  at  present:  The  eld- 
est, Mary  J.,  widow  of  J.  H.  Stathem,  resides  in 
Bloomington,  111.;  Mrs.  Mottier  is  next  in  order; 
Thomas  S.  Gentle,  who  is  married,  and  is  a  farmer, 


is  a  resident  of  Farmington,  111.;  Maggie,  wife  of 
John  Bulger,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere;  Hat- 
tic,  wife  of  George  Babbitt,  a  commission  mer- 
chant, resides  in  Ashland,  Neb;  Lulu  M.,  wife  of 
Frank  Ashton,  who  is  interested  in  coal  mining, 
resides  in  Bryant,  Fulton  County,  111.,  and  is  the 
youngest  living. 

Mrs.  Mottier  was  born  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
November  4,  1838,  and  her  maidenhood  days  were 
spent  near  that  locality  Slie  was  educated  in  the 
country  schools  near  Cincinnati,  and  in  the  Farm- 
ington graded  schools.  In  Illinois  she  was  one  of 
Fulton  County's  successful  teachers.  Mrs.  Mottier 
is  a  devout  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
has  alwaj'S  faithfully  performed  her  duty.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  at 
Gibson  Cit}',  111. 

Four  children  were  born  unto  our  subject  and 
his  wife,  but  only  two  are  now  living:  Charlie 
died  in  infancy;  William  C.  is  a  farmer  residing  in 
Dix  Township;  AValter  F.  is  married  and  resides 
on  the  home  farm;  and  Julia  G.  died  on  tiie  2nd 
of  August,  1890.  She  was  a  sweet  girl,  and  was 
of  that  loving  and  affectionate  nature  which  en- 
deared  her  to  all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact. 

The  Mottier  family  is  one  well  and  favorably 
known  in  this  community.  In  polities,  Mr.  Mot- 
tier is  a  Republican,  and  in  religious  belief  is  a 
Methodist.  He  has  led  an  upright  life,  and  won 
the  confidence  and  high  regard  of  all.  With  the 
aid  of  his  son  Walter,  who  is  an  enterprising  j'oung 
farmer,  he  carries  on  general  farming,  and  the 
homestead  has  been  transformed  into  one  of  the 
model  farms  of  the  communitv. 


^^ 


UGH  DUXNAN,  who  resides  on  section  34, 
Dix  Township,  is  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  Ford  County.  He  was  born  in 
Lawrence  County,  Pa.,  near  Mt.  Jackson, 
on  the  4th  of  April,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
Dunnan,  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  was  of 
Scotch  extraction.  He  married  Ann  Smiley,  a  na- 
tive of  Allegheny'  County,  Pa.,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  eight  children.     The  two  eldest  died 


780 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ill  infaiic}'.  The  otliers,  all  sons,  are  David,  John, 
James,  Samuel,  Robert  and  Hugh.  The  father  of 
this  family  died  in  184'6.  The  mother  survived 
him  thirty  years,  being  called  to  her  final  rest  in 
1876. 

Mr.  Dunnaii  wliose  name  heads  tliis  record  spent 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads.  He  attended  the  district 
schools,  and  acquired  a  good  English  education. 
During  the  progress  of  the  late  war,  he  enlisted,  in 
August,  18G4,  as  a  private  of  Company  B,  Two 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania  Infantry.  The 
first  engagement  in  which  he  participated  was  at 
Salem,  Va.  He  subsequently  met  the  enemy  in 
battle  at  AVhite  Plains  and  Piatt  Mound,  and  in 
man}'  other  less  important  engagements.  On  the 
close  of  the  war  he  was  honorably  discharged,  in 
June,  1865. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services, 
he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Pennsylvania  and 
resumed  farming.  As  a  companion  and  helpmate 
on  life's  journey,  he  chose  Mi.ss  Eliza  Wallace, 
daughter  of  James  and  Jane  Wallace,  both  of  whom 
weie  natives  of  Ohio.  Their  union  was  celebrated 
on  the  19th  of  October,  1876.  Mrs.  Dunnan  was 
educated  in  the  State  Normal  School  of  Edinboro, 
Pa.,  and  is  a  grand-daughter  of  the  late  Judge 
James  Wallace,  of  iSIahoning  County,  Ohio.  She 
is  a  lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  her 
many  excellencies  of  character  have  won  her 
high  regard.  In  the  Dunnan  household  are  five 
children,  one  son  and  four  daughters:  James  AVal- 
lace,  Margaret,  Martha,  Annie  Janet  and  Luella, 
and  the  familj'  circle  is  yet  unbroken. 

Mr.  Dunnan  continued  to  reside  in  Pennsyl- 
vania until  1882,  when  he  came  with  his  family  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Ford  County.  He  has  since 
made  his  home  in  Dix  Township.  He  first  purchased 
two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  34, 
his  present  home,  and  has  since  made  additional 
purchases,  until  his  landed  possessions  now  aggre- 
gate six  hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  all  of 
which  is  located  in  Ford  County.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising and  successful  agriculturist,  and  a  sagacious 
and  far-sighted  business  man.  who  through  his  own 
perseverance  and  good  management  has  won  pros- 
perity.    He  and  his  wife  hohl  membership  with  the 


Presljyterian  Church,  and  give  liberally  to  its  sup- 
port. In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat.  Mr.  Dunnan 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  prominent  and  influen- 
tial citizens  of  the  community,  and  it  is  with  pleas- 
ure that  we  present  this  record  of  his  life  to  our 
readers. 


'■    "    °-^ 


^^ 


m 


"if/OHN  II.  LEONARD,  who  for  eighteen  years 
has  resided  upon  his  present  farm  on  section 
27,  Dix  Township,  was  born  in  Roanoke 
County,  Va.,on  the  30th  of  May,  1842,  and 
is  one  of  seven  children,  wiiose  parents  were  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Beazel)  Leonard.  Both  parents 
are  now  deceased.  The  mother  died  in  1867,  and 
the  father  departed  this  life  in  1882.  Of  the  fam- 
ily', Eliza  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Humphries; 
David  died  in  1887;  Daniel  died  in  18,56;  Jacob 
is  a  resident  farmer  of  Montgomery  County,  IMo.; 
Samuel,  who  enlisted  in  his  country's  service,  was 
killed  during  the  war  in  1863;  John  H.  is  the  next 
younger,  and  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Leonard  of  this  sketch  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood, 
which  he  attended  through  the  winter  season,  while 
in  the  summer  months  he  aided  in  the  labors  of 
the  home  farm.  He  was  still  under  the  parental 
roof  at  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  tiic  late 
war.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  responded  to  the 
country's  call  for  troops,  enlisting  in  March,  1862, 
as  a  member  of  the  Salem  Light  Artillery,  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  first  engagement  in  wiiicli  he  parti- 
cii)ated  was  at  Crany  Island.  He  afterwards 
fought  in  the  battles  of  Richmond,  Seven  Pines, 
and  in  all  the  other  engagements  in  which  his  regi- 
ment participated.  On  the  close  of  the  war  he 
was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  Virginia,  where  he  spent  a  short  time. 

The  year  1868  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Leonard  in  Illinois.  He  made  his  first  location 
in  Woodford  County,  and  while  there  residing 
was  inarricd,  in  1870,  to  Miss  Emma  Gullett,  daugh- 
ter of  AVilliam  and  Priscilla  Gullett.  Three 
children  have   been    born    of  their  union,  but  two 


/^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


783 


died  ill  infancy.  Edith  E.  is  now  a  successful 
school  teacher. 

In  1874,  Ml'-  Leonard  came  willi  his  family  to 
Ford  County  and  purchased  one  luindred  acres  of 
land  on  section  27,  Dix  Townsliip.  He  lias  here 
made  his  home  continuously  since  and  devotes  his 
time  and  attention  to  general  farming.  In  1878, 
he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  tlie  loss  of  iiis  wife, 
who  died  on  the  2d  of  January  and  was  laid  to 
rest  in  tlie  AVagner  Cemeterj'  in  Dix  Township. 
He  was  a  second  time  married,  in  1882,  his  union 
heing  with  IMiss  Annie  Whorr.iU,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Euphemia  AVhorrall.  Two  cliildren 
grace  this  marriage:  John  T.  and  William  H. 

Mr.  Leonard  is  a  Democrat,  having  supported 
that  party  for  some  j'ears.  His  fellow-citizens, 
appreciating  his  worth  and  ability,  have  several 
times  called  upon  him  to  serve  in  positions  of  pub- 
lic trust.  For  three  j-ears  he  held  tlie  otHce  of 
Commissioner  of  Highways  of  Dix  Township,  was 
Supervisor  for  two  years  and  served  as  Assessor 
three  terms.  His  re-election  to  these  offices  attests 
his  faithfulness  and  indicates  the  prompt  manner 
in  which  he  discharges  his  duties.  Sociall}',  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  society  and  also 
holds  membership  with  the  Lutheran  Church. 


^sm- 


i 


Ti  AMES  H.  MERRILL,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  14,  Rogers  Town- 
ship, is  one  of  the  representative  citizens  of 
the  county.  A  native  of  Vermont,  he  was 
born  in  Franklin  County,  June  24, 1834.  His  father, 
Capt.  Harlow  Merrill,  was  also  a  native  of  A'er- 
mont,  where  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  \-outh 
were  passed.  After  attaining  to  mature  years,  he 
married  Nancy  Parmalee,  who  was  born  in  LiUli- 
lield.  Conn.,  but  spent  her  maidenhood  days  in  the 
Green  Mountain  State.  Capt.  Merrill  was  a  farmer 
of  Franklin  County.  In  18.54,  he  went  with  his 
famil}'  to  Ohio,  locating  in  Franklin  Township, 
Portage  County,  and  spent  his  last  days  in  the 
home  of  his  eldest  son  in  that  place.  His  wife  died 
in  18G2,  a  few  3'ears  previous  to  the  death  of  her 
husband.     He  won  his   title  while  serving  in  the 


State' militia  of  Vermont.  In  the  jMerrill  family 
were  three  sons:  Sam  1'.,  a  resident  farmer  of  Port- 
age County,  Ohio;  Charles  S.,  a  physician  in  Marsh- 
allville;  and  our  subject. 

.James  H.  Merrill  remained  in  the  State  of  his 
nativity  until  twenty  years  of  age,  and  acquired 
his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
later  in  the  Northampton  Institute  of  Fairfax.  He 
afterward  commenced  teaching,  and  was  con- 
nected with  that  profession  for  many  jears.  He 
has  taught  in  A'ermout,  Ohio  and  Illinois,  having 
devoted  his  time  in  the  winter  season  to  that  labor 
for  over  thirty  years.  He  came  to  this  State  in  the 
spring  of  1865,  first  locating  in  Lockport  To\to- 
ship.  Will  County,  where  he  purchased  a  farm.  Af- 
ter engaging  in  its  cultivation  for  one  year,  he  sold 
out  and  removed  to  Cook  County,  where  he  .again 
purchased  a  farm,  making  it  his  home  for  fifteen 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  jieriod,  having 
sold  his  property,  he  came  to  Ford  County,  in 
1882,  and  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides. It  is  a  valuable  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres,  pleasantlj-  situated  two  miles  and  a 
half  to  the  east  of  Cabery.  Mr.  Merrill  is  recog- 
nized as  an  enterprising  and  practical  farmer,  and 
may  well  be  termed  a  self-made  man,  for  he  has 
worked  his  waj-  upward  to  a  position  of  affluence. 

In  Fairfax,  Vt,  in  18.")6,  Mr.  Merrill  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  ]Miss  Jlaria  Daniels,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  the  Green  Mountain  State, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  {;ideou  E.  Daniels.  Four  chil- 
dren grace  their  union:  Emogeuc  M.,  now  the  wife 
of  William  Runge,  a  resident  of  Frederick,  S.  Dak. 
Emogene  was  born  at  Earlville,  Ohio,  in  1858, 
and  after  passing  through  the  common  schools  of 
Illinois,  she  prepared  herself  for  teaching,  by  at- 
tending the  Cook  County  Normal,  from  which  she 
was  graduated  in  1870,  after  which  she  taught  in 
countj'and  graded  schools  until  she  was  married  in 
1882.  Sanl'ord  E.,  a  well-i'ducated  young  man,  en- 
gaged in  teaching  inl'liornton,  111.,  is  also  an  Ohioan 
by  birth;  he  was  born  in  18(3(1,  and  after  receiving 
his  training  as  a  te.acher  in  the  Cook  County  Nor- 
mal, he  began  his  work  in  that  profession,  and  has 
taught  successfully  in  Will,  Ford  and  Cook  Coun- 
ties. George  E.,  who  holds  a  responsible  position 
in  Chicago,  was  born  at  Palos,  III.,  in  18G9,  and 


784 


i'OETEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


when  ahout  one  and  a  half  years  old,  lost  his  hear- 
ing, a.s  tlie  lesnlt  of  an  attaeli  of  brain  fever.  He 
was  graduated  witli  honor  from  the  institute  for 
the  deaf  anil  dunih,  at  Jacksonville,  111.,  after  a  ten 
years' course.  Jay  IL,  was  born  at  Palus,  111.,  in 
1878,  and  is  still  at  home. 

Mr.  IMerrill  is  a  valued  citizen  of  the  commu- 
nity, for  Le  takes  an  active  pait  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  its  welfare,  and  has  done  much  for  the 
u|ibuilding  of  town  and  county.  His  inlUience  is 
ever  given  in  support  of  those  interests  calculated 
to  prove  of  public  lieneflt.  He  believes  in  good 
schools,  and  to  secure  these,  believes  tiiat  compe- 
tent teachers  should  be  iiired.  In  politics,  he  has 
licen  a  sup[)orter  of  Kepublican  princi|jles  since  he 
attained  his  majority.  His  upriglit  life  has  won 
him  the  confidence  and  higii  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact,  and  lie  well  deserves 
rei)resentation  in  this  volume. 


■^I'AMES  J.  HOUSTON,  an  honored  pioneer 
and  wealthy  farmer  of  I)ix  Township,  resid- 
ing on  section  30,  is  of  Scottish  birth.  He 
J  was  born  in  South  Scotland.  Januaiy  29, 
1837.  His  father,  James  Houston,  was  also  a  native 
of  tlial  locality.  After  attaining  to  mature  years, 
he  wedded  Peggy  Gilchrist,  their  union  being  cele- 
brated in  1821.  Crossing  the  Atlantic  to  America 
in  1847,  they  located  in  Fall  River,  Mass.,  where 
Mr.  Houston  retired  from  his  trade  of  weaving  on 
account  of  ill  health.  In  the  year  1850,  he  re- 
moved to  Logan  County,  III.,  where  he  resided 
until  18(J7.  He  tlien  came  to  Ford  County,  and 
here  made  his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
Seplemlier  26,  1881.  His  wife  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  on  the  20th  of  Se[)tember,  1865.  They 
had  a  famil3'  of  ten  childreu:  Jane,  wife  of  Charles 
Thompson,  an  engineer  residing  in  Joliet,  III.; 
Thom.as,  now  deceased;  Ellen,  wife  of  Henry  Bush, 
a  farmer  of  Benton, Kan.;  Margaret,  wife  of  Roliert 
Jardine,  a  farmer  of  Dix  Township,  Ford  County; 
Janet,  wife  of  James  Ewart,  a  merchant  of  Colfax, 
Wash.;   William,  who   was  engaged  in  farming  in 


Logan  County,  III.,  now  living  retired  in  Lincoln, 
III.;  James  J.,  of  this  sketch;  Catherine,  wife  of 
William  (iilchrist,  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Grand 
Island,  Neb.;  John  (J.  and  Mary,  both  deceased. 

Our  subject  began  his  school  life  in  Scotland. 
He  was  a  lad  of  ten  summers  when  with  his  par- 
ents he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America.  His 
education  was  completed  in  the  district  schools, 
where  he  jirepared  himself  for  farm  life  which  he 
has  always  followed.  During  the  late  war  he  re- 
sponded to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  enlisting 
as  a  private  in  1861,  for  three  years' service.  He 
was  assigned  to  Company  15,  of  the  Second  Illinois 
Cavalry,  and  [larticipated  in  many  hard  fought  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes.  He  w\as  at  the  battles  of  Ft. 
Donelson  and  Sliiloh  and  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and 
was  under  fire  many  other  times  but  received  no 
wounds.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier,  always  found 
at  his  post  of  duty  and  loj'al  to  the  cause  under 
whose  banner  he  enlisted. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  1864,  Mr.  Houston 
wedded  Miss  Jane  J.  Gilchrist,  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island.  She  was  born  August  24,  1844,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (Harper)  Gilchrist, 
both  of  whom  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Their 
union  was  blessed  with  eight  children,  but  David 
J.,  the  eldest;  Thomas,  the  third;  D.  W.,  and 
Peggy  J.,  the  fourth  and  fifth;  and  Mary  H.,  the 
seventh  child,  are  now  deceased.  Those  still  living 
are,  John  R.,  Peggy  E.  .J.,  and  Margaret  J. 

The  famil}'  reside  upon  a  pleasant  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-five  acres,  which  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  iiuiiroved.  The  neat 
appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the  careful  su- 
pervision of  the  owner  who  is  regarded  as  one  of 
the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  community.  In 
religious  belief,  INIr.  and  Mrs.  Houston  are  members 
of  the  Cumlierland  Presbyterian  Church  in  Gibson, 
and,  in  his  political  relations,  our  subject  is  a  Repub- 
lican, having  supported  that  party  since  he  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has 
served  as  Highway  Commissioner,  and  filled  other 
minor  ollices,  promjitly  and  faithfully  discharging 
the  duties  of  each.  Mr.  Houston  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  of  his  district  for  ten  long 
years,  which  shows  his  fidelity  to  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation.    This  alone  is  a  strong    testimonial  to  the 


POBTliAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


785 


re|>iitation  of  Mr.  Houston.  Sirs.  Houston's  girlhood 
days  were  sj)eut  in  Logan  County,  where  she  re- 
ceived her  education  in  tiie  common  schools.  She 
h.as  a  little  souvenir  pin,  in  memory  of  the  famous 
"Tippecanoe  and  Tyler,  too"  cani|)aign,  which  she 
cherishes.  She  and  her  husband  have  traveled  the 
palhw.ay  of  life  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
siiariug  alike  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  life.  They 
have  always  been  identified  witli  all  religious 
work,  and  have  taken  an  active  part  in  the  Sunday- 
school  work.  Mr.  Houston  is  an  Elder  in  the  church, 
and  has  been  an  officer  in  some  important  place  in 
his  church  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  J.  B.  Lott  Post  No.  70,  (J.  .\. 
R.,  of  Gibson,  111.  ^ 

Mrs.  Houston  had  four  brothers  and  one  sister. 
The  brothers  are  all  living:  William  J.  is  a  resident 
of  Vallej'  Center, Kan.,  is  married  and  is  a  farmer 
and  grain  merchant;  Jolm  R.,  a  well-known  citi- 
zen of  Dix  Township,  is  a  dealer  in  grain  and 
real  estate,  and  is  married;  Joseph  D.  is  a  resident 
of  A'alley  Center,  Kan.,  is  married,  and  is  engaged 
in  grain  Iniying  and  farming.  Both  of  Mrs  Hous- 
ton 's  parents  aie  deceased. 


'\|'  OHN  BOND,  a  leading  and  influential  farmer 
of  Dix  Township,  now  residing  in  Gibson, 
TIL,  is  a  native  of  England.  He  was  born 
lj(^/  in  Manchester,  Lancashire,  Ai)ril  12,  1822, 
and  is  a  son  of  Zachariah  and  IMary  (Dixon) 
Bond,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same 
county.  There  they  were  reared  and  married,  and 
the  mother's  deatji  there  occurred  on  the  UHli  of 
March,  1858,  in  her  fifty-fifth  year.  Her  remains 
were  interred  in  Cheatamill.  The  following  year 
Mr.  Bond  came  to  America,  crossing  the  Atlantic 
to  New  York  City.  Locating  in  Livingston  County, 
111.,  he  there  made  his  home  until  called  to  his  final 
rest  on  the  27th  of  September,  1865.  He  was 
buried  in  the  Livingston  Cemetery.  The  family 
of  this  worthy  couple  numbered  nineteen  cliildri^n, 
seven  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years,  luuncly: 
.Tolin,  Mary,  Ellen,  Eliza,  Elizabeth,  William  II. 
and  James  A. 


John  Bond  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Manchester,  England,  and  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  in  his  native  land.  He  first  came  to 
America  in  1811,  but  after  a  year  and  a  half  re- 
turned to  his  native  land  on  account  of  business. 
In  1859,  he  again  came  to  this  countrj'.  Landing 
at  New  York  City,  he  made  his  way  thence  to  Liv- 
ingston County,  111.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  brick,  which  business  he  had  learned 
in  England.  He  resided  in  that  county-  until  1875, 
when,  with  his  family,  he  came  to  Eord  County, 
and  purchased  his  present  home  in  Dix  Townshii). 
He  has  since  followed  farming  and  now  owns  two 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land,  constituting  one 
of  the  desirable  places  of  this  localit\'.  In  politics, 
he  is  a  Repuljlican.  He  has  never  sought  or  de- 
sired public  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire 
attention  to  his  business  interests.  In  religious 
belief,  he  is  a  iNIethodist. 

The  lady  who  is  now  Mrs.  Bond  was  in  her  maid- 
enhood Eliza  Aslam.  Her  parents,  Abraham  and 
Anice  (Knott)  Aslam,  were  natives  of  Manchester, 
England.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bond  was 
celebrated  July  9,  1843,  at  Eccles  Church,  Lanca- 
shire, and  unto  them  have  been  born  nine  children, 
as  foUow^s:  Mary,  now  the  wife  of  Moses  Melling- 
ton,  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Jane,  deceased;  Helen, 
now  the  wife  of  William  Hinds,  of  Ford  County; 
John,  Zachariah;  .\nice,  deceased;  Wilber,  Eliza 
and  Isaac. 


|OBERT  JARDINE,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
the  coinmuiiily  and  an  enterprising  farmer 
-\  residing  on  section  4,  Dix  Township,  claims 
^^  Scotland  as  the  land  of  his  nativity.  He 
was  born  in  1822,  and  is  the  only  child  of  Robert 
and  Sarah  (JIcMuUen)  Jardine,  who  were  also  na- 
tives of  Scotland.  The  father  w.as  a  farmer  and 
followed  that  occupation  in  pursuit  of  fortune 
throughout  his  entire  life.  He  and  his  wife  were 
both  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  upon  the  home 
farm  and  w.as  early  inured  to  hard  lal)or.  Heat- 
tended  the  common  schools    of    the  neighborhood 


786 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


until  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  remained  witli  his 
father  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  lie  started 
out  to  earn  his  own  liveliiiood,  working  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month.  At  length,  he  determined  to 
try  his  fortune  in  America  and,  on  attaining  man's 
estate,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic.  He  left  the  Old 
Country  in  a  sailing-vessel  in  August,  1853,  and 
after  six  weeks  and  three  days  spent  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  Atlantic,  Landed  in  New  York  City. 
He  made  his  first  location  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for 
three  years.  In  1856,  he  emigrated  Westward  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Lincoln,  Logan  County, 
111.,  where  he  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  until 
1867. 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Jardine  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Margaret  Houston,  a  daughter 
of  James  and  Peggy  (Gilchrist)  Iloustou.  Tlieir 
union  was  celebrated  July  4,  1858,  and  unto  them 
have  been  born  three  children,  all  sons:  Robert, 
a  farmer  now  residing  in  Dix  Township;  James, 
who  is  also  engaged  in  farming  in  tliesame  town- 
ship; and  John,  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Jardine  came  to  Ford  County  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  railroad  land  on  section 
-1,  Dix  Township,  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  He  engaged  in  general  farming  and  has 
met  with  good  success  in  his  undertakings.  His 
life  has  been  a  busy  one,  yet  he  has  found  time  to 
devote  to  public  interests  and  has  faithfully 
served  his  fellow-citizens  in  official  cajxacities.  He 
is  a  stanch  sujjporter  of  the  Republican  party, 
having  been  connected  with  it  since  he  cast  his 
tirst  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  In 
an  early  day  he  was  elected  and  served  as  one  of 
the  Board  of  Commissioners.  For  three  years  he 
filled  the  office  of  Township  Trustee  and  for  about 
seven  years  has  been  School  Director.  The  cause 
of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend  and  he 
does  all  in  his  power  in  support  of  those  enter- 
prises which  are  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
good.  He  has  ever  discharged  his  otiicial  duties 
with  promptness  and  fidelity  and  is  recognized  as 
a  worthy  and  valued  citizen  of  Dix  Township.  It 
need  never  be  an  occasion  of  regret  to  him  that  he 
left  his  native  land  for  America,  for  in  this  coun- 
try he   has  found  a  pleasant  home  and  met  with 


prosperit}'.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  -Jardine  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Gibson,  111.,  and  are  classed  amongst  the  best  citi- 
zens of  Ford  County. 

Mrs.  Jardine  is  a  native  of  .Scotland  and  was  a 
maiden  of  sixteen  summers  when  she  came  to 
America.  She  received  her  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  She  had  four  brothers  and  five  sis- 
ters, of  whom  there  are  two  brothers  and  four 
sisters  living:  Jane,  the  wife  of  Charles  Thompson, 
resides  in  Joliet,  111.;  Ellen,  wife  of  Henry  Bush,  of 
Kansas,  who  is  engaged  in  agriculture;  .Ten- 
nette  P.,  wife  of  James  Ewart,  of  Colfax,  Wash.; 
Catharine,  wife  of  William  Gilchrist,  of  Nebraska; 
William,  a  resident  of  Lincoln,  Logan  County,  111., 
is  a  retired  farmer;  James  J.,  who  is  represented 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Mrs.  Jardine  has  been  a 
valuable  helpmate  of  her  husband  during  their  pil- 
grimage of  thirt3f-four  years  together. 

Miss  Lizzie  Ramsden,  a  talented  young  lady,  h.as 
made  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jardine  since 
she  was  a  little  child.  She  has  found  in  them  true 
l)arental  love  and  affection.  .She  has  received  an 
excellent  education,  having  been  a  student  of 
Lincoln  University  and  also  of  the  Illinois  .State 
Normal  University  for  five  terms.  .She  has  taught 
successfully  in  Ford  County  for  about  two  years, 
and  she  is  now  engaged  as  one  of  the  corps  of 
te.achers  in  the  Melviu  public  schools.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Gibson. 


■4M:;i-^- 


\I/  AURIN  N.  A.SHLEY,  one  of  the  extensive 
I  i'(g,  land-owners  of  Sullivant  Township,  resid- 
jl'--^  ing  on  section  17,  was  born  in  Stockbridge, 
Windsor  County,  Vt,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1826. 
His  parents,  Jason  and  Lois  (Graves)  Ashley,  were 
also  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  State  and  were 
of  English  descent.  In  the  year  1839,  they  left 
their  old  home  to  try  their  fortune  on  the  broad 
prairies  of  the  West,  and  after  forty-seven  daj's  of 
travel  by  team  reached    their    destination.     They 


j^_ 


liM.> 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


791 


forded  the  Wabash  River  above  Terra  Haute,  Ind., 
and  made  a  settlement  in  MaguoUa,  Putnam 
County,  for  one  year.  Mr.  Asliley  purchased  a 
farm  in  La  Salle  County,  upon  which  he  has  since 
made  his  home.  He  is  now  ninety-six  j'ears  of  age. 
His  wife  died  about  1866.  They  had  a  family  of 
seven  children:  Harrison  and  Dennison  (twins), 
who  died  in  infancy;  Laurin  N.,  of  this  skelcli; 
Amos,  a  farmer  residing  in  La  Salle  County,  111.; 
Harriet,  now  deceased;  Melinda,  who  has  also  been 
called  to  her  final  home;  Harr}'  D.,  who  is  also  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Sullivant  Township. 

Our  subject  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  since  that 
time  be  has  been  a  resident  of  this  .State.  He  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  common  scliools  of 
the  neighborhood  and  remained  at  home  aiding 
his  father  iu  the  labors  of  the  farm  until  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  when  he  began  farming  for  him- 
self, his  time  thus  being  spent  for  two  years. 
With  the  money  he  saved  in  that  time,  he  then 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  unim- 
proved land  near  the  old  homestead  and  upon  the 
farm  which  he  there  developed  continued  to  re- 
side until  1884.  He  added  a  two  hundred-acre 
tract  and  placed  the  entire  amount  under  a  state 
of  good  cultivation.  At  the  same  time  he  carried 
on  general  farming  and  also  engaged  in  stock- 
raising. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  1843,  Mr.  Ashley  wedded 
Miss  Polly  Densraore,  daugliter  of  Ephraim  and 
Alice  (Hold)  Densmore.  B}'  their  union  were  born 
eight  children:  Ella,  who  died  in  infancy;  Louis, 
in  partnership  with  his  father;  Edwin  and  Elwin, 
both  of  whom  died  in  infancy;  Ellis,  at  home; 
Mary,wife  of  Jay  Smith,  a  farmer  of  Kansas;  Hattie 
E.,  at  home,  and  Eddie,  who  is  engaged  iu  teach- 
ing school.  The  mother  of  this  family  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  January  22,  1887,  and  her  remains 
were  interred  in  the  ]\It.  Hope  Cemetery  of  Sibley. 

In  1884,  Mr.  Ashley  removed  to  Sullivant 
Township  and  established  a  stock  farm,  raising  a 
fine  grade  of  short-horn  cattle,  sheep  and  horses. 
He  owns  altogether  thirteen  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  acres  of  laud,  situated  on  sections  17,  18  and 
9,  and  has  one  of  the  largest  stock  farms  in  F'ord 
County.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his  busi- 
32 


ness  career  and  deserves  great  credit,  as  his  ])ro.s- 
perity  is  entirely  the  result  of  his  own  efforts.  In 
polities,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Greenback  party, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

-^ — m — ^— 

JJCHARD  TRIGGER,  a  prominent  and  pro- 
gressive farmer  of  Ford  County,  residing 
on  section  11,  Wall  Township,  is  a  native 
of  England,  born  in  Devonshire,  March  10, 
1832.  His  father,  John  Trigger,  was  born  and 
reared  in  the  same  part  of  England,  where  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming  and  garden- 
ing. He  there  wedded  Mary  Quick,  and  their 
children,  nine  in  numbw,  were  born  in  that  coun- 
try. The  family  sailed  from  Plymouth  to  (Quebec 
in  1851,  with  the  exception  of  one  brother,  wiio 
crossed  the  Atlantic  the  previous  year.  From 
Quebec  tlmy  went  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  to  Peoria, 
111.  After  a  residence  there  of  about  five  years, 
the  father  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven,  his  wife 
having  died  two  years  before,  when  about  seventy 
years  of  age.  Thej'  were  both  laid  to  rest  in  the 
cemetery  at  Jubilee,  Peoria  County.  Mr.  Trigger 
and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

Of  their  children,  John  was  the  eldest;  Mary 
died  in  Peoria  County;  Elizal)eth,  who  is  still 
living,  makes  her  home  in  London,  England; 
William  is  in  Peoria  Count}';  the  next,  a  son, 
died  in  England;  James  also  lives  in  Peoria 
County;  the  next  child  died  in  England  in  in- 
fancy; and  Richard,  our  subject,  completes  tiie 
famil}-. 

Mr.  Trigger,  of  this  sketch,  attended  the  free 
schools  of  his  ixativc  country  until  twelve  3'ears 
of  age,  after  which  he  worked  with  his  father,  and 
later  was  employed  in  carrying  the  mail  for  two 
j'ears  in  the  country.  When  he  came  to  America 
he  was  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  at  first 
worked  for  Bishop  Chase,  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
on  his  farm  near  Peoria.  After  three  years  spent 
in  this  way,  he  rented  a  farm,  whicii  he  culti- 
vated for  himself  for  the  period  of  three  j'ears, 
after  which  lie  removed  to  Stark  County.  He 
there  again  rented  land,  on  whicli  he  lived  for 
about  twelve  years,  and  then  came  to  Ford  County, 


792 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


settling  ou  his  present  farm  in  the  year  1869. 
He  purchased  one  luuuhed  and  sixty  acres  of 
raw  prairie  land,  which  was  entirely  unimproved. 
He  now  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
fine  land  on  section  11,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty  on  section  1,  of  the  same  township.  AVheu 
he  came  to  Peoria,  Mr.  Trigger  had  but  one  Eng- 
lisli  sovereign  and  a  few  shillings,  but  by  his  in- 
domitable will,  energy  and  enterprise,  he  has 
acquired  a  fine,  well-stocked  farm  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
community. 

In  the  s|)ring  of  1855,  our  subject  was  married 
in  Peoria  County  to  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Stoves, 
who  is  a  native  of  Durham  County,  England.  Her 
parents,  Jacob  and  Mary  Stoves,  were  born  in 
Durham  County,  her  father  about  the  year  1800. 
At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  eighty-four 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Stoves  is  still  living  and  is 
now  eighty  ycnvs  of  age,  and  hale  and  hearty. 
She  spends  the  winters  with  her  daughter,  return- 
ing in  the  spring  to  her  home  in  Stark  County, 
111.  None  of  the  family  to  which  Jacob  Stoves 
belonged  are  now  living  and  his  wife  is  the  onlj' 
surviving  member  of  her  family.  The  father  of 
Mrs.  Trigger  came  to  this  country  in  1849,  work- 
ing for  a  short  time  in  the  anthracite  coal  regions 
of  Pennsylvania  at  coal  mining.  He  then  changed 
his  place  of  residence  for  a  few  months,  living 
at  Kingston,  on  the  Illinois  River,  in  Peoria 
County.  He  tlieu  rejoined  his  family  in  Penn- 
sylvania, walking  the  entire  distance,  as  there 
were  no  means  of  conveyance  at  that  early  day, 
arriving  at  Pottsville  after  twenty-six  days.  Mr. 
Stoves  witnessed  the  starting  of  the  first  rail- 
road, and  remembered  well  the  first  trip  made 
over  the  road.  His  father  and  several  brothers 
were  engineers  at  the  great  coal  mines  in  Durham, 
England,  and  the  celebrated  George  Stephenson, 
the  inventor  of  the  railroad  locomotive,  took  his 
first  lessons  in  engineering  of  the  father,  and 
frequently  consulted  him  on  difficult  questions 
along  that  line.  Mrs.  Trigger  was  one  of  four 
children,  having  three  brothers,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infanc}-.  The  remaining  ones  reside  in  the 
State  of  Washington.  Mrs.  Trigger  crossed  the 
Atlantic  when  about  ten   }-ears  old.     It  is   rather 


a  coincidence  that  she  and  her  future  husband 
left  England  at  the  same  time,  though  by  differ- 
ent routes,  and  landed  in  America  after  a  voyage 
of  exactly  five  weeks,  he  landing  at  Quebec  and 
she  in  Philadelphia. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trigger  was  born  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased. 
Those  living  are:  Thomas,  who  is  still  on  the  farm 
at  home;  John,  who  owns  a  farm  in  AVall  Town- 
ship on  section  10,  married  Miss  Ellen  Dodd;  Mary 
Jane,  wife  of  William  Renshaw,  of  Sullivant 
Township;  Pha'be,  wife  of  Jacob  Giep,  an  .agri- 
culturist of  Kansas;  Jacob  S.,  living  in  Nebraska; 
Ellen,  Alice,  Mabel  and  Lewis  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof.  William  Henry,  twin  brother  of 
Phoebe,  died  in  childhood;  Elizabeth  died  in  1869, 
in  Ford  County;  James  died  when  a  child.  The  chil- 
dren all  received  good  educational  advantages  in 
the  public  schools  and  Phoebe  was  in  the  Normal 
School  two  years  at  Bloomington,  after  which  she 
taught  school  successfuUj'  for  one  ^ear. 

Mr.  Trigger  has  always  supported  the  Repub- 
lican party,  casting  his  first  ballot  for  Lincoln. 
That  he  is  a  friend  to  education,  and  that  he  is 
well  appreciated  by  his  neighbors  and  fellow- 
townsmen,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
elected  by  them  to  fill  numerous  positions  of 
trust  and  honor.  Among  those  we  may  name  that 
of  School  Director,  which  he  has  held  for  twenty 
years;  that  of  Assessor,  in  which  capacit}'  he 
served  three  years.  He  has  also  been  Townshiii 
Commissioner  of  Highways  for  a  period  of  twelve 
years.  Mr.  Trigger  is  recognized  by  all  as  a  good 
citizen  and  business  man  of  strict  integrity  and 
sterling  worth.  He  has  been  the  architect  of  iiis 
fortune  and  has  builded  wisely  and  well.  Those 
who  know  him,  and  his  acquaintances  are  many, 
liold  him  in  the  highest  regard,  and  it  is  with 
pleasure  that  we  present  this  sketch  of  his  life  to 
our  readers. 

ILLIAM  H.  GOODWIN  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  on 
section  30,  Button  Township.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Haw- 
kins County,  on  the  25th  of  October,    1849.     His 


W 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


793 


falher,  W.  R.  (iooilwin,  was  boiii  in  the  Keystone 
State  abont  1830,  and  in  liis  youth  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  was  afteiwaid  uniteil  in  marriage  to 
Elizabeth  Crawford,  a  native  of  that  State.  He 
then  engaged  in  farming  for  a  nnmlier  of  years, 
after  which  lie  emigrated  Westwani  in  1855,  loca- 
ting in  what  is  now  Button  Townshii),  Ford  County, 
upon  the  land  now  owned  and  occupied  by  our 
subject.  To  its  development,  for  it  was  then  an 
unbroken  tract,  he  devoted  his  energies  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Company  E,  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry, 
and  served  until  peace  was  restored.  lie  i)artici- 
pated  in  all  the  engagements  of  his  regiment,  includ- 
ing the  battles  of  Pea  Kidge,  Murfreesboro,  Stone 
River  and  Lookout  Mounbiin,  and  was  transferred 
from  tiie  infantry  to  the  cavalry,  serving  in  the 
latter  for  about  two  years.  While  he  was  in  the 
war,  his  wife  died,  on  the  •27th  of  April,  1862.  On 
his  return,  he  resumed  farming  on  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  resided  until  1880.  He  w.as  again 
married,  in  1870,  and  with  his  wife  is  living  in  Re- 
public County,  Kan. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  six  sons 
and  two  daughters,  who  grew  to  mature  years. 
After  the  death  of  his  mother,  our  subject  resided 
with  Martin  Dudlej^  for  three  years,  and  then 
worked  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  for  about 
two  years.  On  his  father's  second  marri.age,  he  re 
turned  home,  and  for  two  j'ears  aided  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  old  homestead  farm.  On  the  8th  of 
Deceml)er,  1872,  in  Button  Townshi(),  he  led  to  the 
marriage  altar  Miss  Ella  .1.  Flagg,  daughter  of 
James  H.  Flagg,  of  Clarence,  and  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  this  county,  where  the  lady  was 
born,  reared  and  educated.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  a  family  of  five  childen:  Delbert  II., 
.Tames  M.,  May  and  Fay  (twins),  and  Grace. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Goodwin  purcha.sed  a 
farm  in  Champaign  County,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  .agricultural  pursuits  for  about  seven  years.  In 
1881,  he  purchased  the  old  homestead,  and  it  has 
since  been  his  place  of  residence.  His  farm,  compris- 
ing one  liundred  and  thirty  acres  of  valuable  land, 
is  pleasantly'  situated  about  four  miles  south  of  Clar- 
ence. He  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  enterprising, and 
successful  farmers  of  Button  Township,  and  is  also 


considered  one  of  the  valued  citizens  of  the  com- 
munit}'.  He  has  led  an  honorable  .and  upright  life, so 
that  he  has  won  the  confidence  and  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact.  His  estimable  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  JMethodist  Church.  Although 
not  a  member,  Mr.  Goodwin  is  a  man  of  strong 
moral  character,  and  gives  liberally  to  the  support 
of  the  church  and  charitable  and  benevolent  inter- 
ests. 


RS.  MARY  ANN  UNDERWOOD.  The 
ladies  of  our  land  play  an  important  [lart 
•in  the  history  of  our  nation,  and  in  the  an- 
nals of  Ford  County  we  are  glad  to  add 
the  sketches  of  some  of  the  sterling  old  settlers, 
and  especially  that  of  ^Irs.  Underwood,  who  resides 
on  section  26,  Peach  Orcliard  Township.  She  is  a 
native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  was  born  No- 
vember 18,  1827,  being  the  sixth  in  a  family  of 
eleven  children,  numbering  two  sons  and  nine 
daughters.  Tlie  parents  were  William  and  Sarah 
(Taylor)  Chappell.  Thi-ee  of  the  family-  are  now 
living,  as  follows:  Catherine,  wife  of  Daniel  Booth, 
an  agriculturist  of  Cook  County,  111.;  Mrs.  Under- 
wood; and  William  Chappell,  who  is  married  and 
follows  farming  in  Cook  County.  The  father  of 
this  family  was  ,a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  became  a 
railroad  contractor.  The  mother  was  also  a  native 
of  Yorkshire  and  was  similarly  educated.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Chappell  were  members  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. About  ]84!l,  they  emigrated  to  America, 
locating  in  Cook  County,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  They  were  grand  old 
people  and  were  highly  respected  by  all. 

ISIrs.  Underwood  was  reared  in  her  native  land 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  She  is  a 
lady  of  a  kind  and  geni.al  manner,  and  is  a  true 
friend  to  all.  She  became  the  wife  of  William 
Underwood,  Maj-  1,  1844,  in  Staffordshire,  England, 
and  by  this  union  were  born  eleven  children,  four 
sons  and  seven  daughters,  of  whom  ten  are  yet 
living:  William  is  married  and  follows  farming  in 
Dix  Township;  Robert  is  married,  and  is  also  a 
farmer   of  Dix  Township;  Thomas  is  married,  and 


794 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


makes  his  home  in  Peach  Orchard  Townsliip;  John 
resides  on  the  old  homestead;  Rosa  is  the  wife  of 
James  Campbell,  a  resident  of  Bellflower,  111.,  and 
an  employe  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad;  Emma 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Shilz,  a  farmer;  Johanna, 
Mary  A.,  Elizabeth  and  Agnes  are  at  home  with 
their  mother.  The  children  were  provided  with 
good  educational  advantages. 

Mr.  Underwood  was  l)orn  in  Northamptonsliire, 
England,  May  1,  1.S14,  and  was  the  third  in  a  large 
family  of  children.  AVlien  he  was  seven  years  of 
age,  his  mother  died,  and  after  a  few  years  he  was 
apprenticed  to  learn  the  boot  and  shoe  maker's 
trade.  However,  he  left  his  place  and  went  to  live 
with  a  family  by  the  name  of  Cooke.  He  remained 
with  tliem  nnlil  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  learned  the  collier's  trade.  He  was 
a  poor  boy  and  had  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  "When  he  commenced  life  for  himself,  he 
was  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  but  worked  his 
way  up  to  success.  He  left  to  his  familj'  a  fine 
farm. 

In  1848,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Underwood  concluded  to 
come  to  America,  and  set  sail  from  Liverpool  on 
the  sailing  vessel  "Liberty,"  bound  for  New  York 
City.  It  was  seven  weeks  and  three  da^'s  after 
leaving  port  before  they  sighted  land.  They  went 
direct  to  Chicago,  and  thence  to  Jefferson,  where 
they  remained  for  about  three  years,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Missouri.  A  short  time  afterward,  they 
returned  to  Cook  County  and  purchased  forty  acres 
of  land.  Three  years  later,  this  was  sold  and  they 
became  residents  of  La  Salle  County,  111.,  where 
Mr.  Underwood  engaged  in  farming  until  his  re- 
moval to  Ford  County,  in  1866.  They  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  this  locality  and  saw  the 
county  in  its  infancy,  when  the  undulating  prairies 
were  covered  with  the  long  prairie  grass  and  wild 
flowers.  Wild  game  was  plentiful.  Gibson,  Mel- 
vin,  Roberts,  Elliott  and  Sibley  were  then  un- 
known. There  were  no  churches  or  schoolhouses, 
and  Chatsworth  and  Loda  were  the  nearest  mar- 
kets at  that  ti  me.  Mrs.  Underwood  can  well  re- 
member the  hardships  of  the  early  pioneers  in  this 
then  new  count}'. 

Mr.  Underwood  was  a  stalwart  Democrat,  but 
not  an  oflice-seeker.     He  was  a  man   of  his   word 


and  had  the  respect  of  liis  many  friends.  Himself 
and  wife  were  adherents  of  the  Methodist  faith. 
Mr.  Underwood  was  taken  sick  in  December,  1889, 
and  after  a  short  illness  departed  this  life  on  the 
•26th  of  that  month.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
Melvin  Cemetery,  where  a  beautiful  monument 
stands  at  his  head  sacred  to  his  memory.  The 
father's  jilace  in  the  family  circle  can  never  be 
filled  and  his  teachings  and  admonitions  can  never 
be  forgotten. 

Mrs.  Underwood  and  some  of  her  children  reside 
on  the  old  homestead,  which  comprises  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  highly  improved  land.  The 
familj'  is  well  known  in  Ford  County,  and  this 
sketch  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Underwood  will  be  lead  by 
many  of  the  best  citizens  of  Ford  County  and  be 
cherished  and  held  sacred  by  their  loving  children 
when  father  and  mother  are  sweetly  sleeping  be- 
neath the  sod. 


^ipOHN  W.  DICKEY,  veterinary  surgeon  of 
Gibson  City,  and  a  well-known  resident  of 
that  place,  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native 
of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Clark  County, 
on  the  24th  of  September,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  A. 
C.  and  Emily  (Leese)  Dickey,  who  were  natives  of 
Tennessee  and  Penns}lvania,  respectively.  In 
early  life  they  removed  to  Clark  County,  111., 
where  their  marriage  was  celebrated.  In  1861, 
they  became  residents  of  Douglas  County,  111.,  and 
Mr.  Dickey  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  farmers 
in  that  county.  He  still  lives  in  Douglas  County, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  In  his  political 
affiliations  he  is  a  Democrat.  His  wife  died  in  Oc- 
tober, 1889.  In  their  family  were  three  children: 
William,  a  farmer  of  Douglas  County;  John  W., 
of  this  sketch,  and  Mattie  the  only  daughter. 

Dr.  Dickey  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  coramou  schools  and  in  the  .Seminary 
in  Charleston,  111.,  where  he  spent  one  year.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-five,  he  began  the  studj'  of  his 
profession  with  George  Morgan,  D.  V.  S.,  a  gr.adu- 
uate  of  the  school  in  Toronto,  Canada.  With  him 
he  remained  one  year,  and  then  studied  three  years 


.^■jf,!^^^l^^%'.j^- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


797 


with  C.  U.  Wright,  D.  V.  S.  From  boyliood  he  had 
a  special  liking  and  aptitude  for  veterinary  prac- 
tice, and  his  aid  was  often  called  for  before  he 
took  up  the  work  as  a  profession.  The  Doctor 
first  established  himself  in  business  in  Tuscola,  111., 
where  he  ran  a  livery  stable  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession. In  August.  1887,  lie  came  to  Gibson  City, 
and  has  chiefly  devoted  himself  to  veterinary  sur- 
gery since  that  time,  although  he  is  also  interested 
in  the  breeding  of  Percheron  horses,  and  owns  an 
interest  in  two  fine  imported  animals. 

In  Tuscola,  111.,  on  the  15tli  of  September,  1874, 
Dr.  Dickey  was  united  in  ruarriage  with  Miss  Jen- 
nie C.  Lewis,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  a  daughter 
of  J.  T.  Lewis.  By  their  union  have  been  born  two 
children:  Willie  and  Oltie. 

Jlrs.  Dickey  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  is  a  most  estimable  lady.  In  his 
social  relations,  the  Doctor  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  and 
in  politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  Democratic  princi- 
ples. He  possesses  natural  ability  in  the  line  of 
his  profession,  concerning  which  he  is  thoroughly 
informed,  and  has  thereby  won  a  liberal  patronage 
and  secured  the  confidence  and  good-will  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


So' 


JONATHAN  B.  LOTT,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  February  14,  1839, 
and  when  eight  years  of  age  came  with  his 
,^^_^  parents  to  McLean  County,  111.,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm.  He  was  a  school- 
mate of  Gov.  Fifer,  and  when  the  war  broke  out 
enlisted  on  the  same  day,  in  Companj'  C,  Thirty- 
third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  with  the  regiment 
for  over  three  jears.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1864, 
he  veteranized  and  served  until  discharged  at  New 
Orleans,  June  15,  1865.  He  was  twice  wounded; 
once  a  ball  cutting  across  the  top  of  his  head  in- 
flicted a  scalp  wound,  and  ere  that  w.as  healed, 
contrary  to  the  orders  of  the  surgeon,  ho  ran  away 
from  the  hospital  and  joined  his  regiment.  A 
few  days  later  he  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm, 
which  partially  disabled  it  for  life.  When  Joe 
Fifer  was  wounded  and  the  doctor  said  only    ice 


would  save  his  life,  Mr.  Lott  volunteered  to'make 
the  attempt  to  procure  it,  which,  though  very 
hazardous,  was  successful.  Gov.  Fifer  has  often 
spoken  of  Mr.  Lott  as  the  one  who  saved  his  life. 
Mr.  Lott  was  a  brave  soldier,  ever  found  at  his 
post  of  duty,  and  when  discharged,  held  the  posi- 
tion of  Sergeant. 

After  returning  from  the  war,  Mr.  Lott  attended 
the  Wesleyan  College,  of  Bloomingtou,  111.,  and  in 
that  city  he  was  married,  on  the  1st  of  January, 
1867,  to  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  James  and  ]\Iary 
E.  (Stevenson)  Gibson.  Mr.  Gibson  was  born  in 
South  Carolina,  being  of  Swiss  and  Irish  extrac- 
tion, and  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  went  to 
Greene  Countj^,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Miss  Stev- 
enson, who  was  a  native  of  that  county.  He  died 
in  Greene  County  in  1849,  but  his  wife,  who  after- 
ward married  again  and  emigrated  to  Indianapolis, 
survived  until  1891.  Of  the  first  marriage  were 
two  children:  Margaret  A.,  and  Martha  R.,  now 
the  wife  of  Bruce  McCormsick.  She  came  to  PJoom- 
ington,  111.,  in  1865,  where  she  was  joined  by  her 
sister  the  next  year.  Having  married  Mr.  Lott, 
she  came  with  him  to  Gibson  City  in  1869,  and 
was  soon  after  joined  by  her  sister. 

The  shanty,  12x14  feet  in  dimensions,  built  by 
Mr.  Lott  was  the  first  building  to  mark  the  site  of 
what  is  now  Giljson  City,  but  before  winter  was 
over  he  had  a  good  frame  house  erected.  He  laid 
out  the  town  in  1871,  and  named  it  Gibson,  in 
honor  of  his  wife's  maiden  name.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  postoffice  there,  but  as  it 
was  so  much  like  Gilson,  another  town  in  the 
State,  the  olHcc  was  changed  to  Gibson  City.  He 
was  the  prime  mover  in  securing  the  railroad  for 
Gibson,  and  in  every  pulilic  enterprise  took  an 
active  interest. 

Mr.  Lott  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  not 
an  office-seeker.  He  was  very  popular,  much  be- 
loved, and  always  in  symi)atlietic  touch  with  the 
poor.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  died  in  that  faith  on  the  18th  of  September, 
1879.  In  honor  of  him,  the  Grand  Army  Post  of 
Gibson  Cit}'  was  named  Lott  Post,  No.  70.  He 
left  no  family  save  his  wife,  who  is  now  Mrs.  O.  H. 
Damon,  and  is  the  oldest  living  settler  of  Gibson; 
In  everything  that  would  belter  .society,  he  took  a 


798 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


deep  intci-est,  and  was  very  liberal  with  his  means. 
After  (Tibson  City  was  laid  out,  he  gave  his  atten- 
tion to  the  real-estate  business,  accumulating  good 
property.  He  deserves  great  credit,  as  he  was  a 
self-made  man,  and  one  of  whom  any  community 
might  be  proud. 


♦SH*= 


y 


'ill  OH  N  MATTHIAS  MINER,  residing  on 
the  northwest  section  of  Dix  Township,  is 
the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
and  is  not  only  an  honored  pioneer,  but  a 
highly  respected  citizen  of  the  communit}\  He 
has  aided  in  the  ui)l)iiilding  and  development  of 
town  and  count}^,  and  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  this  volume.  lie  was  born  in  Byron,  Ger- 
man}', Marcli  18,  1838.  His  parents,  John  and 
Barbara  Miner,  were  married  in  1836,  and  reared 
a  family  of  six  children,  as  follows:  John  M.,  of 
this  sketch;  Peter  J.,  who  is  a  carpenter  of  Franklin 
County,  Ohio;  Barbara,  wife  of  Andrew  Sandle- 
bach,  a  resident  of  Columbus,  Oiiio,  and  a  veteran 
of  the  late  war;  Joseph,  now  deceased;  Michael,  a 
teamster  of  Columlms,  Ohio;  and  Lizzie,  wife  of 
Christopher  Schuler.  The  father,  John  Miner,  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  In  August,  1840,  accom- 
panied by  his  family,  he  sailed  for  America,  land- 
ing in  New  York  City  on  the  1st  of  September. 
There  the  family  remained  for  three  months,  while 
the  father  was  looking  for  a  suitable  location. 
Not  satisfied  with  what  they  saw  in  the  East,  they 
wended  their  way  Westward  to  Franklin  County, 
Ohio,  where  Mr.  Miner  resided  until  liis  death, 
wliich  occurred  March  17,1885.  His  wife  is  still  liv- 
ing and  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  He  led  a  busy 
and  useful  life.  The  poor  and  needy  found  in  him 
a  friend,  and  his  benevolence  won  him  the  high 
regard  of  all.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and 
a  member  of  the  German  Catholic  Church,  while  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  German  Lutheran  Church.  His 
remains  were  interred  in  Green  Lawn  Cemeter}',  in 
Columbus,  Ohio,  where  a  beautiful  monument 
marks  his  last  resting  place. 

Our  subject  began  his  education  in  the  Sectarian 


schools  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  which  he  attended  un- 
til twelve  years  of  age.  He  next  engaged  in  driv- 
ing stock  from  Columbus  to  Champaign  County, 
111.,  for  M.  Ij.  Sullivant,  the  king  of  farmers,  mak- 
ing sixteen  successive  trips  overland.  In  ISGl,  he 
became  foreman  of  the  Sullivant  stock  farm,  serv- 
ing as  such  until  the  fall  of  1875.  In  the  mean- 
time, he  delivered  stock  to  the  headquarters  of  the 
Union  army,  and  for  three  months  was  wagon  mas- 
ter at  Camp  Chase. 

Mr.  Miner  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  wife 
was  Miss  Rosa  Mabes,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Mabes.  She  was  a  native  of  Indiana.  One  child 
was  born  of  this  union,  Rosa,  now  the  wife  of  John 
L.  Hale,  a  farmer  of  Peach  Orchard  Township. 
Mrs.  Miner  died  December  3,  1863,  and  Sejitember 
28,  1867,  Mr.  Miner  married  Miss  Julia  South- 
worth,  who  was  born  in  Birmingham,  Erie  County, 
Ohio,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Anna 
(Acres)  Southwoitli.  The  parents  were  natives  of 
Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania,  respectively,  and 
were  of  English  extraction.  Bj'  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  ISIiner  were  born  the  following  children: 
Addie  L.,  Harry  M.,  John  W.,  Florence  A.,  Julia  F., 
Maj-  E.,  Clara  E.  (deceased),  Allen  G.,  Bessie  L. 
and  Leslie  E. 

Mr.  Miner  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  land 
in  Dix  Township,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  all  virgin 
land.  In  1875,  he  added  to  the  original  purchase 
one  iiundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Dix  Township, 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Sullivant  Township 
in  1890,  and  now  has  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  well  improved  land,  all  in  Dix  and  Sulli- 
vant Townships.  He  is  a  practical  and  progressive 
farmer,  and  deserves  great  credit  for  his  success, 
which  is  due  entirel}'  to  his  own  efforts.  He  and 
his  wife  are  identified  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  of  Gibson,  111.,  and  Mr.  Miner  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  He  is  a  pub- 
lic-spirited and  progressive  citizen,  who  has  ever 
borne  his  part  in  the  upbuilding  and  development 
of  town  and  county,  and  aided  in  the  promotion 
of  its  leading  enterprises. 

Mr.  Miner  has  been  identified  with  the  public 
school  system  of  his  county  as  an  active  Director 
or  School  Trustee  ever  since  18C1,  over  one-quarter 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


799 


of  a  century,  which  record  has  no  parallel  in  Dix 
Township.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Sulli- 
vant  Township  for  eight  years,  and  received  his 
commissions  from  Gov.  Oglesby  and  Gov.  Bever- 
idge.  He  was  Assessor  and  Collector  of  SiiUivant 
Township  for  seven  years.  He  has  served  as  dele- 
gate to  his  county-  conventions  several  times,  so  it 
will  be  seen  that  he  truly  has  been  a  valuable  and 
honorable  citizen  of  Ford  Count}'. 

Mr.  Miner  is  a  charter  memlier  of  Lodge  No.  358, 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  at  Gutlu-ie,  111.,  and  a  member  of  Broth- 
er's Encampment  No.  158,  and  of  Canton  Ford  No. 
55,  of  Gibson,  111.  He  is  an  officer  in  all  of  these 
orders.  Mrs.  Miner,  the  present  wife  of  our  subject, 
is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  her  girlhood  d.ays  were  spent 
in  Cliampaign  County,  111.  She  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Michigan,  Illinois  and  Ohio,  and 
was  one  of  the  successful  teachers  in  Douglas 
County,  111.,  for  some  time.  She  has  been  a  valuable 
helpmate  of  her  husband  many  years,  and  the  Miner 
iiousehold  is  known  far  and  wide  for  its  hospitality. 
Addie  L.,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miner, 
is  the  wife  of  Campbell  G.  Brothcrton,  a  dealer  in 
grain,  in  Guthrie,  111.  They  have  two  children,  both 
sous,  Roy  E.  and  Floyd  W.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brotiier- 
ton  are  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Gibson,  111.  Mr.  Brothcrton  is  a  Democrat,  in 
politics. 


4^ 


'fl^.HILIP  EPPELSHEIMER,  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Wall  Township  residing  on  sec- 
tion 3,  is  of  German  birth.  He  was  born 
on  the  29th  of  December,  1845,  in  Hesse 
Darmstadt,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip  Eppelsheimer, 
Sr.,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  same  locality. 
He  is  now  seventy-three  years  of  age  and  resides 
with  our  subject.  B}-  trade,  he  was  a  carpenter 
and  cabinet-maker  and  also  engaged  in  farming. 
In  his  native  land,  he  served  as  an  Artilleryman 
for  three  years.  He  married  Margaretta  Stieb,  also 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  is  still  living  with  her 
son.  In  the  family  are  six  children  and  two  died 
in  German}-.  Those  living  are,  Philip,  of  this 
sketch;  J.acob,  a  resident  of  Oilman,  111.;  George, 


who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Wall  Township; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Joe  Adams  Weston,  of  McLean 
Countv;  Catherine,  wife  of  Levi  Pfat,a  resident  of 
Fairbury,  III.,  and  Lewis,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
agricultural  implement  business  in  Oilman,  111. 
The  family  came  to  America  in  1867,  sailing  from 
Hamburg  and  reaching  New  York  nine  daj'S  later. 
P'rom  thence  the}-  went  to  Ottawa,  111.,  and  after- 
ward came  to  Ford  County,  where  the  father  rented 
a  farm.  He  purchased  land  in  1871,  on  section  4, 
Wall  Townsliip,  where  his  son  now  resides,  and 
where  he  is  living  a  retired  life.  In  his  political 
affiliations,  he  is  a  Republican  and  himself  and 
family  are  all  members  of  the  Evangelical  Protest- 
ant Church. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  under 
the  parental  roof  and  in  his  native  land  learned 
the  cabinet-maker's  trade  and  followed  farming. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  entered  the  Army, 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  Third  Infantry  for  six- 
teen months,  and  participating  in  the  war  with 
Austria.  In  the  battle  of  Hessbach,  he  was 
wounded  by  a  gun-shot  in  the  arm  and  was  cap- 
tured and  lield  a  prisoner  for  a  week,  but  was  re- 
leased through  the  intercession  of  the  Princess  of 
Prussia.  When  a  }'0ung  man  of  twenty-two  years, 
he  bade  good-bye  to  his  old  home  and  sailed  for 
America.  He  worked  for  his  father  for  seven  years 
and  then  purchased  land — an  eighty-acre  tract  on 
section  3,  Wall  Township,  where  he  still  resides. 
His  landed  possessions  now  aggregate  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  all  of  which  are  under  a  high  state 
of  cultiv.ation  and  well  supplied  with  good  build- 
ings and  the  modern  improvements  and  accessories 
which  go  to  make  up  a  model  farm  of  the  nine- 
teenth century.  He  engages  in  general  farming 
and  stock-raising  and  is  an  energetic  and  straight- 
forward business  man  who  has  the  confidence  of 
all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 

Mrs.  Eppelsheimer  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Margaretta  Walldorf.  She  was  born  in  the  same 
village  as  her  husband  and  came  to  this  country 
seven  years  later.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated 
in  Ford  County,  January  28,  1874.  They  have 
no  children  of  their  own  but  have  adopted  two, 
children  of  the  lady's  sister.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Eppelsheimer  has  been  a  stalwart  Republican  since 


800 


J^ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  U.  S. 
Grant  in  1872.  lie  has  filled  the  office  of  School 
Director  for  fifteen  years  and  was  Road  Supervisor 
for  five  years,  his  long*eon tinned  service  showing 
that  liis  duties  were  faithfully  discharged  and  in  a 
prompt  and  efficient  manner.  lie  is  recognized  as 
a  successful  farmer,  as  well  as  one  of  tlie  leading 
citizens  of  Wall  Township. 


A^^  EORGE  W.  PRESTON,  an  honored  veteran 
i[  ( — ,  of  the  late  war,  who  now  owns  and  operates 
^>^i;=^  a  good  farm  on  section  8,  Dix  Township, 
claims  Ohio  as  tlie  State  of  his  nativity.  He  was 
born  near  Newark,  on  the  10th  of  November,  1839, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Harding)  Pres- 
ton. The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
w.as  of  English  descent,  while  the  mother's  family- 
was  of  German  lineage.  The  f.ather's  death  occurred 
in  Ma}',  18G6.  Mrs.  Preston  is  still  living,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy-seven  years.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  eleven  children,  as  follows:  Mary,  wife  of 
George  W.  Sandford,  .Judge  of  the  County  Court, 
and  a  resident  of  Morgan  County,  Mo.;  George,  of 
this  sketch;  Martha  .T.,  now  deceased;  William  N., 
a  miller  l)y  trade,  residing  near  Bloomfield,  Mo.; 
Calista  A.,  wife  of  Napoleon  Wright,  a  farmer  re- 
siding in  Gibson  City;  Sarah  E.  and  Aleatha,  both 
of  whom  are  now  deceased;  Samuel  IL,  a  farmer  re- 
siding in  Dis  Township;  .Jacob,  a  dealer  in  farm 
implements  and  .Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Gibson  City; 
Henry  T.,  a  horse-dealer  of  Gibson  City;  and  Wal- 
ter W.,  the  youngest,  is  deceased. 

Our  subject  s])ent  the  da3'S  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  iiis  fatlier's  farm,  and  in  the  winter 
season  attended  the  district  schools  until  about 
twenty'  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he 
left  liome  and  began  working  upon  a  farm  by  the 
month,  but  when  the  war  broke  out  enlisted  in 
1861.  He  became  a  member  of  Companj'  C,  Sev- 
enty-sixth Ohio  Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Newark.  The  first  engagement  in  which 
he  participated  was  at  Ft.  Donelson.  He  after- 
ward met  the    eneni}-  at    the  battles    of   Pittsburg 


Landing,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Arkansas  Post,  .Jackson, 
Miss.,  Black  River,  Canton,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Mission  Ridge  and  Ringgold,  where  he  was 
wounded,  a  minie  ball  entering  his  left  thigh,  an- 
other his  riglit  leg,  while  the  third  entered  the 
lower  part  of  liis  neck  and  came  out  under  the  left 
shoulder-blade.  He  was  also  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg  for  forty-seven  d.ays.  After  being  wounded, 
he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability,  and  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Ohio. 

When  he  liad  partially  recovered  his  health,  Mr. 
Preston  began  working  as  a  farm  liand  by  the 
month.  December  8,  1864,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
liage  with  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Simon  and 
Hannah  (Marple)  Haas.  They  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  have  an  adopted  son,  William  C. 

Mrs.  Preston's  girlhood  d.ays  were  spent  in 
Licking  Count}',  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  Febru- 
ary 12,  1840.  She  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  She  had  three  brothers  and  three  sisters: 
Ezra  Haas,  who  is  a  resident  of  Wabash  County, 
Ind.,  is  a  commercial  man  and  is  married;  Harriet 
is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Lamson,  a  resident  of  Utica, 
Ohio,  and  a  farmer;  Mrs.  Preston  is  next  in  order 
of  birth;  the  next  was  an  infant  who  died;  Fi-ank, 
a  resident  of  Newark,  Oliio,  is  a  merchant  and  is 
married;  Charlotte  M.  is  the  wife  of  Wilson 
Wright,  a  furniture  dealer  and  undertaker,  of 
Rushs^'lvania,  Ohio.  Slie  is  the  joungest.  Neither 
of  Mrs.  Preston's  parents  are  living.  Siie  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  E|)iscopal  Church  of 
Gibson  and  a  cliarter  member  of  tiie  Woman's 
Relief  Corps  of  the  same  place.  She  has  been  a 
valuable  helpmate  to  her  husband  and  has  traveled 
the  path  of  life  liand  in  hand  with  him  for  over  a 
quarter  of   a   century. 

Mr.  Preston  has  been  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  for  nine  years,  which  shows  that  he  is  a  de- 
voted friend  of  the  public  schools,  that  bulwark  of 
the  Nation.  Mr.  Preston  cast  liis  first  Presidential 
vote  for  the  Martyr  President,  Abraliam  Lincoln, 
and  has  ever  since  been  true  to  the  principles  of 
Republicanism. 

The  adopted  son,  AVilliam  C,  was  taken  into 
the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Preston  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  months  and  found  there  true  and  loving 
friends  whose  kind  and  patient  care  lias  provided 


^ 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


803 


him  a  comfortable  and  liapp}'  home  and  given  him 
a  good,  practical  education.  He  will  probably 
pass  his  life  as  an  agriculturist. 

Mr.  Preston  continued  to  reside  in  the  State  of 
his  nativitj^  until  1868,  when  he  came  with  his 
wife  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  McLean  County, 
near  Blooinington.  He  was  there  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  seven  years,  and  in  1875  came  to  Ford 
County,  since  which  time  he  has  resided  upon  his 
present  farm  on  section.  8,  Dix  Townslnp.  He 
there  has  a  pleasant  home  and  a  good  property. 
His  fellow-townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability,  have  frequentlj'  called  upon  him  to  serve 
in  public  positions  of  trust.  He  filled  the  office  of 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  four  3'ears,  was  Tax  Col- 
lector for  one  year  and  at  this  writing  (in  the 
summer  of  1892)  is  serving  as  Township  Trustee. 
In  his  social  relations,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  Post  of  Gibson  City.  He  was  a  loyal  soldier 
during  the  late  war,  and  has  been  alike  true  to 
every  trust  reposed  in  him. 


^^  RAIG  GILMORE,  one  of  the  extensive 
(l(  „  land-owners  and  a  well-known  farmer  of 
^^^  Drummer  Township,  makes  his  home  on 
section  26.  As  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
throughout  the  community,  we  feel  assured  that 
this  sketch  of  his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many 
of  our  readers.  He  was  born  in  Harrison  County, 
Ohio,  January  7,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathaniel 
and  Mary  (Craig)  Gilmore.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Samuel  Gilmore,  was  born  in  County  Cavan, 
Ireland,  and  when  a  lad  came  to  America,  fir.st  lo- 
cating in  Penns^^lvania,  from  which  State  he  emi- 
grated to  Ohio  in  180.3.  He  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Buchanan,  a  distant  relative  of  President 
Buchanan  and  thej'  reared  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  During  the 
War  of  1812,  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his 
adopted  country-,  and  while  in  the  service  he  was 
taken  sick  near  Lake  Michigan,  and  was  carried  to 
his  home  on  a  bed  borne  by  ten  of  his  comrades, 
dying  four  days   later,  September  6,  1814. 

Nathaniel  Gilmore  was  born  in  1803,  and  in  the 


usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Harrison  County,  Ohio.  In  November, 
1828,  he  wedded  Mary  Craig,  and  they  remained 
in  that  county  until  1847,  when  they  went  to  Bel- 
mont County,  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1852  re- 
moved to  McLean  County,  111.,  where  the  death  of 
the  father  occurred  in  November,  1855.  The  mo- 
ther became  a  resident  of  Champaign  Countj%  III., 
in  1881,  and  on  the  21st  of  December,  1884,  was 
called  to  her  final  rest.  They  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children.  The  parents  were  adherents  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  Church  and  were  promi- 
nent and  highly  respected  people.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Gilmore  was  a  Democrat. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Ohio  and  Illinois,  and  under  the  par- 
ental roof  remained  until  1869,  when  he  came  to 
Ford  County,  since  which  time  he  has  resided  on 
the  farm  which  is  yet  his  home.  On  the  25th  of 
March  of  that  year,  he  led  to  the  marriage  altar 
Miss  Ruth  E.  Riciie}-,  who  was  born  on  the  30th  of 
January,  1837,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  M.  and 
Ann  (Gilmore)  Richey,  both  of  whom  were  of  Irish 
extraction.  John  M.  Riche}'  is  a  native  of  Harri- 
son Count}',  Ohio,  born  November  2,  1808.  He 
was  reared  as  a  farmer  and  acquired  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county.  Mrs. 
Richey  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  County,  Ohio, 
born  April  16,  1817,  and  died  in  1880.  Their 
family  consisted  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  Ruth  E.,  now  Mrs.  Gilmore;  Eliza 
Jane,  wife  of  Samuel  McFadden;  Arabella,  wife  of 
James  McFadden ;  Thomas,  a  farmer  of  Cadiz,  Ohio; 
Robert  G.,  residing  in  Marj'ville,  Mo.;  Samuel,  in 
Harrison  Count}-,  Ohio;  Mattie,  wife  of  Charles 
Osborne.  Mr.  Richey,  now  almost  eighty-four 
years  of  age,  while  this  sketch  is  being  prepared  is 
a  visitor  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Gil- 
more. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilmore  has  been 
blessed  with  a  family  of  five  children,  three  sons 
and  two  daughters:  PxUvin  S.,  John  R.,  Annie  M., 
Ida  B.  and  Craig  M.  Mrs.  Gilmore  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Gilmore  has  been 
one  of  the  influential  men  in  the  ei'ection  of  the 
beautiful  church  edifice  in  Gibson,  111.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Gilmore  is  a  Democrat  and  has  held  the  offices 


804 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


of  School  and  Township  Treasurer  for  fifteen  years, 
his  long  continued  service  attesting  his  faithful 
performance  of  duty.  He  is  a  large  landowuei', 
and  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  sagacious  and 
far-sighted,  and  ithasljeen  principally  through  his 
own  efforts  that  he  has  won  his  excellent  success. 
He  is  one  of  those  oi)en-liearted  and  generous  men, 
who  is  well  liked  and  respected  b}'  his  many 
friends. 


jf?  EWIS  E.  BKESSIE.  Among  the  well-known 
I  (^  business  men  of  Roberts,  111.,  none  are 
/JL^i  more  worthj'  of  representation  in  this 
volume  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  Mr.  Bressie  is  a  native  of  Washington 
County,  Ind.,  was  born  April  17,  184.5,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  F.  and  Ann  (Finger)  Bressie.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  reared  in 
that  State  and  North  Carolina  until  the  age  of 
twenty-two  years.  He  learned  the  trade  of  a  boat- 
carpenter,  but  spent  the  most  of  his  life  as  an  agri- 
culturist. He  was  born  March  8,  1808,  and  was 
educated  in  the  coniinon  schools.  He  died  July  9, 
1880,  in  Washington  Countj-,  Ind.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  March 
15,  1815,  was  reared  in  Indiana,  and  died  August 
12,  1884.  Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Bressie,  our  subject,  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  Washington  Count}',  Ind.,  and  his  education 
was  acquired  in  the  common  schools.  He  was 
reared  as  an  agriculturist  until  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years.  He  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Civil 
War,  enlisting  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Seventeenth  Indiana  Infantry,  in  April,  1863,  un- 
der Capt.  Stephen  B.  Sales,  who  afterward  com- 
manded the  regiment.  Mr.  Bressie  was  engaged 
in  guard  duty  at  Indiauaiiolis,  from  there  went  to 
Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  and  then  marched  through  to 
Greenville.  Tenn.,  to  meet  Gen.  Johnson,  the  noted 
Rebel  commander.  He  thence  returned  to  Bulls 
Gap,  afterward  went  to  Cumberland  Gap,  and  later 
to  near  Knoxville  to  do  guard  duty  during  the 
siege.     Their  object  was  to  keep  Gen.   Longstreet 


from  entering  Kentucky.  This  was  the  army  life 
and  record  of  Mr.  Bressie  until  his  term  expired. 
From  Strawberry  Plains,  the  brigade  went  to 
Bean's  Station,  and  here  the  regiment  was  sur- 
rounded by  the  Rebels.  In  the  skirmish,  seven  of 
Mr.  Bressie's  company  and  twenty-three  of  the 
regiment  were  captured.  On  tlie  5th  of  December, 
1863,  the  regiment  again  met  Gen.  Longstreet's 
army  near  Blaine's  Cross  Roads  in  Tennessee. 
The}'  were  held  in  check  until  Christmas  Day,  then 
returned  to  Strawberry  Plains  to  guard  Knoxville 
in  keeping  Longstreet's  army  back;  here  they 
remained  until  the  cold  New  Year's  Day  so  well 
remembered  b}'  the  soldiers,  thence  went  to  Cum- 
berland Gap,  where  two-thirds  of  the  regiment 
were  bare-footed  and  without  overcoats.  All  Mr. 
Bressie  had  on  his  feet  that  cold  day  during  the 
march  of  twent3'-three  miles  was  a  pair  of  soles 
fastened  with  thongs  of  hide,  and  two-thirds  of 
the  regiment  were  in  the  same  condition.  He  le- 
enlisted,  January  25,  1865,  in  Company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Forty-fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  for 
one  year.  The  regiment  was  sent  from  Indian- 
apolis to  Harper's  Ferry  and  there  his  division,  un- 
der Gen.  Hancock,  was  ordered  to  Winchester, 
where  they  remained  until  tiie  close  of  the  war, 
when  our  subject  was  honorably  discharged,  Aug- 
ust 12,  1865,  near  Winchester. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1866,  Mr.  Bressie  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Ann  Supplee,  daughter  of  Edward 
and  Rebecca  (Griffiths)  Supplee.  Thej-  were  mar- 
ried near  Salem,  Ind.,  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Bressie's 
parents,  and  by  their  union  have  been  born  three 
children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter:  Albert  J.,  who 
wedded  Miss  May  Moore,  is  an  engineer  on  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad.  Charles  E.,  who  engaged 
with  the  same  company,  has  been  faithful  to  his 
duties  and  is  a  trusted  employe.  He  wedded  Miss 
.Jennie  Hawthorne.  Minnie  Bertha  died  at  the  age 
of  six  years,  four  months  and  six  days. 

Mrs.  Bressie  was  born  June  30,  1840,  in  Beaver 
County,  Pa.,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  She  was  reared  in  her  native  State  until 
thirteen  years  of  age,  when  she  became  a  resident 
of  New  Albany,  Ind.  She  was  the  eighth  in  a 
family  of  ten  children,  and  with  tlie  exception  of 
herself  all  are  now  deceased.     Her  father  and  mo- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


805 


ther  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  former 
was  born  March  17,  1803,  and  died  December  24, 
1878.  lie  was  an  ornamental  i)lasterer  by  trade 
and  worked  in  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati  and  Louis- 
ville. In  religious  faith,  he  was  a  true  Baptist, 
was  a  man  of  known  integrity,  whose  word  was  as 
good  as  his  bond,  and  he  was  highly  regarded  by 
all.  His  wife  was  born  March  26,  1802,  and  died 
June  9,  1882.  She  was  a  r>ai)tist  in  religious  belief, 
was  an  educated  lady  and  a  woman  of  more 
than  ordinary  talent  and  ability.  Mr.  Supplee  was 
intei'red  in  Mill  Creek  Ccmeterj',  AVashington 
County,  Ind.  After  the  death  of  her  husband, 
Mrs.  Supplee  made  her  liome  with  Mrs.  F)rcssie 
and  there  died.  Her  remains  were  interred  in  the 
cemetery  of  Roberts. 

Mrs.  Bressie  has  in  her  possession  two  valuable 
pieces  of  needle-work.  One  of  these,  worked  on 
satin,  is  supposed  to  have  been  made  in  1773,  and 
the  other,  on  linen,  was  made  in  1798.  These  are 
among  the  oldest  relics  in  Ford  County.  The  age 
of  these  has  made  them  very  valuable  and  Mrs. 
Bressie  was  ofifered  $50  for  the  satin  piece,  which 
was  wanted  for  the  Centennial  of  1876. 

Mr.  Bressie  emigrated  to  Ford  County  in  1874, 
located  in  Roberts  and  followed  his  trade  of  plas- 
tering until  1885.  In  that  year,  he  emliarkcd  in 
the  boot  and  slioe  and  harness  business,  which  he 
continued  until  the  spring  of  1888,  when  he  sold 
out  and  bought  a  general  store  of  the  old  firm 
known  as  Flora  it  Newman,  who  had  been  general 
merchants  for  some  years.  Mr.  Bressie  embarked 
in  general  merchandising  in  1888,  and  he  has  been 
one  of  the  pushing  merchants  of  Roberts  ever  since. 
By  his  fair  dealing  and  honest  treatment  of  his 
many  patrons,  he  is  doing  a  good  business  year  by 
year.  He  is  known  as  a  man  of  integrity,  and  his 
courtesy  to  all  is  sure  to  win  for  him  success. 

Mr.  Bressie  is  a  Republican  in  his  political  senti- 
ments and  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  foi-  R.  B. 
Hayes.  He  has  been  actively  connected  with  the 
upbuilding  of  his  county's  interests  and  has  been  a 
delegate  a  number  of  times  to  his  count}'  conven- 
tions, and  has  filled  the  position  of  chairman  of 
Lym.an  Township  Republican  Central  Committee. 
He  .icled  as  .lustice  of  the  Peace  in  tiie  township 
of  Lyman    for   al)Out    four   years.     .Socially,   Jlr. 


Bressie  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  of  Gib- 
son City.  He  was  first  a  memlier  of  Buckley 
Lodge  in  1874.  He  also  holds  membership  witli 
the  (irand  Army  Post  No.  500,  of  Melvin,  and  is  a 
chaiter  member  of  Lyman  Lodge  No.  293,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  of  Roberts.  He  has  held  imi)0rtant  of- 
fices in  this  tiiriving  order.  Mrs.  Ihessie  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Roberts. 
They  are  el.assed  among  tiie  representative  and 
honored  citizens  of  Lyman  Township  and  are  held 
in  high  regard  by  all  for  their  sterling  wortli  and 
integritv. 


'JIIOHN  A.  PENCE,  dealer  in  drugs,  medi- 
cines, jiaints,  oils,  and  wall-|)aper  in  Gibson 
^,.^1  ,  C'ity,  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  was  born  in 
'^^d^''  Adams  County  on  the  26th  of  January, 
1859,  and  is  a  son  of  F.  S.  and  Sarah  J.  (McNeil) 
Pence,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  the 
Bucke3'e  State.  In  tlie  family  were  only  two  chil- 
dren, our  subject  and  a  sister.  Tiie  father  is  a  car- 
penter bj'  trade.  In  1867,  he  came  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  De  Witt  County,  and  in  1884,  he  went 
to  Edwards  Count}',  Kan.,  where  he  and  his  wife 
still  reside. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  lad  of  about 
eight  summers  when  lie  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the  schools 
of  Kenney,  DeWitt  County,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer months  he  worked  on  a  farm  for  some  five  or 
six  years.  AVIien  about  seventeen  }'ears  of  age, 
he  entered  a  drug  store  as  salesman  and  has  been 
connected  with  that  line  of  business  continuously 
since.  After  clerking  in  Kenney  for  several  years, 
he  managed  a  store  for  W.  McCraig,  in  Beason, 
for  about  a  3"ear,  when  the  store  was  sold.  Through 
the  aid  of  his  former  employer,  he  became  man- 
ager of  a  store  in  Cooksville,  McLean  County,  re- 
maining in  charge  for  about  a  3"ear,  when  that 
store  was  sold.  In  July,  1884,  Mr.  Pence  came  to 
Gibson  C'lty  and  began  clerking  for  Drs.  Ragsdale 
&  Baughman,  who  were  then  running  a  drug  store. 
Having  clerked  until  Septemher    23,   1887,  lie  ac- 


806 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


quired  a  half  interest  in  the  business,  tlie  firm  he- 
coming  Ragsdale  &  Pence.  In  April,  1889,  our 
subject  bought  out  his  partner's  interest  and  lias 
since  been  sole  proprietor. 

Mr.  Pence  was  married  on  the  16th  of  June, 
1887,  to  Miss  P'annie  F.  Canterbury,  a  native  of 
Illinois.  She  is  a  most  estimable  lady  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church.  The  young 
couple  are  well  and  favorabl3'  known  in  tliis  com- 
munity, wliere  they  have  many  friends. 

In  his  i)olitical  alliliations,  Mi.  Pence  is  a  Demo- 
crat, and,  socially,  is  a  member  of  the  Modern 
"Woodmen  of  America.  Through  courtesy  and 
close  attention  to  liusiness,  he  has  secured  a  liberal 
patronage  and  has  won  general  confidence.  lie  is 
a  progressive  young  business  man  and  deserves 
success  in  his  chosen  work. 


~i^=' 


—  ■^T, 
'^'=^^^' 


ERNi:ST  a.  REINIFARDT,  M.  D.  The  pro- 
fessional man  is  one  of  the  important  fac- 
tors in  the  personnel  of  a  community,  and 
the  physicians,  especially,  should  be  represented, 
so  we  here  record  the  life  sketch  of  Dr.  E.  G.  Kein- 
hardt  of  L^'inan  Township,  one  of  the  leading  and 
rising  pliysicians  of  Ford  County,  who  stands  high 
in  his  profession,  as  well  as  a  gentleman  and  citi- 
zen, lie  is  a  native  of  Golconda,  Pope  County, 
111.,  and  was  born  Septemlier  7,  186.3,  and  was  the 
sixth  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  viz:  five  sons 
and  three  daughters,  born  unto  Carl  Frederick  and 
Willielmina  (Schmidt)  Reinhardt.  There  are  four 
of  the  children  living:  Charles  A.,  resides  in  Gol- 
conda, 111.,  and  by  trade  is  a  contractor  and  builder. 
At  present  he  is  engaged  in  the  furniture  business. 
He  is  married.  The  Doctor  is  next  in  order  of 
birth  living;  Clara  W.  is  the  wife  of  Sim  V.  Clana- 
han,  who  resides  in  Golconda,  111.  He  is  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  Hernkl  Enterprise,  a  newsy, 
folio  weekly  paper;  Robert  resides  in  Paducah, 
Kj'.,  and  is  engaged  in  merchandising.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  city  of  Dresden,  Germany,  and 
was  born  December  4,  1823,  and  died  November 
1,  1877.  He  was  a  polished  gentleman  in  culture 
and  education  and  spoke  with  fluency  five  different 


languages.  He  was  a  finished  student  in  the  gym- 
nasium. By  profession  he  was  a  landscape  de- 
signer, who  stood  high  in  his  native  land  in  his 
chosen  occupation.  We  clip  from  a  diploma  which 
was  awarded  him  in  Germany: 

"This  certifies  to  the  fact  that  Carl  F.  Reinhardt 
was  for  three  years  Associate  Landscape  Gardener 
with  Frederick  Muller  to  Fabian  Frederick  William 
Otto,  Count  of  Schlabrendorf  Seppan,  and  that  he 
stood  in  high  favor  with  the  Count,  as  well  as  his 
associate,  having  thoroughlj'  mastered  the  art  of 
landscape  gardening,  as  well  as  having  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of   the  flora  of  that  region." 

His  father's  early  life  and  manhood  were  mostly 
spent  in  the  beautiful  city  of  Dresden.  At  the 
age  of  thirty-one,  he  and  his  family,  consisting  of 
his  wife  and  three  sons,  bade  adieu  to  their  native 
land  in  18,54,  and  set  sail  for  America,  and  they 
landed  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  JNId.  Thence  they 
went  to  Cincinnati,  and  from  there  to  Southern  Illi- 
nois, and  located  on  a  farm  near  Golconda,  remain- 
ing there  until  1856,  when  they  came  into  the  town 
to  reside.  He  was  a  stanch  friend  to  education  and 
all  those  measures  which  tend  to  elevate  mankind. 
He  devoted  his  time  while  a  resident  of  Illinois  to 
the  culture  of  flowers.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Reinhardt  was 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  was  a  stanch  Democrat  in  his  political 
belief.  In  his  younger  days  he  was  a  tnivelcr  of 
some  note,  mostly  over  continental  F^urope. 

The  mother  of  the  Doctor  was  a  well-educated 
lady  in  her  native  tongue.  She  was  a  native  of 
Roitzsch,  Germany,  and  was  born  September  9, 
18.30,  and  died  January  16, 1883.  The  remains  of 
the  Doctor's  parents  are  interred  in  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Cemetery  at  Golconda,  111.,  and  beautiful  head- 
stones mark  their  last  resting  place.  Dr.  Rein- 
hardt's  early  boyhood  days  were  spent  upon  the 
farm  until  tiiree  years  of  age,  when  his  parents 
came  to  the  town  to  reside,  where  he  remained  un- 
til the  age  of  seventeen,  and  his  time  was  devoted 
chiefly  to  attending  school.  Like  many  ambitious 
boys,  the  Doctor  resolved  to  launch  out  in  life  on 
his  own  natural  resources,  so  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
he  left  home,  and  all  the  capital  he  had  was  tiiat  en- 
ergetic disposition  to  make  things  move.     His  first 


^^gye^    ^-rm  ! 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


809 


time  was  taken  up  as  a  typo  in  a  printing  office 
He  returned  home  after  an  absence  of  two  and  a 
half  years,  and  engaged  with  his  brother  in  mer- 
cantile life.  After  remaining  for  a  time,  he  then 
engaged  witli  the  large  nulling  firm  of  Nordyke, 
Marmou  &  Co.,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  where  he  was 
employed  a  portion  of  each  year  for  seven  years  with 
this  well-known  firm.  The  Doctor  is  a  gentleman 
who  possesses  much  natural  ability  and  acumen, 
and  this  well-known  firm  found  in  _young  Rein- 
hardt  a  valuable  man.  Industry,  energy  and  au 
indomitable  will  are  the  cardinal  characteristics  of 
a  successful  man's  life.  Up  to  this  time  he  liad 
been  engaged  in  the  business  channels  of  life;  now 
he  resolved  to  enter  a  professional  life,  and  chose  the 
field  of  medicine  and  surgery.  He  read  medicine 
under  the  eminent  practitioner,  Dr.  J.  .1.  Boone,  of 
Mt.  Victor}',  Ohio,  where  he  made  rapid  progress. 
He  entered  the  Rush  Bledical  College  of  Chicago, 
in  September,  1888,  where  he  took  a  full  and  com- 
plete course  in  medicine  and  surgery,  and,  as  a  side 
study,  he  took  a  thorough  course,  under  Prof. 
Thurman  W.  Brophy,  in  Dental  Pathology  and 
Surgery.  He  graduated  March  30,  1891,  in  a  class 
of  over  two  hundred.  After  his  graduation,  he 
paid  his  old  home  a  visit,  ere  he  settled  down  to 
his  professional  life.  He  came  to  Roberts,  111., 
April  28,  1891,  where  he  has  laid  the  solid  founda- 
tion of  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  The  Doc- 
tor has  made  a  most  favorable  impression  on  the 
people  of  the  vicinity  of  Roberts,  by  his  courteous 
and  gentlemanly  decorum,  as  well  as  by  his  skill 
in  his  profession.  He  is  associated  with  W.  H. 
.Bend  in  the  drug  Inisiness,  carrying  a  full  line  of 
staple  drugs,  oils,  and  all  commodities  which  go  to 
make  up  a  good  drug  store.  He  is  public-sjjirited 
and  generous  to  all.  He  is  Chancellor  Ctmimander 
of  the  K.  of  P.  Lodge  No.  293,  Roberts,  111. 

Dr.  Reinhardt'sand  Miss  Mamie  Hales'  wedding 
was  celebrated  May  31,  1891.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Dr.  S.  F.  Hale,  and  was  born  January'  5,  1866, 
in  Bunker  Hill,  111.  She  is  an  accomplished  lady. 
She  was  a  student  at  St.  Mary's  Academy  for  two 
years,  at  Notre  Dame,  Ind.,  and  spent  two  years  at 
the  New  England  Conservatory  of  Music,  at  Boston, 
Mass.  She  was  a  student  in  vocal  music  with  W. 
L.  Whitney,  son  of  Myron  W.  Whitney,  of  musical 


fame.  Mrs.  Dr.  Reinhardt  is  one  of  a  family  of  five 
brothers  and  one  sister.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Reinhardt 
are  classed  among  the  most  prominent  citizens  of 
the  town  of  Roberts,  111. 


J^ 


He  was 


ETEIv  .1.  Y EAGER,  a  general  merchant 
of  Guthrie,  111.,  is  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Ford  County,  and  is  too  well 
known  to  need  any  special  introduction. 
)orn  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio,  April  10, 
1859,  and  is  the  eldest  child  in  a  family  of  six 
sons  and  one  daughter,  all  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing, as  follows:  Mr.  John  W.  Yeager  resides  in 
West  Jefferson,  Ohio,  is  a  merchant  and  is  married; 
August  resides  in  Derby,  Ohio,  and  is  also  a  mer- 
chant and  married;  ]\Iary  E.  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  with  her  parents  near  Columbus,  Ohio; 
Michael  L,  a  resident  of  Guthrie,  111.,  and  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits,  is  married;  Christ  J.,  a 
resident  of  West  Jefferson,  Ohio,  is  a  clothing 
merchant;  Stephen  A.,  who  is  the  youngest  of  the 
children,  is  a  resident  of  Guthrie,  III.,  and  is  en- 
gaged with  his  brother  Peter. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Peter  Y''eager,  Sr., 
was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  in  the  year  1830. 
He  is  a  gentleman  of  finished  education,  having 
graduated  from  the  German  High  Schools.  After 
spending  six  years  of  iiis  life  in  the  Gcnman  army, 
he  concluded  to  seek  his  fortune  in  America,  so, 
early  in  the  spring  of  1858,  he  and  Mrs.  Yeager 
set  sail  from  Bremen  direct  to  New  Y'ork,  thence 
to  Columbus,  Ohio,  then  known  as  Franklinton. 

Landing  in  the  United  States  almost  penniless, 
his  German  spirit  of  industry  and  economj-  soon 
won  for  liim  wealth  and  a  place  in  the  walks  of 
life  worthy  of  the  industrious  adopted  American 
citizen.  For  the  first  several  years  in  America  he 
worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  boot  and  shoe  maker, 
then  followed  farming  for  a  couple  of  3'ears,  and 
was  then  engaged  in  merchandising  for  sixteen 
years.  He  was  very  successful  in  his  business,  and 
has  lately  retired  in  good  circumstances.  He  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  about  sixty-two  years.  • 
The  mother  of   our  subject,  whose  maiden    name 


810 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


was  Mary  Ness,  is  also  living  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
one  years. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent  as  a 
salesman.  He  was  early  initiated  into  the  chan- 
nels of  mercantile  life,  and  those  principles  were 
thoroughly  grounded  in  his  composition  which 
formed  the  foundation  of  his  successful  career  as  a 
merchant.  He  spent  five  years  of  his  life  running 
a  grocery  wagon,  which  shows  that  he  was  ever 
ready  to  do  anything  to  turn  an  honest  penny. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  commenced  the  voyage  of  life  for  himself  at 
the  age  of  twenty  with  only  a  capital  of  1500.  He 
left  his  native  State  to  locate  in  the  West  and 
selected  Guthrie,  111.,  as  his  base  of  future  opera- 
tions. He  opened  up  business  with  a  little  grocery 
store,  April  21,  1879,  and  here  he  has  remained 
continuously  by  his  business,  with  that  push,  indus- 
try and  determination  which  are  his  cardinal 
characteristics. 

He  has  since  added  to  his  little  capital  of  1500, 
until  now  the  volume  of  his  property  aggregates 
$17,000.  His  present  stock  of  merchandise  is  es- 
timated at  15,000.  Mr.  Yeager  is  also  proprietor 
of  the  Guthrie  Creamery  and  owns  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  tillable  land  in  Dix  Township, 
and  other  property,  all  of  which  testifies  to  his 
enterprise  and  push  during  his  residence  in  Ford 
County  since  1879.  He  is  a  fair,  square-dealing 
business  man,  sagacious  and  practical,  and  enjoys 
the  entire  confidence  of  his  numerous  patrons. 

He  married  Miss  Mary  Weller  December  6, 
1881,  and  there  have  been  born  to  this  union  two 
sons  and  three  daughters:  Frederick  P.,  Grover  C, 
Irene  E.,  Valeria  II.  and  Mary  E.,  all  of  whom  are 
now  living.  Mrs.  Yeager  is  a  daughter  of  George 
Weller,  a  native  of  Germany.  He  was  for  many 
years  a  resident  of  Ford  County',  now  of  Nebraska. 
Mrs.  Y'eager  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
vShe  has  three  brothers  and  one  sister.  The  eldest 
is  Lena,  wife  of  .Tohn  Ernest,  who  is  City  Engineer 
of  Hoopeston,  111.  .John  Weller  resides  in  Ne- 
braska, follows  farming  and  is  married;  Mrs. 
Yeager  is  next;  George  and  Henry,  the  youngest, 
live  in  Nebraska. 

Mr.  Yeager  has  alw.ays  been  an  ardent  supporter 
of  the  Democratic  party  .and  cast  his  first  Presiden- 


tial vote  for  Gen.  Win  field  S.  Hancock.  lie 
is  a  gentleman  who  has  been  very  pronounced  in 
his  political  views  but  not  so  radical  as  to  interfere 
with  his  business.  He  has  always  been  held  in 
high  esteem  by  his  friends  and  commands  their 
respect. 

Mr.  Yeager  was  the  efficient  Postmaster  of  Guth- 
rie, 111.,  for  twelve  years.  He  received  his  com- 
mission from  President  Hayes  and  was  the  incum- 
bent of  the  office  from  1879  to  1891.  He  served 
under  Hayes,  Garfield,  Arthur,  Cleveland  and  a 
part  of  Harrison's  term  of  administration.  He 
tendered  his  resignation  in  the  year  1888,  which 
was  not  accepted  until  1891.  He  served  as  School 
Director  for  two  years  and  is  one  of  the  board  at 
present.  He  was  elected  Supervisor  of  Dix  Town- 
ship in  the  spring  of  1892,  on  the  People's  ticket, 
which  conclusively  shows  him  to  be  a  popular  cit- 
izen. He  has  proven  an  active  and  energetic  mem- 
ber of  the  board  and  is  on  more  committees  than 
any  member  of  the  board.  He  aims  to  represent 
his  people  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

He  h.as  filled  the  position  of  delegate  to  the  Dem- 
ocratic State  conventions,  as  well  as  delegate  to 
his  county  conventions,  and  was  Chairman  of  the 
county  convention  of  Ford   Count}'  in  1892. 

He  is  a  member  in  high  standing  of  the  I .().  ().  F., 
of  Guthrie,  111.,  also  a  leading  member  of  the  En- 
campment and  Canton  Ford,  of  Gibson,  111. 


HARLES  A.    COOK,    who    for    twenty-two 
.,  years  has  resided  in  this  county,  is  nowen- 

^^f^  gugod  in  farming  on  section  30,  Pella  Town- 
ship, where  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twent}'  acres.  His  pleasant  residence  is  sur- 
rounded by  good  barns  and  other  necessarj-  out- 
buildings, which  in  turn  lie  in  the  midst  of  well 
tilled  fields  which  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute 
in  return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  Every  im 
provement  upon  the  place  is  the  work  of  his  own 
hands  and  indicates  his  thrift  and  enterprise. 

Mr.  Cook  is  a  native  of  London,  Province  of 
Ontario,  Canada.  He  was  born  Novembers,  1845, 
and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Rosetta  (Root)    Cook. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


811 


His  father  was  born  in  England,  and  when  twenty- 
one  j'ears  of  age  crossed  the  Atlantic  lo  Canada, 
where  he  was  employed  in  a  wholesale  store  in 
Hamilton  for  some  time.  He  was  there  married 
and  his  wife  died  about  1851.  In  1857,  he  came 
to  Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business  for  a  time  and  then  removed  to  St.  Louis. 
He  afterwards  returned  to  New  York  City,  where 
he  held  the  position  of  Superintendent  of  the 
Howard  Mission.  He  is  now  living  near  London, 
Canada,  with  a  daughter.  The  children  of  the 
family  are  Charles  of  this  sketch;  George,  who  is 
living  in  North  Dakota;  and  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Pember- 
ton.  a  widow  who  resides  at  Camden,  on  Lake 
Huron. 

Our  subject  spent  the  first  twelve  j^ears  of  his 
life  in  Canada,  and  then  removed  to  Chicago, 
where  lie  began  life  for  himself.  He  spent  one 
year  in  a  law  office  in  that  city,  after  which  he 
went  to  a  farm  in  Sandwich,  111.,  and  was  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  for  fourteen  years.  On  the 
11th  of  December,  1870,  he  married  Angeline  Dean, 
who  was  born  in  Sandwich,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Nelson  and  Sarah  Dean,  both  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  are  now  deceased.  In  the  spring  of  1871, 
Mr.  Cook  came  with  his  young  wife  to  Ford 
County,  and  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now 
makes  his  home. 

In  July,  1877,  Mrs.  Cook  was  called  to  her  final 
rest,  after  which  our  subject  married  Carrie  Mon- 
telius,  daughter  of  Ed.  ]\Iontelius.  She  died 
in  1883,  leaving  two  children:  Charles,  now  thir- 
teen j'ears  of  age;  and  Mary  eleven  years  of  age. 
In  the  spring  of  1884,  Mr.  Cook  was  married  in 
Piper  City  to  Minnie  Montelius,  a  sister  of  his 
second  wife.  She  was  born  in  Freeport,  111.,  but 
was  reared  in  Piper  City,  where  her  parents  re- 
moved in  1879.  Three  children  have  been  born 
of  this  union:  Anna  Bertha,  born  in  August,  1885; 
Mertie,  born  in  December,  1887;  and.Josie,  born  in 
June,  1891. 

Mr.  Cook  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
of  Piper  Cit}',  and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Method- 
ist Church.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote 
for  Grant  in  1868,  and  has  since  been  a  Republican. 
He  has  often  served  as  delegate  to  tlie  conventions 
of  his  party  and  is  a  warm  advocate  of  its    princi- 


ples. He  h.as  served  as  Commissioner  of  Highways 
for  thirteen  years  and  has  been  Treasurer.  He 
started  out  in  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twelve 
and  since  that  time  has  been  dependent  on  his  own 
exertions.  Whatever  success  he  has  achieved  in 
life  is  due  to  his  unaided  efforts.  His  persistent 
industry,  enterprise  and  good  management  have 
won  him  a  comfortable  competence  and  his  life  may 
well  be  regarded  as  a  successful  one. 


^^ 


c^^^^HE  FIRST  NATKJNAL  BANK,  of  Paxton, 
the  only  National  Bank  in  Ford  County, 
was  incorporated  May  7,  1883,  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $50,000.  The  incorporators  were  S.  B.  Bush- 
nell,  W.  H.  Holcomb,  L  N.  Perry,  A.  Sample,  D.  A. 
Frederick,  J.  P.  Day  and  J.  B.  Shaw. 

The  first  officers  were  President,  S.  B.  Bushnell; 
Vice-President,  J.  P.  Daj';  Cashier,  J.  B.  Shaw. 

On  the  12th  of  January,  1892,  ISIr.  Bushnell  sold 
his  interest  and  retired,  and  J.  B.Shaw  was  elected 
President,  F.  L.  Cook  succeeded  Mr.  J.  P.  Day  as 
Vice-President,  in  1884,  and  A.  S.  Bushnell  suc- 
ceeded J.  B.  Shaw  as  Cashier  in  1892.  Tiiese  last 
mentioned  are  the  present  officers  of  tiic  bank, 
while  the  present  Board  of  Directors  is  composed 
of  the  following  named  gentlemen:  F.  L.  Cook, 
C.  A.  Larson,  Dr.  S.  M.  Wylie,  W.  II.  Holcomb  and 
J.  B.  Sh.iw. 

The  bank  has  declared  since  its  organization 
dividends  to  the  amount  of  $40,000,  and  now  has 
a  surplus  of  $10,000,  and  is  in  a  prosperous  condi- 
tion. 


II  AWRENCE  McGRAIL,  a  well-known 
farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Drummer  Town- 
ship, residing  on  section  28,  w.as  born  in 
Ireland,  in  1827,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
children  born  unto  John  and  Mary  (Kane)  IMc- 
Grail.  They  were  natives  of  the  same  count3'  as 
our  subject  and  were  there  reared  .ind  married. 
Of  their  family,  Patrick  and  John  arc  now  de- 
ceased; Miciiael  is    the    next   younger^    Austin  is 


812 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


also  deceased;  Richard;  James  has  passed  from  this 
life;  Lawrence,  Charles;  and  two  children,  both 
of  whom  bore  the  name  of  Mary,  are  deceased. 
The  father  of  this  familj'  was  a  farmer  and  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  throughout  his  entire  life. 
He  and  his  wife  never  left  tlie  old  home,  hut  silent 
their  entire  lives  in  their  native  land.  IJoth  were 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Law- 
rence McGrail,  who  acquired  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  liis  native  land  and  remained  under  tlie 
parental  roof  until  thirty-two  jears  of  age.  He 
tlien  married,  in  1859,  the  lady  of  his  choice  be- 
ing Maria  O'Mally,  also  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle  and  a  daugliter  of  Patrick  O'Mallj-.  By  their 
union  have  been  liorn  nine  children,  as  follows: 
Michael,  now  a  resident  of  W.ashington ;  Patrick, 
deceased;  Mary  and  Nora,  who  are  residents  of  St. 
Louis;   John,  James,  Charles,  Lawrence  and  Ella. 

It  was  in  1865  that  Mr.  ]Mc(jrail,  .accompanied 
by  his    family,  bade  good-bye   to  their  old  home 


and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America.  He 
made  his  first  location  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  worked 
on  the  railroad  for  seventeen  ^'earsas  section  fore- 
man, being  emploj'ed  by  the  Burlington  Railroad 
Company.  On  the  expiration  of  that  i)eriod,  he  re- 
moved to  Ford  County  and  has  since  resided  in 
Drummer  Township,  where  he  has  a  pleasant  home. 
In  connection  with  farming,  he  is  engaged  in  rais- 
ing fine  liorses,  and  has  some  very  fine  animals 
upon  his  pLace. 

In  politics,  !Mr.  McGrail  supports  the  Republi- 
can part3%  but  is  not  strict! >•  partisan,  holding 
himself  free  to  vote  for  tlie  candidate  wliom  lie 
thinks  best  cpialified  for  the  office.  Himself  and 
wife  hold  membership  witii  the  Catholic  Church. 
Our  subject  need  never  regret  his  removal  to  this 
coiinti  V,  for  here  he  has  found  a  pleasant  home, 
made  manj'  warm  friends  and  has  secured  a  comfort- 
able competence  which  numliers  him  among  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  community. 


BIOGI^p^F^I^spI^- 


Adams,  John 2;^ 

Adams,  John  Q 39 

Aid,  Lewis 713 

Allgaier,  Rev.  J 309 

Amm,  John  C 370 

Anderson.  Andrew  I) 536 

^Vaderson,  Christopher 137 

Anderson,  Swen 441 

Andrews,  Benjamin  C 591 

Andrews,  Daniel  H 241 

Andrews,  J.  H 725 

Arends,  George  T 449 

Arends.Teis 393 

Arnold,  A.  S 7»i5 

Arthur,  Chester  A 99 

Ashby,  Charles 509 

Ashley,  L.  N 786 

Atwood,  Henry 267 


B 


Baare,  David 683 

Babcock.  Edward 415 

Baker,  W.  A 522 

Baker,  William ; 333 

Barker,  Jesse  G 714 

Barrow,  Hamilton  J 482 

Beach,  Judge  H.  P 754 

Beardsley,  F.  W 225 

Beighle,  K.  B 2fl(i 

Bell,  John  D 731 

Bell,  Samuel 5H8 

Benson,  Henry 02(5 

Bernhardt,  J.  G 103 

Beveridge,  John  L 171 

Bicket,  William  A 211 

Bishop,  Capt.  L.  N 732 

Bishop,  Lucas  T 315 

Bissell,  William  H 151 

Blackmore,  James 477 

Blackstock,  Robert 343 


Blake,  Anselm  T 700 

Blesch,  Jacob 2C6 

Bloom,  Isaac  0 567 

Boal,  D.  A KU 

Bogardus,  Col.  Charles 271 

Bond,  John 785 

Bond,  Shadrach 1 1 1 

Bond,  William 380 

Bowen,  P.  C.,    .MR 

Bowen,  W.H. 727 

Bremer,  A.  P 304 

Bressie,  L.  E 804 

Broadbent,  John 1M7 

Brock,  Henry 282 

Brown,  Aaron 28!) 

Brown,  Joseph  J 310 

Buchanan.  James 75 

Bucbholz,  August 291 

Buchholz,  Charles 455 

Buchner,  C.  J 377 

Bulger,  John 745 

Bullington,  A  C 772 

Bunker,  John  E 281 

Bui-ger,  Joseph 651 

Burns,  William  W 579 


Cain, Thomas  W 514 

Campbell,  Dr.  J.  Y .'ilfl 

Campbell.  O.  L 417 

Campbell,  William  A 314 

Carlin,  Thomas 135 

Carlson,  C.  F 430 

Carpenter,  Henry  S .582 

Catron,  Arthur  S 303 

Chambers,  R.  B     667 

Chapin,  Dr.  Charles  E nu4 

Clark,  Remembrance .545 

Clarke,  Alex 614 

Clayton,  John 618 

Clem,  Jeremiah 386 

Cless,  J.  J 200 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 103 

Climpson,  Richard 746 

Clinebell,  Prof.  Koscie 2.55 

Coal,  P.  A 207 

Coles,  Edward 115 


Collier,  Hon.  J.  H 385 

Colwell,  Michael 771 

Conger,  CM 304 

Cook,  Charles  A 810 

Cook.  F.  L 217 

Cook,  Col.  H.  D 260 

Coomes,  Ammon 226 

Cooper,  James  Alfred 357 

Corbly,  Lindsey 571 

Co.x,  Michael 661 

Cramniond.  James  E 232 

Crandall,  C.  C 6SS 

Crandall,  H.  A 194 

Crawford,  James 673 

Cruzen,  Randolph 507 

Cubbuck,  Judson 464 

Cue,  Thomas 199 

Culbertson ,  Dr.  S.  D .565 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 175 

Culter,  Dr.  F.  O 274 

Curd,  Charles 719 

Currie,  William (89 


D 


Dahlgren,  Nils 514 

Dally,  Dr.  H.  M 748 

Damon,  O.H 4a5 

Daniels,  Stacy 535 

Davis,  F.  S .554 

Day,  John  P 337 

Day,N.  B 344 

Day,  Samuel 332 

Day,  Samuel  L .:tt5 

Denman,  Dr.  De  Kalb 229 

Dickey ,  J.  W 794 

Diers,  Henry 231 

Dolan.M.  H 237 

Dougherty,  John  Y 521 

Down,  C.  W 587 

Drendel,  Frank  S 766 

Dueringer,  Rev.  Henry 7.58 

Duncan,  Joseph 131 

Dunham,  J.  C 520 

Dunnan,  Hugh 779 

Durham,  W  illiamT 719 

Dwyer,  Daniel 529 

Dysert,  James 727 


E 


Edwards,  Ninian 119 

Elliott,  W.  H.  H 541 

Emmons,  Samuel 220 

Enoch,  Elmer 366 

Eppelsheimer,  Philip 799 

Essington,  George 704 

Essington,  John 695 

Ewing,  William  L.  D 127 


Fagerburg,  Frank  B 243 

Falter,  Louis .585 

Farley,  Dr.  Isaac  P 769 

Farlin,  Joseph 2!i2 

Farrar,  Dr.  L.  B 426 

Felhvock.  Charles  A 273 

Fifer,  Joseph  W 183 

Fillmore,  Millard B7 

First  Nat'l  Bank  of  Paxton..8Il 

Flagg,  James  H 4tt5 

Flora,  W.  B 717 

Fogar,  Charl 562 

Foley,  James  B 553 

Ford  Coimty  Bank 381 

Ford ,  Thomas        139 

Foreman,  Prof.  D.  G 674 

Forney,  H.  A 682 

Frederickson,  Gustave 411 

French,  Augustus  C 143 

Fuoss,  Jacob 607 


Gardner,  Edward  A 451 

Garfield,  James  A 95 

Gash,  William  T  6:12 

Gerdes,  Gerd 700 


INDEX. 


Gilkeson,  J.  W 639 

Gilmore,  Albert 753 

Gilmore,  Craig S03 

Gilmore,  William 746 

Glass,  George  W 599 

Glenn,  Theophilus  M 620 

Goodman,  John 702 

Goodwin,  W.H 792 

Granger,  John  F 725 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 87 

Green,  David  W 624 

Gregory,  H.  L 451 

Grove,  George oCi 


H 


Hagin,  Jol^n  E 706 

Han,H.C 545 

Hall,  James  D 236 

Hamer,  Frederick 488 

Hamilton,  John  M 179 

Hand,  Ira  W 701 

Hanley,  J.M  ...515 

Harrison ,  Benjamin 107 

Harrison,  William  Henry —  51 

Harry, E.H 720 

Harvey,  Eli 533 

Hatteberg,  John  A 7W 

Haupt,  George  W 3.54 

Hayes, CO 33S 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Henderson,  J.  C 484 

Herron,  J.  W 612 

Hevener,  Robert 623 

Hilborn,  Calvin 676 

Hock,  James 244 

Hollen,  Peter 769 

Holmes,  Christian 690 

Holmes,  John  H 283 

Holmes,  William  B 409 

Holmgrain,  Rev.  O.  V 411 

Holmquest,  S.  1 443 

Hoover,  W.  A 399 

Hopkins,  A.  S 566 

Houston,  James  J 784 

Hughs,  John 778 

Hummel,  John 617 

Hunt,  Enoch  S 2.')7 

Hunt,  John  S 475 

Hunt,  W.J 660 

Hunter,  William  H  488 

Hurst,  Joseph 680 

Hurst,  William 327 

Huston,  W.S 777 

Hutchison,  William  A 238 


lehl,  John 423 

1mm,  Michael 291 


Jackson,  Andrew 43 

Jackson,  Jam^s 516 

Jardine,  Robert 785 

Jellcrson,  Thou  as 27 

Jeffery,  Thomas  P 648 

Jennings,  Columbus .588 

Johnson,  .\ndrew 83 

Johnson,  F.  J.. 3.51 

Johnson,  G.  w'.  B 5,56 

Johnson,  JohnS 398 

Joos,  John 741 

Jones,  Joseph  K 770 

Jordan,  Andrew 279 


K 


Karr,j9hn, 429 

Karr,  Robert  M 699 

Keetfe,  John 592 

Keighin,  David 760 

Keitzmann,  Reinhold  A 560 

Keitzmann,  William 3?^0 

Kelso, Dr.E.L 510 

Kelso,  Dr.  H.  A 212 

Kemp,  James 638 

Kemp,  Nicholas  M 418 

Kenney.JohnF 605 

Kenney.  William 218 

Ken  ward,  John  C 326 

Kerchanfaut,  John 745 

Kerns.  Emanuel 481 

Kiblinger,  S.H 290 

Kimler,A.  H .'^73 

King,  Joseph  V 392 

Kirkpatrick,  J.  C 540 

Kjellstrand,  A.  \V 4.58 

Kneale,  William .586 

Koestner,  Paul 243 


Lamb,  Wallace  S 236 

Laiidel,W.  P 626 

Larson,  Peter 397 

Larson,  Theodore  J 477 

Leach,  J.  B 527 

Le  Fevre,  S.  J 490 

Le  Fevre.  Dr.  W.  C.  M 478 

Leininger,  Henry  H 305 

Leonard,  John  H 780 

Lewis,  John  R 633 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Linn,  J.  C 6.59 

Litwiller,  Peter 581 

Lohman,  Franz  Gottlieb 379 

Lott,  J.B 797 

Lowry,  Emanuel 391 


Ludlow,  James  D 405 

Lyman,  E.  H 316 

Lynch,  Thomas  J 701 

Lytle,  Seth 306 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Main,  Peter f>80 

Marsh,  Jesse  P 198 

Marshall,  Joseph  N 747 

Mason,  Benjamin  F 438 

Matteson,  Joel  A 147 

Mattinson,  Evan 229 

Mattinson,  Wilson  i%  Co 5(12 

Maxson,  A.  C 286 

McBride,  James 7:i4 

McClure,  B.  H 258 

McClurc,  Rev.  E.  S 297 

McCracken.  David  P 487 

McCracken,  Rev.  Robert 494 

McDermott,  Thomas 688 

McElroy,  Judge  A 561 

McGrail,  Lawrence 811 

McLaughlin,  Abner 705 

McKeever,  Caleb 617 

McKinney ,  John 280 

Mc Kinney,  Jo.seph 682 

McMullen,  William  E 424 

McNeish,  Thomas 247 

Mellinger,  J.  D 298 

Meharry,  Hugh 391 

Melvin  Public  Schools 193 

Merrill,  James  H 783 

Metcalf,  David 759 

Middlecoff,  Hon.  J.  P 367 

Miller,  1.  C 608 

Miller,  Prof.  E.  H 201 

Miller,  Levi 328 

Miller,  William,  M.  D 713 

Minch ,  George 633 

Miner,  John  M 798 

Mitchinson,  Joseph 606 

Motlett,  John  H 223 

Moffett,  Robert  M 502 

Motfett,  William  S 521 

MoUoy.  Jaraes 766 

Monroe,  James  35 

Montelius,  J.  A 320 

Montz,  John  H 364 

Morris,  John 400 

Morrison,  W.  T 331 

Mottler,  Albert  E 778 


N 


Nelson,  Andrew  J 404 

Newhart.  M.  W 354 

Newkirk,  Reuben 3U1 

Newlin,  Samuel  W 555 

Newmau,  David 321 


Newman,  John 397 

Nordgren ,  Charles  A &48 


o 


Oglesby ,  Kichaid  J 163 

Olsson,  Rev.  Eric  P 534 

OMahony,  Rev.  B.  E 619 

Oppermaun,  August 679 

Ortlepp,  John 388 

Otto,  Michael 638 


Palmer,  John  M 167 

Papineau,  Peter 217 

Patton,  Hon.  David 266 

Patton,  Mrs.  Jane 503 

Patton,  William  T 410 

Pearce,  C.  C 334 

Pells,  William  H 191 

Pence,  J.  A 805 

Perdue,  William 694 

Peters,  John 768 

Peterson,  Swan :i33 

Phebus,  William 572 

Phillips,  Alfred 202 

Phillips,  A.  L 258 

Phillips,  J.  R 230 

Phipps,  Mrs.  John 693 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Polk,  James  K .59 

Pollock,  Robert 339 

Pool,  Albert  J 368 

Powell,  William 432 

Preston,  George  W 800 

Proctor,  Capt.  Willard 659 

Proctor,  W.E 197 


R 


Randall,  George .594 

Randies,  Samuel  G 547 

Rasmus,  Peter 412 

Rawlings,  H.  C :t46 

Reed,  Dr.  J.  W 504 

Keed,  Thomas 598 

Keep, David 340 

Reinhardt.Dr.  E.  G 806 

Kemsburg,  Carlton  1 308 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Rezener,  J.  K 567 

Rice,  Edwin 319 

Richmond,  Joseph 726 

Rierson,  Christ 740 

Ringeisen,  Charles 580 

Roberts,  James. 513 

Roberts  Public  Schools 463 


INDEX. 


Rockwood,  L.  E 394 

Kockwooil,  H.  B 568 

Bohrbach ,  John 295 

Ross,  Timothy 369 

Rowan,  Thomas 6ii<> 


Saokett.Orville  D S28 

Sample,  Hon.  Alfred 205 

Saxton,  J.  1 645 

Schiuik,  Louis 624 

Scott,  John  A 600 

Scott,  Thomas 69fi 

Sears,  Nathan  L 574 

Shambrook,  Robert 282 

Sharp,  Frank  E 2.W 

Shearer,  Lewis 742 

Sheldon,  James 593 

Shilts,  John 728 

Shirley,  Oliver  A 703 

Shoop,  Prof .  John  D 20S 

Sibley  Estate 387 

Sibley  Public  Schools 652 

Sideainger,  Hiram  Y 307 

Simms,  William  H till 

Siverling,  D.  E 470 

Skoft,  John 444 

Smith,  A.  S 468 

Smith,  James  F 442 

Smith,  John  P 378 

.  Smith,  John  W H68 

Smith, R.G 476 

Snelling,  James  H 501 

Snyder,  Capt.  Napoleon 675 

Snyder,  Milton  T 309 

Sowers,  T.J 313 


Spalding,  T.  D 4.31 

Speedie,  Matthew 4.50 

Spellmeyer,  Charles  265 

Spellmeyer, George  H ;J5S 

Spellmeyer,  Henry 195 

Spellmeyer,  H.'  C 542 

Spera,  J.  W 613 

Stadler,  John 619 

Stare.  Elias  A 483 

Stedmaii,  Nelson 681 

Steinniann,  Frederick  E 285 

Steinmann,  Henry  T. 547 

Stevens,  Edgar  N 249 

Stevens,  Hon.  N.  E 456 

Stimpson,  Hiland 757 

Stites,  Benjamin 219 

Stites,  William  H 4<u 

Stoner.D.  C 362 

Strauss,  Dr.  T.  B  436 

Strayer,  Harmon 382 

Strine,  Daniel  H 462 

Strong,  Robert 399 

Stuart,  Andrew 666 

Swallow,  Joseph 585 

Swanick,  Arthur 281 


Tallman,  C.  \V 652 

Tapp,  Samuel  J .352 

Taylor,  Zachary 63 

Teter,  John 496 

Thackray ,  John 687 

Thayer,  A.  W 646 

Thompson,  Abel  C 325 

Thompson,  A.  M 248 


Thompson,  J.  H 353 

Thompson,  John  M 493 

Thompson,  Osgood 3t"9 

Thompson,  Thomas  D 467 

Thompson,  T.  0 455 

Thompson,  William  E 242 

Thompson,  WilHam  H 201 

Tindall,  Augustus MO 

Trlckel,  William 363 

Trickel,  William  R 461 

Trigger,  Richard 791 

Tyler,  John .55 

Tyler,  Nelson  B .597 


u 


Umbarger,  Josiah 

Underwood.  Mrs.  M.  A. 


..«i2 
..793 


Van  Buren,  Martin  47 

Van  Nostin,  John 322 

Van  Steenbergh,  Edward 739 

Vaughn,  John  M 530 


w 


Wagner,  Jacob  0 637 


Wagner,  John ..665 

Wagner,  Peter 362 

Wait,  Eben 268 

Waldschmidt,  John  J 192 

Walrich,  Capt.  F.  0 195 

Warner,  John  H S08 

Warren,  James 250 

Washington,  George 19 

Way,  Virgil  G r.U 

Weaver,  Maurice  H 375 

Wesslund,  Charles  E 508 

Wesslund,  John  A sm 

White,  James  H 45G 

Whorrall,  Joseph 452 

Wiley,  Dr.  Thomas  R 2.35 

Wilson,  Robert 757 

Wilson,  William  J 711 

Wood,  George  D 767 

Wood,  John 1,55 

Woodburn,  George  M 732 

Woodrum,  D.  C 712 

Woolstoncroft,  David 679 

Woolstoncroft,  John 262 

Worrell,  Milton  D 560 

Wright,  James  M 200 

Wright,  William  C 376 

Wunder,  Edward 461 

Wunder,  George 4(ig 

Wylie,  Dr.  J.  D 260 

Wylie,  Dr.  S.  M .5.39 


Yates,  Richard 1.59 

Yeager,  Peter  J 809 

Yeomans,  C.  H 416 


INDEX. 


-4-^#^^*^-^- 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John  Q 38 

Andrews,  B.  C 590 

Andrews.  Mrs.  B.  C 590 

Andrews.  D.  H 240 

Andrews,  Mrs.  D.  H 240 

Andrews.  James  H 722 

.Vndrews,  Mrs.  James 723 

.\nderson ,  Swen 440 

Arends,  George  T 4 1(5 

Arends,  Mrs.  George  T 417 

Arnold,  Amos 762 

Arnold,  Mrs.  Amos 7f>3 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Babcock,  Edward 414 

Beardsley ,  F.  W 22.5 

Beardsley ,  Mre.  F.  W 22.T 

Bell,  John  D TX> 

Bell,  Mrs.  John  D 730 

Bernhardt,  John  G 402 

Bernhardt,  Mrs.  John  G 402 

Beveridge,  John  L 170 

Bicket,\V.A 210 

Bissell,  William  H 150 

Blackstock,  K 312 

Bogardus,  Charles 270 

Bond,  shadrach 110 

Brown,  Aaron 28S 

Brown,  jMrs.  Aaron 288 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Buchholz,  Charles 454 

Bulger,  John 744 

Burger,  Joseph 650 

Burns,  Mrs.  W.  W ,')7fi 

Burns,  W.  W 577 

Campbell,  J.  Y 518 

Carlin,  Thomas 1*4 

Catron,  A.  S 301 

Catron,  Mrs.  A.  S 300 

Clark,  R 544 

Cleveland ,  S.  Grover 102 

Collier,  J.  H 3»l 

Coles,  Edward 114 

Cook,  F.  L 216 

Corbly,  L 570 


Clinebell,  Koscie 252 

Clinebell,  Mrs.  K 253 

Crawford,  James 671 

Crawford,  IMrs.  James 670 

Cruzen,  Randolph 506 

Culbertson,  Dr.  S.  D 564 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 

Damon,  O.  H 4*4 

Damon,  Mi-s.O.  H 434 

Day,  J.  P 336 

Duncan,  Joseph 130 

Edwards,  Ninian 118 

Ewing.  William  L.  D 126 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 

Fifer,  Joseph  W 182 

Flora,  W.B 716 

Foley,  J. B .551 

Foley,  Mrs.  J.  B 550 

Ford,  Thomas 138 

French,  Augustus  C 142 

Garfield,  J.  A 94 

Gilmore,  Albert 750 

Gilmore,  Mrs.  Albert 751 

Gilmore,  Craig 802 

Gilmore,  Mrs.  Craig 802 

Grant, U.S 86 

Hamilton,  John  M 178 

Harrison,  Benjamin 106 

Harrison,  W.  H 50 

Harvey,  Eli 532 

Hayes,  R.B 90 

Hevener,  Robert 622 

Holmes,  W.  B 108 

Holmes,  Mrs.  W.  B 408 

Hummel,  John 616 

Hummel,  Mrs.  John 616 

Hunt,  John  S 472 

Hunt,  Mrs.  John  .S 173 

Huston,  W.S 774 

Huston,  5Irs.  W.S 773 

lehl,  John 420 

lehl,  Mrs.  John 421 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Jefferson ,  Thomas 26 

Johnson,  Andrew S2 


Johnson,  F.  J 349 

Johnson,  Mrs.  F.  J 348 

Jordan ,  Andrew 277 

Jordan,  Mrs.  Andrew 276 

Karr,  John 428 

Karr,  R.  M 697 

Karr,  Mrs.  R.  M 698 

Kenney,  John  F 602 

Kenney,  Mrs.  John  F 603 

Kerns,E 480 

Larson,  Peter 396 

Leach,  J.  B 524 

Leach,  Mrs.  J.  B .525 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Linn,  J.  C 558 

Linn,  Mrs.  J.  C .558 

Lott,  J.  B ...796 

Lowry,  E 390 

Lowi-y,  Mrs.  E 390 

Madi.son,  James 30 

Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

Mattinson,  E 228 

Mattinson,  Mrs.  E 227 

McCracken,  D.  P 486 

McCracken,  Mrs.  D.  P 486 

McNeish,  Thomas 246 

Merrill,  J.  H 782 

Merrill,  Mi-s.  J.  H 782 

MiddlecofT.  J.  P 366 

Moffett,  J.  H 222 

Monroe,  James 34 

Morrison,  W.  T .3.30 

Newkirk,  Reuben 3,59 

Newkirk,  Mrs.  Reuben 360 

Oglesby ,  Richard  J 162 

Oppermann,  August 678 

Palmer,  John  M 166 

Pells,  W.  H 190 

Phipps,  John 692 

Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk,  J.  K 58 

Proctor,  Capt.  W 657 

Proctor,  Jlrs.  Sarall  A 656 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Roberts,  James 512 


Rohrbach,  John 294 

Rice,  Edwin 318 

Ross.  Tini 369 

Sample,  Alfred. 204 

Saxton,  J.  L (M3 

Saxton.Mrs.  J.  L 642 

Simms,  William  H 610 

Simnis,  Mrs.  William  H 609 

Snelling,  J.  H 198 

Snelling,  Mrs.  J.  H 499 

Sowers,  T.J 312 

Sowers,  Mrs.  T.J 312 

Spellmeyer,  Charles 2(>4 

Spellmeyer,  Mi-s.  Charles 264 

Stevens,  E.N 249 

Stevens,  N.  E 456 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Thackray ,  John 684 

Thackray ,  Mrs.  John 685 

Thompson.  A.  C 321 

Thompson ,  John  M 492 

Tliompson,  T.  D 466 

Trigger,  Richard 789 

Trigger,  Mrs.  Richard 788 

Tj-ler,  John 54 

Tyler,  N.  B 596 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Van  Steenbergh ,  Edward 736 

Van  Steenbergh,  Mrs.  E 737 

W^agner,  .Jacob  C 636 

Wagner,  John 664 

Washington,  George 18 

Way,  V.  G 629 

Way,  Mrs.  V.  G .628 

Weaver,  M.  H 372 

Weaver,  Mrs.  M.  H 373 

Wiley,  Dr.  T.  R 233 

Wiley,  Mrs.  T.  R 231 

Wilson,  William  J 709 

Wilson,  Mi-s.  W.  J 708 

Wood,  John 154 

W^under,  Edward 460 

Wunder,  Mrs.  Edward 460 

Wylie.S.  M 538 

Yates,  Richard 158 

Yeager,  Peter  J 808 


HECKMAN 

BINDERY  INa 


JULY  95 


Bound  .To -Pla 


N  MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA  46962 


